Page 120 of Given to the Black King

“I will be on the field before dawn.”

“And I will be on the west wall.”

The instinct to argue rises again.

I kill it before it reaches my mouth.

“Ghenn’s second stays beside you. Two shield guards. Vess on the upper walk.”

“Yes.”

“If the wall is breached⁠—”

“It won’t be.”

“If it is, you take the south stair and do not stop.”

She nods.

I mark the south stair on the wall map and make her repeat it once.

We go to my chamber after midnight.

For once, neither of us reaches for sex.

She lets the borrowed black robe fall and stands in front of the fire wearing my marks and fresh bruises. I remove the last of my clothes and lie down beside her.

She turns her back to my chest.

“May I use the shoulder mark?” I ask.

“Yes.”

I put my mouth over the safe bite at her shoulder. Not biting. Breathing.

Her hand finds mine beneath the furs. She laces her fingers between the claws before they can extend.

“Sleep,” she says.

“I don’t.”

“Try.”

I close my eyes. Her heart slows against my arm. The green ribbon from the hunt is tied around my wrist.

I sleep for two hours. It is more than enough.

IONA

The armorers buckle black plate over his chest.

I know the scar beneath the left strap. I kissed it last night before we slept.

Now iron covers it.

Four men work around him without speaking. One fastens the shoulder guard. Another ties the leather below his ribs. Ghenn checks every buckle after them.

Torgan watches me from across the chamber.