The King grinned.
“That's not a good thing,” I chided him. “Not if I'm supposed to be keeping you safe.”
“You're supposed to be finding the person who poisoned me. My guards will keep me safe.”
“Because they've done such a good job so far?” I drawled. “And I thought you said you needed someone by your side constantly?”
“Yes, you’re right. I need someone I can trust with me. An added layer of security. Fuck, I feel like a child.” He grimaced. “But this child is not running away. So, if I won't leave the castle, what would you suggest I do?”
I looked from the knight to the King. “Do you trust your knights?”
King Cynric thought about it, then said, “Yes. I don't believe it was one of them.
“Then have two of them oversee the cooking of your food. How many guard you at once?”
“Two at a time, though it's been four lately.”
“Good, keep it at four. And double the Horns on duty in the castle.”
He nodded. “Done. Anything else?”
“Yes, if you won't leave the castle, at least change bedrooms. And don't let any of the staff know where you're sleeping. Just lock up your apartments and pretend you're inside.”
The King chuckled. “That's a good idea. All right. I'll have that handled by tonight.”
“That's all I can think of for now.” I snagged another piece of chicken and ate it as I stared at him. “You're looking better by the second. That potion is incredible.”
“It's not the potion. It's my charming personality.” He smirked. “People look more attractive when you find them interesting.”
“There you go, trying to be funny again.”
The King snorted. “Actually, it's my Dragon immortality. The potion got rid of the poison and allowed my body to heal.”
“Now we just need to make sure you're not poisoned again. Although I doubt they'll try the same trick twice.” I rolled my eyes. “Then again, they might, just because we won't be expecting it.”
“Then we'll have to expect everything.”
I grabbed the bottle, lifted it to him in salute, and said, “To expecting everything.”
As I drank, he murmured, “I definitely expect everything from you, my blue-eyed thief.”
Chapter Six
Since the King was the most vulnerable at rest, we decided that he only had to sleep somewhere different. He could bathe, dress, and spend his days in the royal apartments just as long as he went to a secret place to sleep. Only his King's Guard and I would know the location or even that the King was sleeping elsewhere. As a cover, we used my guest room. That way, if anyone came to wake him for an emergency and found only a knight on duty at the door to his apartments, they could be told that the King was with his lover.
The lover bit was our emergency ruse, but that night, when we prepared for bed, the King and I kept exchanging looks that made the ruse feel real.
“I'll sleep on the floor,” I offered.
“And what will you use as a pallet?” King Cynric asked.
I shrugged. “I'll just send for one.”
“That will seem odd since we're supposed to be having sex.”
I went red.
“The bed is large,” he went on as if he didn't notice my blush. “I don't mind sharing.”
