Silla opened her mouth and screamed.
Chapter 10
Kovograd, Zagadka
Kassandr Rurik flipped his dagger in the air and caught the hilt with ease. A smile curved his lips, his mood so jovial he began to whistle. He’d returned from his pilgrimage to the golden oak in four days—shattering his brother Oleg’s record—only to discover that the high prince had taken leave to consult with the oracle, sparing him from further punishment. But the best part of his return was Rovgolod, informing him of all that had transpired while he was gone.
Not only had no harm befallen Saga in his absence, she’d requested Rov give her Zagadkian language lessons. And when Rov had reported she now took daily trips onto her balcony, Kassandr had been overcome. He’d leaped from his chair and kissed his friend, leaving Rov complaining and wiping his mouth. But Kass did not care. He could not contain his joy.
During his journey, Kass had dwelled on the disappointing outcome of the high prince and Saga Volsik’s first meeting. He’d hoped she could persuade his father to act against the Urkans, but on further reflection, he realized he’d expected too much of her. His father and the Zagadkian elders were stubborn in their beliefs. It would take more than one meeting to convince them to raise arms against the Urkans.
But hearing that she spent daily time outdoors on her balconyreminded Kassandr of all that she faced. His Saga was fighting. Her fire was banked, not extinguished, and each day it would only grow hotter…brighter. He would bend low, would blow on those embers. Encourage their growth. Yes. It would work.
Now he strolled to Saga’s room, flipping his dagger while whistling a jaunty song. Today, he would make her an offer she could not refuse.
As he reached her door, he nodded at the men of his Druzhina who guarded it. Though she might not know it, and certainly would not like it, Saga’s door was guarded night and day. Her food was tasted before it was delivered. Trackers watched her balcony, surveying the yards and towers beyond for any sign of an assassin. When it came to her safety, Kass would not take chances.
After unlocking Saga’s door, he pushed it open and sauntered in with a smile.
She leaped from the bench nearest to the fire, her drawing pad tumbling to the ground. But Kass could only look at her, resplendent in a blue Zagadkian brocade gown.
“Krasavitsa,[*1]” he murmured.
“Do you not know how to knock?” she demanded, much to his delight. “What if I had been unclothed?”
He closed the door, enshrouding them in privacy, then smiled. “It would have been to my great fortune.”
A pink flush ran down her pretty neck, and Kass could not decide if she was angry or scandalized—perhaps both. He approached the hearth, bending low to retrieve her fallen drawing pad.
“That’s mine,” she snapped, lunging for it.
He let her grab it back, but not before he caught sight of his own likeness etched in charcoal. Inwardly, his beast gave a low, contented purr. “You were missing me?”
“Not in the slightest.” Saga stormed to the wall, securing the vellum onto a nail.
Kass watched, intrigued, as she returned to the hearth, shovedher hand down her bodice, and retrieved the all-too-familiar dining knife. She drew her wrist back, then flung the knife at Kassandr’s portrait. It landed in the left side of his forehead. Kassandr’s beast launched to his feet and howled in delight.
He sauntered to the drawing and pulled the knife free. “Impressive,” he murmured, examining the blade. “But you are needing knives much sharper than this.”
An incredulous sound came from behind him, and Kassandr turned toward his Saga. “Do you not recall that I stabbed you with that knife?”
“I recall that youmissed.” He flipped the knife and handed the hilt to her.
“Shall I try again?” she demanded incredulously.
Kass’s smile was lazy and unconcerned. “Let me show to you a better way.” He strolled behind her, pleased when she did not move away. The scent of her skin drove his beast into a near frenzy, and it took all of Kass’s will to keep focused on his task.
“Lift elbow like so.”
His hand slid along the back of her arm.
“And turn like this.”
He twisted her wrist.
“Try again.”
Against his beast’s every wish, Kassandr stepped away. Though her back was to him, Kass could feel the intensity radiating from Saga as she focused on the drawing. She drew in a quick breath, then let the knife fly. It landed with athunk,right between the eyes of his likeness.
