Page 54 of Cage of Darkness
“Then I suggest you enterthe room with a knife in each hand, ready to throw.”
If she threw fast enough, she wascertain she could strike Soma while he was still in bed, injuringhim. Maybe she could even lace her knife with poison.
“Let’s practice just tomake sure your aim is as good as you claim.”
They spent the rest of the afternoonthrowing knives at targets and practicing hand-to-hand combat.Kerdan showed her areas of vulnerability on a body so that if Odarwas engaged with Soma, she could go in for the kill.
Anytime she had fought with theassassin, he always had the upper hand because not only was heexceptionally fast, but he also knew moves she’d never encounteredbefore. Kerdan worked with her until she became familiar withRussek’s different fighting style.
By the end of their session, she wasdrenched with sweat, exhausted, and, for the first time in a longtime, felt accomplished.
***
Returning to Kerdan’s bedchamber,Allyssa found a note lying on the floor. It must have been shovedunderneath the door. She handed it to the prince, and he tore itopen, reading it. “Since my family isn’t going to the northernlord’s home, Father has arranged a dinner tonight. He wishes tomake a few announcements.”
Her stomach growled at the mention offood.
He tossed the paper on the table. “Iwant to disguise you as one of my soldiers so you canattend.”
“Whatever for?” She had nodesire to be anywhere near the royal family. Besides, she wasexhausted and wanted to rest.
“A few reasons,” he said,pulling off his shirt and heading into the bathing room. He couldhave waited until he was in there before removing his clothes. Hedidn’t need to be so informal around her. “I want to familiarizeyou with the castle’s layout,” he called to her.
That was one reason. “Whyelse?”
He didn’t answer. The sound of waterhitting the copper tub echoed in the room, so she moved next to thehalf-open door and waited until the water stopped. “Why else?” sheasked again.
“Come in here so I don’thave to shout.”
She rested her head against the wall.Mayra would scream about the impropriety of the situation. “That’sokay,” she replied. “I’ll wait until you’re done.”
Pushing off the wall, she went over tothe window and gazed outside. She was sick of being locked in thisroom all the time, and she missed her friends. Hopefully, they weresafe. If everything went according to plan, they would stay thatway. A few moments later, Kerdan exited wearing a fur robe. His wethair dripped on his shoulders.
“Your turn,” he said,nodding toward the bathing room.
Before she cleaned up, she needed toknow why he wanted her there tonight. She looked pointedly at him.“Fine,” he said, sitting on the edge of his bed. “I don’tunderstand how you can trust Odar given his pastbehavior.”
The statement surprised her—they hadalready discussed the matter and she assured him Odar wastrustworthy. “You should be thankful I don’t hold your pastbehaviors against you.”
“I’m alive today because Ioverthink things.” He sounded like Odar. “I’m just alittle…concerned,” he admitted. “I want to make sure he is on ourside. If something goes wrong, you’ll be killed, and I’ll bearrested for treason. There is a lot at stake.”
“I know. And he has thesame concerns about you. He’s afraid you’ll double-crossus.”
“I’ve seen him around thiscastle. It’s his history with Shelene that concerns me.”
Allyssa faced the window again. Sheknew all about Odar’s relationship with that woman.
Kerdan stood and moved to the dressingcloset. “I don’t trust anyone.”
“What about me?” she asked,watching the room’s reflection in the window.
“You’redifferent.”
“How?”
“You are a princess who canfight, you were tortured but held true to your principles, and youare loyal. I admire you.”
Silence hung between them. He admiredher? She thought he was simply using her. That she happened to bein the right place at the right time. He stepped out from thecloset, and she turned to face him across the room. “Prince Kerdan,did you just compliment me?” she teased, trying to diffuse thesudden tension filling the room.
