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She had misjudged his rage and frustration.

He slammed her up against the wall, and began choking her, but where he was touching her shirt she smelled burning and then he threw himself back with a scream, batting at his chest.

The door flew open, and Luc suddenly filled the doorway.

The messenger calmed suddenly, lifting his shirt.

Ava could see red welts across his stomach.

“I’ve tried and tried, and I can never get her,” he said to Luc. “I really hate her and I’m glad her friends in Grimwalt are in prison. I hope they die there.”

He moved slowly to the window, a throwing knife in his hand.

“I’ll find a way to get you,” he said to her. “Don’t think I won’t.” He climbed out, clutching at the sill. “You can’t be wrapped in protection all the time.”

A knife suddenly lodged in his eye, and he fell back with a scream.

Ava looked across at Luc, who was lowering his hand from the knife throw.

“He might have known which friends and where they’re are being held,” she said.

He shook his head. “Or he might have come back while you were in your bath and killed you.”

“Maybe.”

The palace guards burst into the room, and Luc waved at the window.

By the time Dak and Deni had spoken to them about how he got in, and the body had been removed, the sun had set.

As soon as they were alone, they walked toward each other, and Luc bent down to kiss her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was related to the queen.”

“I should have guessed.” He nuzzled her neck just under her ear. “They called you princess enough times in the fortress. And I remember now how they didn’t care what happened to me when they were hunting us after we escaped. But you had to be brought home no matter what the cost.”

“That was more to do with my other secret than the princess thing.”

He chuckled. “Maybe. Anyway, you aren’t a princess any more.” He kissed her again. “Queen.”

She sighed. “We’ll have to work on putting together a system like the Grimwalt court, or the Skäddar Collective. Even the Venyatu principalities are more representative than Kassia has been.”

“We can do that, but you’ll need to be in charge for a while until it’s all settled. You’ll leave Kassia open to invaders, otherwise.”

She leaned back and smiled at him. “I think it’s already been invaded, hasn’t it?”

“True.” He lifted her onto the bed, and settled over her. “But I’m a reasonable warlord. We can come to some accommodation.”

“Is that so?” She bit the cord on the side of his neck, and he made a sound that lit a fire in her. “Well then, accommodate me.”

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