Certainty settled over me like a tight glove. Oh my God. I loved Charick. I did. The idea of finally surrendering myself to all the mate shit made my blood grow warm and my skin tingly without even a hint of hesitation.Shit.Why couldn’t I have had this realization earlier when I lay in his arms instead of standing before the enemy? I pushed thoughts of a happy future with my mate aside and concentrated on the task at hand.
Green eyes turned in my direction, pearlescent horns highlighted by the light of flickering candles. I met his gaze, keeping my eyes hard… and smirked.
Nansar tensed, his spine straightening as he slowly sat up, hands gripping the armrest of his pretend throne as a wave of clarity passed over his pale features.
“Everyone out.” Nansar’s words came in a whisper directed toward the half dozen guards milling about.
“But my lord.” The guard nearest the throne protested, putting himself between me and Nansar.
“Get out!” Nansar screeched, leaping to his feet with his arms gesturing wildly. “Now! Everybody out!”
His actions reminded me of a bratty toddler, and apparently, the guards thought so as well. They shuffled from the room, their expressions ranging from indulgence to disgust.
Once the door shut behind the last guard, Nansar took a step away from his throne, walking in a circle around me, never getting too close. A faint breeze from the window tickled my nose, bringing his aroma to my nostrils. It was sickly sweet, like burnt sugar, not the spicy, masculine scent Charick held.
“Goddess, you look just like her.”
“Isn’t that the point?” I quipped, letting faux arrogance settle over my demeanor.
“This is great!” Nansar clapped his hands together. “I bet you can even fool the Vaktaire.”
“No need.” I shrugged my shoulders as though what came next had no more meaning to me than the dust under my boots. “The Vaktaire is dead. I used him to get to her.” The words tasted bitter and lay thick on my tongue.
“Really?” Nansar seemed nearly gleeful at the news. I felt my hand close into a fist. I’d never wanted to punch anyone more. “What did you do with the body?”
“Hidden.” I shifted my stance, widening my feet as Nansar continued to circle me, pleasure in thinking his plan making him near giddy. “My ruse wouldn’t work very well if dead bodies started showing up.” I let a smile curve my lips—a real one—since I knew the bodies we’d hidden belonged to Nansar.
“True.” Nansar pursed his lips, abandoning his circling to return to his throne. “You are clear on your role?”
“Kill the Duke,” I said, trying to pretend the scheme tedious. We knew from our brief conversation with the Aljani guard Malakal that Nansar’s ultimate goal was his father’s death and that he’d planned for me to do it.
“Yes.” Nansar grinned broadly and viciously. “But you won’t be able to just approach my father. He’s always protected, and members of the Alliance Council will attend his birthday celebration. I expect the number of his guards to double. You’ll have to compete in the arena games as the human in order to gain access to my father.”
I rolled my eyes as though I considered his plan a bother.
“Don’t worry,” he assured me with a perfunctory wave before settling back in his seat. “The gladiator games are merely an exhibition. I’ve promised the other contestants' freedom and riches to let you win. After you win the competition, you’ll be presented to my father as Champion.”
“Even the old warrior?” Nansar could not be clueless about how Adtovar had taken me under his wing. I didn’t believe for a second that Adtovar would take a dive, especially not for Nansar’s money.
“Adtovar?” Nansar scoffed with a roll of his eyes. “No, he has too much honor, but he would never hurt a female. Especially this one. He’s gone soft for the human. He’ll gladly fall on his sword for her.”
Nansar acted like Adtovar’s honor was a thing to be mocked. I shrugged, pretending I agreed when what I really wanted to do was slap the shit out of this petulant brat for the slight against my friend.
“You’re spending a great deal to kill the Duke,” I baited. “My fee goes without saying. I can only imagine the amount you’ll have to pay the other gladiators for their compliance.”
Nansar tipped his head back and laughed rather manically. “I intend to pay them nothing. Once my father is dead, they will all fall under the blade of my Kerzak allies. Even now, Ambassador Yaard travels to Ajaxiun to ensure I assume the throne without difficulty. His warriors will take care of any loyal to my father.”
The Kerzak.
From my experience on the Korfu moon, I knew the creatures to be vicious and deadly.
I schooled my features to disinterest, despite the creep of foreboding prickling along my skin. “And how will I escape after I kill the Duke?” I thought it a reasonable question for an assassin.
Nansar waved a hand, giving a faint huff. “Easily. I’ll demand vengeance for my father’s death and have you turned over to me. After that, it’s just a matter of your shapeshifting into someone else and slipping away.”
I issued another shrug, trying to seem bored with the details.
Nansar studied me for a few moments, a devious smile growing on his face. With his pale skin, platinum hair, pearl horns, and pale green eyes, he might have been handsome in another life. Another life where he wasn’t such an asshole.
