Page 47 of A Crown Without Mercy

“I noticed.” He laughed.

“You’re repeating me again,” she teased.

“Am I?”

“Nicolai!” Kieran shouted.

Nicolai spun around and saw a group running at them from behind. “Shit! Run Sylvana.”

She yelped, and as she ran across the floor, she felt a thud in the middle of her back.

Kieran ran toward her and pinned her against his body. “Never turn your back on your enemy, darling.” He cupped her jaw in his hand and his mouth fell to hers before escorting her to the edge of the floor where the fallen players were standing.

Sylvana nervously looked around to see if Nicolai had witnessed the kiss. “Kieran, what was that for?”

“A kiss for the dead.” He chuckled.

“You shouldn’t have kissed me.”

“Don’t worry about it, my brothers and I share everything.” He winked.

“I’m not athingyou can share,” she protested.

He raised his hand, snapped his fingers, and she was handed a fresh drink. “I do love a challenge.” He then caught another spear headed in their direction and kissed her again before pulling away ever so slightly. “Saved your life,” he joked. He held his arms out to his sides and shimmied his chest and shoulders as he backed away. “You know you want this,” he teased.

“You’re ridiculous.” She laughed.

She stood on the edge of the playing area watching Kieran and Nicolai taking out player after player; their movements were fluid, precise, and swift and she could not help but to be impressed as they moved with the grace and agility of a feline stalking its prey.

Kieran and his opponent lunged for one of the few remaining spears; Kieran bent his leg around his opponent’s and pulled it out from under him, grabbed the spear off the floor and plunged it into his chest.

Sylvana set her cup on one of the small tables having been set up for the players, clapped and let out a call of approval along with the rest of the crowd. She then noticed one of the few remaining ladies pull an arrow from behind her back and sneak toward Kieran, who was now standing over the fallen player with raised arms. Just as she was about to plunge the spear into his back, he spun around, wrapped her tightly against his body, grabbed the spear, and plunged it into her stomach to the amusement of the crowd.

Sylvana felt a pang of jealousy and rolled her eyes.Vying for his attention in such an obvious way is pitiful. Ohh, please, as if you are really trying to break free. You’re too busy shoving your ass into his crotch.

“How about a kiss for the kill?” she yelled.

Various words of encouragement and cheers of approval rang out from the crowd. Kieran side-eyed Sylvana and yelled. “As you wish!” He then bent over and kissed the back of her hand and walked to Nicolai, who placed his hands on his shoulders and shook him back and forth.

Kieran looked at Sylvana and winked, and she felt another wave of desire she tried her best to dismiss. She also felt someone burning a hole in her back; when she glanced over her shoulder. the girl who tried to get a kiss from Kieran was standing with a group of ladies, all of whom were staring at her, laughing, and whispering in each other’s ears.

“Don’t worry about them,” Sylvana heard when someone nudged her shoulder.

“What?” Sylvana looked at the young lady who appeared to be about her age, only she clearly belonged with the elite. She was slightly taller, had striking hazel eyes, flawless mocha-colored skin and jet-black hair that was a perfect mix of tight braids and loose strands framing her angular features. Her emerald-green gown was made from the finest silks and perfectly tailored to her svelte figure.

“Ignore them. We refer to them as ‘the beasts of court.’” She chuckled.

Sylvana smiled. “They don’t bother me. I’m used to it.”“I’m Venthana,” she offered.

“I’m Sylvana.”

“I see you’re with the Acherons. How did you get so lucky?” She winked.

Sylvana smiled. “I don’t know how I ended up here, to be honest.”

“Why don’t you join my friends and I?”

“Thank you, but I don’t want to intrude.”

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