Page 31 of The Assassin's Dancer
“The next time you want to act like a desperate whore in front of me, I won’t hesitate to treat you like one. Understand?”
She scowls, but I’m gone before she can argue.
Ruby can pretend she hates me to the moon and back. She can run and tell the guards – for real this time – that a dark assassin grabbed her in her bedchamber. Twice. But that doesn’t change the fact that just before I vault through the window, I catch her fingers drifting to her heat for the second time tonight.
With a smile, I climb through. She’s lucky I pretend not to notice.
Because I’m a man of my word.
And next time, I really won’t hesitate.
12
AMARYLLIS
“He wants you to what?” Blossom blurts, almost dropping her teacup.
Outside, rain coats the arched windows in long streaks while we’re safely tucked away in the far corner of the royal parlour.
A week has passed since the ball – seven days since Hugo’s death in the palace grounds, and seven nights since I let the Scorpiontouchme.
It’s not cold in here. Thick carpets cover the floors, and metres away a crackling fire bathes the room in warm light, but I can’t stop pulling my indigo shawl closer.
I haven’t told my sisters exactly what he did – only about his offer to work for him. Then again, from the way Dahlia’s squealing I could’ve told her the whole story with all its intimate details.
“Ami!” Dahlia hides her grin with her hand. “Please,pleasetell me you said yes.”
I nod, taking a sip of my tea. “I agreed to help him.”
“Oh, Ami, no,” Blossom sighs, but her voice is lost beneath Dahlia’s squeals.
“This is brilliant!” Dahlia claps her hands. “You have to tell us everything. This is the most exciting thing to happen around here since we caught Blossom with her shoemaker!”
“Dahlia!” Blossom hisses.
I didn’t intend to invite my third sister here. After that night in my bedchamber, I knew I needed to tell someone and Blossom seemed like the most level-headed. Unfortunately, Dahlia’s been on my case all week – barely spending any time in her stables and choosing instead to spend every waking moment pestering me about the Scorpion.
When I sent for Blossom to meet me in the parlour, I’d hoped I could avoid Dahlia long enough to speak with Blossom alone. But of course, within minutes of Blossom arriving, Dahlia turned up too, carrying a huge tray of tea and sugared scones for us to feast on while I – in her words – ‘spilled all the gossip’. At that point, I really had no choice but to give in to her demands.
Besides, the scones were rather lovely.
“When do you leave, then? Is it soon?” Dahlia presses, ignoring Blossom’s scowl.
“Tonight.” I swallow.
This time, Blossom really drops her teacup. “No no no! This is ridiculous. You are not going!”
“Oh, be quiet,” Dahlia barks. “You heard what she said. All she’ll be doing is dancing and if there’s any danger then the Scorpion will be there to protect her.” She shoots me a look, batting her dark eyelashes. “It’s all quite romantic if you think about it.”
Blossom scrunches up her face in disgust. “Absolutely not!” she scoffs. “This is stupid and incredibly dangerous and – oh, Ami, if Father were to hear!”
My breath stills. “You mustn’t tell him!” I snap.
Blossom is right. This is stupid and dangerous, but it’s nowhere near as dangerous as Father finding out. Just the thought of it makes me want to cry.
“Please, both of you need to promise this conversation will never leave this room,” I say, my heart racing.
Both my sisters nod as Blossom shudders. Even Dahlia looks serious at the mention of Father.
