“She’s working with me,” Asher says, and he takes an aggressive step forward. “And I’m just trying to keep her alive. She’s the one trying to protectyou. If she wasn’t, I would’ve left your body on the floor.”
“Asher.”
“What?” The promise of violence is back in his gaze, and this time I don’t know if it’s for me or for the king. “You saw my orders. You know what I do, Jory.”
I have to swallow. I don’t want the reminder. I look back at Ky and try to keep my voice level. “Iamtrying to protect you,” I say. “Either my father or my brother hired an assassin to kill you. We had to get out of the palace.”
“Now yourkingis the one who hired an assassin?” He looks between us like we’re crazy—and the sad part is that maybe we are. In the harsh silence of the woods, this entire adventure feels insane. “And instead of alerting me or my soldiers about the nature of the threat,” he continues, “you felt it was most prudent to do...this.”
“Yes,” I say.
“I have written orders,” Asher says, glaring at him. “The Crown hired me to kill you. Andyouhired me to killher.”
“No.” Ky glares right back, his gaze burning like hot embers. “I didn’t.”
“I don’t believe you were responsible either,” I say in a rush. “But Asher has proof thatsomeonefrom Incendar did. Once it’s clear that we’re not dead, another assassin will be sent. We had to get out of the palace.”
Ky hasn’t looked away from Asher. “Did this man tell you this, Princess?He killed my soldier. I am bound in the middle of the woods. None of this feels likeprotection.”
“I didn’t kill your soldier!” Asher says, aggrieved. He puts out a hand. “Give me the knife, Jor. This is taking too long. Just leave him. Come on.”
I hesitate, because I’m thinking of the moment he put the hilt against my neck, a demonstration of what he was capable of. Ten minutes later, he was proving it.
“Asher.” I wet my lips. “You really didn’t kill that man?”
“Trust me, I know how to kill people. I don’t do it for free.”
I stare at him, biting the edge of my lip. My heart keeps tripping along, stumbling between fear and hope. He’s never lied to me before—but he’s never done any ofthisbefore, either.
I’m not the boy you remember.
I suppose he’s proving it.
Asher’s eyes go a bit sad, and he draws back, his mouth forming a line. “Fine. Believe what you want. But they’ll be tracking us soon. We need to move.”
That strikes its mark. I swallow and hold out the blade.
Ky makes an aggravated sound. “Do not go with him, Princess. I asked to begin with honesty, and I have. If you are not lying tome, then he is lying toyou.”
Asher thrusts the weapon back into its hilt. “She’s known me a lot longer than she’s known you, asshole. The only reason you’re here is that she’s trying to keep you safe. If you won’t get up and walk, sit there and freeze.”
“If you aretrulytrying to save my life,” Ky says, “then unbind me. I can defend myself.”
“No,” Asher snaps. “Jory might think you’re harmless, but I don’t.”
The king’s voice drops. “I never said I was harmless, Asher.”
It’s the first time the king has said his name, and the low intensity of it strikes a chord in my chest, making me shiver in a way that has nothing to do with the snow. To my surprise, that purring accent seems to have an effect on Asher, too. He seems to falter, some of the disdain slipping off his face.
But as they glare at each other, snowflakes continue to fall from the sky, and I try to pull at a cloak I don’t have. My breath streams out of my mouth in clouded bursts.
Asher’s gaze shifts to me, his eyes in shadow under the hood of his coat. “Please,” he says more quietly, and I can feel his urgency. “I know a place, and we need to get out of sight.”
I nod quickly. “I’ll follow you.”
“This way,” he says, turning away from Ky and heading toward the trees, forging into the brush. The black of his clothing is a stark contrast to the snow-covered forest.
But I hesitate, giving Ky one last look. His eyes are still shadowed and angry, and I have no way to undo that.
