I’d told Kel I’d see him tonight… but I also had a lesson with Leo this afternoon. And our lessons would no longer be private. I had to remember that. Gods, I was so flustered and excited all at the same time.
Veora and I chatted like dearest friends. She gave me some tips for how to please men, some of which I’d known about but not yet tried, others were… new — and a bit shocking — to me. But I drank it all in.
Once we were at the palace, we proceeded up through the servant’s halls to the prince’s room, where I dropped her off.
I stayed on guard and triednotto think about how I might use Veora’s lascivious suggestions on each of my glorious guys.
I needed to remain focused.
And in my state of heightened alertness, I caught the sound of fighting, distant but unmistakable. I rushed to a nearby window, which looked out over the palace’s yard.
Below me was a sight I’d never seen in the palace: men fighting and dying. This was no mock combat, no training or practice. This was true battle.
A large covered wagon disgorged armed men who spread out into the palace, slaughtering guards as they went. The cobblestones were bathed in blood.
I blinked, not fully understanding what I was seeing.
The palace was being attacked…
And I needed to do something about it.
CHAPTER 29
Tisera
I sprinted backto the prince’s quarters and barged into the suite, then into his bedchambers. I halted at the sight of the carnal act before me. Veora straddled the prince, sitting proud as she rocked herself over him. Her hands combed up through her hair, head thrown back. The prince’s hands clutched her — very well endowed — breasts as he drank in her beauty. Then he looked at me, a little shocked.
“The palace is under attack!” I hissed at them. “I’ll protect you, but you should bar your door and find cover!”
That stopped them both, and since I didn’t want to see any more than I already had, I left, returning to the hall.
If the attackers got this far, I’d have no cover along this open hallway. If they had any crossbows with them, I’d be an easy target. Which meant I’d want to be at one end of the long hall or the other, either to attack them up close as soon as they turned the corner or be able to use that corner as cover if they were coming from the other direction… but that would mean leavingthe prince’s door unprotected and I couldn’t do that. I had to stay here, out in the open.
To make matters worse, I was dressed as a commoner, not a soldier. I reached under my skirts and drew forth the two long daggers strapped to my thighs.
What I wouldn’t give for a sword and shield, but this was all I had, and it would have to do. If I was lucky, I could take a sword from one of the attackers.
But then I realized something… the fact that I was dressed as a commoner could be used to my advantage. I flipped both daggers, holding them reversed so they were almost completely hidden behind my arms. If anyone saw me — including the attackers — they’d not think me a threat. They might get close without trying to harm me… then I could take them.
With luck, though, the attackers wouldn’t even get this far. I was deep in the royal wing of the palace. It was highly unlikely that?—
Was that the sound of fighting?
Fuck.
I heard the clank of metal and the thud of heavy booted feet from one direction and turned to see — thankfully — a troop of four palace guards coming around a corner, jogging urgently toward me.
“What are you doing out here?” one called to me. “Find cover, they’re in the royal wing!”
I nodded but didn’t move. Hopefully they’d think I was some silly, scared-stiff, courtier or servant.
They ran past me to the far corner of the hall, where the sounds of fighting drew closer. They waited at the corner, then charged around in a rush.
More sounds of combat, mixed with the groans and screams of dying men.
Someone staggered into view around the corner: a palace guard. He looked disbelieving at the crossbow bolt sticking out of his stomach. He collapsed to his hands and knees and looked up at me.
“Run!” he wheezed, then collapsed.
