I lifted a hand toward my hair. Hiding my revulsion, I pressed my lips against his and forced myself to hold there, against his cold, fleshy mouth, as I gripped the handle of the tiny blade.
When he opened his mouth to kiss me back, I nearly lost the little bit of food I’d managed to eat that morning.
I pulled the blade free from its sheath, careful not to slice myself.
The angle made it difficult, but I set it against his throat and stepped back immediately, pressing the blade against his skin so he could feel the prick.
Amir tensed, as understanding and then anger crossed his face. “Unhand m—” he began, but I pressed harder and he cut off as blood trickled down his neck.
“Don’t say a word,” I hissed. “You will tell everyone here the truth—”
The enormous double doors to the Great Hall burst open with a crash and a voice I recognized immediately rang out. “Stop this wedding!”
CHAPTER 48
Kadin
ISPIED ARIE’S BLADEpressed against the king’s throat at the same moment as his guards.
With her eyes on me, she didn’t see them move in.
They wrestled her away from his neck, wrenching the dagger from her hand.
She cried out in pain.
My men followed close behind me and now that we’d opened the doors, the villagers poured into the room, mostly out of curiosity, assuming they’d been invited to the wedding as well, heading toward the tables filled with food along the back.
The volume went from nothing to bazaar-level noise in a heartbeat. Chaos broke out across the audience as well, as if everyone seated suddenly woke up. Some of them stood, and I lost sight of Arie briefly.
I swore as I sprinted out of reach of the guards. Bosh limped in the other direction, while Daichi disappeared in the crowd. I knocked one guard into a man behind me and ran while he was distracted.
She’d had the King right where she’d wanted him, and I’d ruined it.
I swore again.
“Gideon,” I shouted, pulling off my helmet. “We need you here!”
