I bite my lip to suppress a grin.
Oh, if only he knew the fire was the least of his problems right now. The bastard owes me for that lovely stay in his dusty cell, then passing me off to Nikolai of all people like a package to be signed for.
Sure, I've grown attached to the psychotic asshole. I can't even help wondering how he and Raven are faring right now. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten the indignity of it all.
Spite is hardwired into my DNA.
Through the window, I watch Plague pause by a decorative statue on a pedestal near his bookshelf. My breath catches ashe reaches out to adjust it, turning it slightly as if its position offends his obsessive need for order. Knight stands frozen in the corner, a mere fourteen feet away, and I swear I can see those blue eyes burning behind the helmet's visor.
All I can do is pray he doesn't move.
Or growl.
But Plague turns away, apparently satisfied with the statue's new angle, and moves back to his desk. My pulse quickens as he reaches for the glass of water.
Come on, you anal-retentive prick. Drink it.
He picks up the glass, tugs down the Surhiiran scarf covering his lower face, brings it halfway to his lips, then pauses. His eyes narrow, studying the clear liquid as if it just shit-talked his entire bloodline.
"Holy shit," I whisper. "Talk about paranoid."
"Is it really paranoia if you actually spiked his drink?" Geo hisses beside me, and I can practically feel him rolling his eye even though I don't dare take mine off Plague.
"You're being pedantic."
Finally, as if deciding the water hasn't been sitting out too long to be suspicious, Plague takes a long drink. I watch his throat work as he swallows, fighting the urge to do a little victory dance right there on the palace grounds.
"You sure you didn't put enough of that shit in there to kill him?" Geo whispers, his stubble scraping against my ear. Fucking ridiculous that I don't even want to take a swipe at him for it.
"Of course not." I pause, considering. "Probably."
Geo's growl vibrates through the air between us. "That's it. We're all going to be executed for killing the crown prince of Surhiira."
"Stop being such a worrywart."
"Someonehas to have common sense around here, and it clearly isn't you."
"Shut up," I mutter, but my attention is on Knight, still frozen in place like the world's most convincing statue. "He's doing a good job playing suit of armor, at least."
"Yeah, he was born for the role," Geo grumbles.
Plague picks up one of the papers from his desk and moves toward the window. Geo and I both flatten ourselves harder against the wall, his solid bulk pressing against my side, and I hold my breath as Plague's shadow falls across the stone beside us. Through my peripheral vision, I catch a glimpse of Knight's eyes behind the visor, tracking the other alpha's movement with predatory focus.
The poison better work fast, because if Plague gets any closer to discovering us, Knight's going to protect me by tearing the prince apart.
And we happen to need him alive and talking.
Plague's hand appears on the windowsill, the leather of his glove creaking as he grips it and leans forward to peer outside. Then he staggers, a rough cough escaping his throat.
Fucking finally.
"What the hell is—" His knee buckles, and as he catches himself on the window frame, his eyes meet mine for a split second.
Recognition flares in those pale blue eyes, followed by understanding. "You."
I can't help the manic grin that spreads across my face as I give him a little wave. "Hi, Plague. Or should I say, almost-brother-in-law?"
His hand moves for his weapon with impressive speed considering the poison coursing through his system. Clearly, I underestimated how much it would take to drop an alpha of his size and training. He may be lean in comparison to the other Ghosts, but up close, he's fucking huge. To be fair, Geowasriding my ass about not killing him.
