Page 14 of Given to the Black King

Ghenn waits for the rest. I do not give it to him. He leaves to summon the council.

I stay in the armory until her heartbeat slows. It takes a long time.

After dark, I move through the hold because sitting still has become impossible. Her scent appears at the turn to the kitchens.

I stop.

She comes around the corner carrying a candle.

Alone.

Her hair is braided over one shoulder. She has changed into a plain dark dress, but it does nothing to hide the shape of her body. The flame throws light over her throat.

She stops too.

For one breath, neither of us moves.

Then her gaze drops to the linen around my forearm.

“That was your blood.”

I hear the servant’s mistake in the question.

“It was.”

“Did you cut yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I take one step toward her.

Her pulse jumps.

My claws press against the inside of my fingertips.

“Go back to your rooms.”

“I was looking for the kitchens.”

“Why?”

“Because your servants answer questions with their faces and then run away before using words.”

“That is sensible of them.”

“Is it?”

I take another step.

The corridor is narrow. She should retreat.

She does not.

Her scent warms.

The beast in me comes awake so fast my vision narrows. I put my bleeding hand against the wall beside her head before it can reach for her.