Page 86 of The Queen’s Bodyguard

He leaned his chin in his hand, his amber eyes shifting over her slowly. “You don’t want to be friends.”

“Why not?”

The longer Argos looked at her, the more Theora wanted to close the gap between them. The more she wanted his hands…

He grinned and turned back to his food. “I’m sure your husband wouldn’t approve.”

Theora made an unintentional sound of disgust. That was the last thing she wanted to discuss.

“You’re one of the few people who don’t work for me that I actually trust. He could get over it.”

“I don’t work for you?”

“We’re equals. It’s a partnership.” She hesitated, losing her nerve at his lack of enthusiasm for the idea. It was stupid, anyway, to suggest such a thing. “We’re in this together.”

“Are we?”

“Please don’t give me a hard time,” she said. “I’m really trying, Argos.”

“I know you are.” He held one of the vegetable rolls out to her, and she grinned before taking a bite of it from his hand. “You’ve napped, you’ve eaten. I’d say you’re ready to get these negotiations underway.”

Theora took a moment to finish chewing, uncertain if it was his words or too much food messing with her stomach. “How do you know Pyre will cooperate?”

“Because this was her idea, Theora. She wants peace as much as we do.”

“Argos.” Theora sighed. “I’m still jumpy from the attempt on my life that happened only this morning. I’m not meeting with the ruler of the colony we’ve been at war with for an entire year with just you, me, and the hope that she’ll be true to her word.”

She got up from her stool, tipping the old woman generously. She frowned at Argos. “I know you’re not growling at me right now, Argos.”

“Do you not trust me to protect you?” he said, arms crossed.

“Of course I do.”

“Then trust me now.”

Theora took a deep breath. Argos was used to being in constant danger, to tearing that danger to pieces without fear. The only time Theora had ever been in danger was a year ago…and he was asking her to meet with the queen who had put her there. No armor. No weapons but her bodyguard. And now…no third party to keep the enemy accountable.

But she was sure there would be a note from Venita. Perhaps if she humored him by saying yes, he’d stop giving her a hard time about it.

“Fine. Fine. We’ll go. After—” She held up her finger to stave off any interruptions. “After we make sure there are no updates from the judge or Venita, and I’ve had a chance to change into something more sensible.”

Argos sighed. “That seems fair.”

“And I want to find out why Boada lied to me about my magic, first. She must have known I possessed your—what was it?—siren song before setting us up together.”

“She was obviously trying to protect your position as queen. And handlers aren’t supposed to have family, right?”

“Family?”

Argos raised his brows, as if his meaning should’ve been blatantly obvious. “Theora. Come on.”

Theora gaped, then quickly grabbed a hold of her husband’s shirt. “Let’s get back to the room.”

Chapter 24

Argos

There was no better feeling than this stubborn, hotheaded woman’s head resting on his shoulder, arms casually wrapped around his neck as she held her shoes, fully trusting him to carry her through the hidden tunnels of, by all probability, an enemy colony.