“I said no such thing.”
“Take me with you.”
“Never.”
I advanced on him. “Who is it? Watching won’t offend me. I’m not a prissy thing. I’ve seen death. Dealt it out more times than I can count.”
“To dregs, not people.”
“They actually were people deep inside. They were under their own version of a curse. We broke it.”
“The high lady of Lydel broke it.”
“I played a role. The point is, you’re not going to scare me if you kill someone in front of me. If anything, I might be able to help.”
“I told you I am not going to kill someone. I merely plan to have a conversation.”
“I can add input to that. Merrick asks for my opinion in the throne room all the time.”
He paused, and I swore he actually flinched, but that was a Merrick thing, not Lorant’s. “Alright. Dress in your leathers. Wear your weapons. Once we leave the castle, you’ll remain hidden within shadows. At least you’ll get some practice with that.”
“No problem.” I snaked my hands across my nape, squirming, trying to undo the top buttons on the back of my dress.
He whirled me around and undid them himself, pausing only once to deliver a kiss to my exposed spine. “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to go to bed? I thought I could use my tongue to grovel.”
I wouldnotallow my knees to go melty. “I’m going with you while you play assassin.”
He turned me back to face him, his grip tight on my upper arms and his ever-present, snarly gaze meeting mine. “I never play.”
I backed out of his reach. “Maybe you should. It might make you more fun.”
“I’m fun,” he purred, his gaze shooting to the bed.
“That point has not been proven.” With my dress sliding forward, though I remained decently covered, I hurried to the closet and wrenched open the door, dragging out a clean set of leathers.
“Yet,” Lorant stated. “Yet.”
“Leave while I change,” I said.
“As you command.” He bowed again. “My queen.”
I rolled my eyes as he strolled toward the door. “Hold on. You distracted me.”
“I knew you’d be eager to climb into bed with me.”
“Lorant. I need something else. Before we go, I want you to teach me the nullification spell.”
“That’s more important than my conversation with someone?”
“As stimulating as your conversation will be, I’m sure we have a few moments. Teach me the spell. I need it.”
His frown took in the ball lying on the bed before flickering to the intent look on my face. “What spell do you want to nullify?”
I grabbed the ball and thrust it close to his face. “This is a diary.”
“It appears to be a ball. A silver ball.”
“That Farris kept bringing me.”
