He laughed with her like it was easy, like he wasn’t the man who’d pinned me with eyes sharp enough to gut me.
And the fates help me, but I didn’t only want his smile. I wanted the part of him who groaned over an elderfruit tart, who flirted with women twice his age.
“By the fates,” he said, an easy smile rising on his face. “Is that mist melon glaze?”
The cook beamed. “With cracked pine sugar on the crust. I knew you’d like it.”
“Like is such a small word. Love fits much better.” Trew leanedtoward her. “Tell no one I said this, but I’d trade my right hand for another slice.”
“You won’t need to. I made a whole extra tart just for you.”
Easing out of the cracked-open doorway, I sagged against the wall, my heart tight in my chest. He spoke to her like hecared.I pressed my hands against the stone, cool and gritty under my skin and realer than the ache rising up my spine.
I couldn’t imagine him teasing me like that. And sadly enough, I wanted him to.
This man who laughed over tarts and leaned in close to share secrets with a cook might’ve killed my sister. I couldn’t afford to forget that.
But it was getting harder all the time to keep barriers around my heart. When these rebels were anonymous people, I could cling to my anger and hatred. Since I’d arrived, I’d made friends. Icaredfor many here already.
And I was conflicted.
Could these people outright murder my sister?
I should leave, search the place for clues about what happened to Addie. Or go back to my room and get some sleep. It had been a full day. A full several days. My body throbbed with exhaustion.
Yet nothing could drag me away.
I hovered by the door, barely breathing, one palm on the stone frame while I peered into the kitchen. Voices echoed with warm laughter, and I could hear the clink of glass, the familiar sounds I might find in any kitchen. If I left now, maybe I could search in a few parlors. Sitting areas. Or track down Trew’s office. Do what I’d traveled so far to do.
I should go anywhere, not remain here, spying on the infuriating, much too appealing king.
His eyes snapped to meet mine.
I froze.
My every muscle stiffened, my lungs locking tight. Maybe if Ididn’t blink and didn’t move, I could pretend I hadn’t been caught, pretend he hadn’tseenme.
A slow, terrible smile curved his full lips. “Stop spying and come inside, Isi. Join us.”
My name in his mouth felt too tender.
His eyes flashed molten gold in the kitchen light.
I’d been caught spying on a man I might one day have to kill. A man I couldn’t stop wanting.
I hadn’t meant for him to see me like this. But now I wasn’t sure I could unsee this side of him either.
25
ISI
Iswallowed the humiliation threatening to choke me and nudged the door wide, stepping inside. If I was careful with my questions, I might discover some clues here. He might let something slip.
I met his gaze and lifted my chin. “I’m…hungry. I was coming to see if I could get something to eat.”
“Of course you were.”
The smell hit me first. Honey, browned butter, and something warm and spiced that was not Trew.
