He watched me, waiting for a reaction.
He knew.
He had to with the questions he was asking.
I reached for the dagger strapped to my thigh in preparation to defend myself from his attack, but the expression on his face stopped my movement.The questions hit too close, but he displayed more genuine curiosity than suspicion.
I dropped my gaze to my lap, rubbing at the dirt staining my skirt.“I knew if I wanted to take down the man who murdered my family I would need skills.I sought people who knew their craft, and I learned everything I could from them.”
“A noble cause, especially for a plan of vengeance.”His green eyes bore into mine as he leaned closer, his voice lowering.“Have you ever killed anyone, Analleia?”
Little spiders of fear crept up my arms, paralyzing me.
I swore my first kill would be my only kill.
Lessons from the tower ran through my mind, every possible way to end a life, to avoid detection.Everything I hated and yet needed to be.
“No.”I matched the intensity in his gaze.“Not yet.”
We stared at one another, his gaze dropping to my pursed lips as the damp air curled around us.
“Have you?”I turned the question back on him, bringing his gaze back to mine.
He hesitated for a long moment, mulling over his answer before he shook his head no.“Although, I must admit I did want to killyouwhen we first met.”
Apparently he’d had that inclination on both of our first meetings.First with the chess match and second with my destruction of his alliance with Lord Eyreling.
I shrugged.“You weren’t enough of a bother to want to kill.”
He let out a confused laugh.“You’re strange, Analleia.Has anyone ever told you that?”
My grin went flat, and I poked him in the chest.“And you’re a cocky jerk, but since you’re the prince I have to assume no one has ever told you that.”
He grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward him until our faces were inches apart.“Oh, trust me—they have.Not directly to my face, but I’ve heard it.”
Our eyes danced over each other, our bodies aware of the proximity.My voice came out a little breathless.“If you know it’s true then why do you continue to be one?”
He quirked an eyebrow.“What, a jerk?”
I nodded, our lips hovering over each other, both lost in a spell.
“You didn’t seem to think I was a jerk when we were dancing the other night.”
Heat flooded me, my cheeks warming at the memory of us in the street, his hand in mine, both of us laughing like old friends.The way we were looking at each other now was anything but.
“I prefer the termsfar more informedandcunning adversarytococky jerk.”His voice was barely above a whisper as a hand slipped around my back and pulled me closer.
“Well, that’s a mouthful to say.”My eyes fluttered shut.
“Your dress is covered in blood.”
I jerked back at the comment, the spell breaking.
Valeris pulled me forward again, angling me to the side for a better view.
“Leave it.It’s fine.I’m fine.”I tried to pull away, another wave of dizziness washing over me.Was I lightheaded?I recalled the sharp pain I had felt in my shoulder when he had pulled us through the window.Had I actually cut myself to bleed that much?
“No, it’s not fine.”He pulled down the shoulder of my dress, and I reared back.
