He’s just nervous, I chided myself. Meeting their king for the first time would make anyone a little anxious. Mia’s nose nudged against my calf, and I leaned forward to scratch her ears, keeping my eyes trained on Galen and the stranger.
Galen tilted his head at the uncomfortable silence that filled the space, examining the man with that samecharming smile still on his face. “Well, what can we help you with, Tovar?” he prompted.
“Oh, yes,” Tovar said, jerking forward. “I—I have something for you, King Grimaldi. A gift. You see, I’m a cobbler, and my daughter and I, we—we make shoes. Well,Ido. She used to, until…” He shook his head, licking his lips again as he took another step. “Anyway, she always made the most beautiful suede shoes, and this was the last pair she ever…” He trailed off once more, his speech becoming more hurried as he went on.
My heart beat a little faster as he reached into the lining of his cloak. I watched the slight tremble in his hands, the way his nose twitched when his tongue flicked out over his lips, how his eyes shifted back and forth over Galen’s body.
Something was wrong.
“Here, Your Majesty.” Tovar’s arm moved, and I clung to the edge of my seat, muscles clenched with a warning I couldn’t place. “For you.” He pulled out a pair of beautiful black suede shoes, with golden buckles shining brightly in the sunlight.
When he handed them to the king, something else glinted.
Steel.
Everything happened so fast.
Tovar’s jaw tightened as Galen reached out to take the shoes. In the blink of an eye, the man plunged his hand into the opening of the right shoe and snatched the handle of the blade.
I lunged from my chair and threw myself into action, kicking the toe of my boot into the back of his knee. He staggered to the side and whirled to face me, sharp knife in hand. His features were crazed, his pupils blown out, splotches of red on his pale cheeks. Mia’s high-pitched barks sounded behind us as he hurled himself toward me.
Tovar was sloppy and inexperienced, operating on emotions instead of skill. I’d fought my fair share of enraged fanatics in my time with the Sentinels—people who acted out of anger, not careful calculation. And this man…he was wild with anger.
Anger made people stupid. It made them careless. But it also made them dangerous.
With a growl, he swiped at my neck with his blade. I reared back and brought my hand down on his wrist to block his attack. The knife clattered to the ground as I drove my other fist into his stomach, making him double over with a groan. The guards behind our chairs rushed forward, yanked Tovar to his feet, and pulled his arms behind his back so quickly, I heard his shoulder pop out of place.
The sound…
I gritted my teeth against my blurring vision, focusing on my racing adrenaline and the danger of the moment to keep me grounded. Present. I could feel soft fur rubbing against exposed skin at my ankle, Mia’s body trembling while her yaps filled the air.
Tovar’s eyes locked on mine before they pulled him away. With a sound that bordered on a whimper, he whispered hoarsely, “Do you know what he’s done? The man you stand beside?”
Galen shot to his feet, brows creased in fury. “I have donenothingto you. But you will suffer the consequences for this attack.” He flicked a hand at the guards, wrath radiating in waves from his tall frame.
Tovar’s eyes flashed. A ripple of emotion crossed his features. Determination, vengeance, longing, misery. He struggled against the guards’ hold on him before spitting at Galen’s feet.
“My name is Tovar Printh. Andyoumurdered my daughter.”
28
Clarissa
Galen’s face went ashen.
“How did he get through withthis?” he hissed at the nearest guard, pointing to the weapon. “Guests were supposed to be searched!”
“We’ll find out, Your Majesty,” the guard grunted. Several of them dragged Tovar away, down the aisle of waiting citizens and toward a sleek black carriage with bars on the window. Gasps of confusion echoed, some people rushing out of the way while others converged on us to get a better look.
“Galen, what did that man mean?” I asked, watching the uneasy crowd. “Why did he say you murdered his daughter?”
He faced me, hazel eyes distant. “Because I did.”
My heart dropped to my feet as he turned, straightened his shoulders, and put on a smile. “Not to worry, everyone. Just a small misunderstanding, but it’s been taken care of. We must leave to prepare for the Harvest Festival tonight. I hope to see you all this evening,” he finished, nodding to those nearest us.
Whispers spread when more of the King’s Guard walked up the center of the clearing to escort us out. One took Galen’s arm while another reached for my shoulder. I batted him away and grabbed Galen’s free hand to get his attention. “We need to talk,” I saidthrough my teeth, trying to keep a relaxed posture to avoid upsetting the crowd.
He flinched and tugged his arm away. “Not now, Clarissa.” He kept his eyes straight ahead. The guards motioned for us to follow, and I untied Mia’s leash from my chair and tucked her under my arm. She wiggled and turned her body until her front paws rested on my shoulder so she could see what was going on behind us. Her soft ear brushed my cheek every time she moved, her keen senses on high alert after the attack.
