Page 49

His dry tone pulled an unexpected laugh from her. Mer dropped her skirt and clasped a hand over her mouth at theshhhfrom the dowager queen. The king’s eyes creased at the corners when he returned her smile.

Depths below, he was handsome.

At the thought, Mer stiffened and dropped his hand.

The king’s smile disappeared, and furrows appeared between his brows as he scanned her expression. She turned her face away from him and glared at her skirts once again. What was wrong with her? How could such a depraved thought pop into her mind? This was the man who’d taken everything from her.

He didn’t even remember taking Ream’s life. Crushing hurt bore down upon her until she wanted to lash out just for some relief.

Don’t overreact. Don’t push him away. You need him. For now.

“I would like to visit the city,” she whispered softly, her voice shaking. “I would like to see how our people live.”

She could feel his intense gaze on the side of her face, but she refused to look at him.

“An escort could be arranged.”

The tension between her shoulders released. “That would be appreciated.”

The dowager queen sighed and lifted her head. “If you two are going to keep talking, we might as well do some exploring now before the queen has her fitting for her new wardrobe and we discuss her coronation.”

Mer glanced at the older woman, who stared at them with exasperation and a touch of something else.

Hope.

The most dangerous emotion of all.

This is what you want.

She nodded to the dowager queen and blinked repeatedly as a large hand was shoved in front of her face. What was this? Whyhelp her up? She was perfectly able to rise herself. Mer glanced around the room, noting all the attention on them.

Another ruse. To look like a gentleman.

Mer took his hand and allowed the king to pull her to her feet. Mer tipped her head back and mutely watched him tuck her arm into his. She curbed the reaction to jerk away.

“Shall we?” he rumbled.

Mer painted a fake smile on her face and nodded. He led her from the chapel aisle, smiling at courtiers as they passed, the dowager queen and her ladies trailing them. Mer squinted at one of her new ladies that hadn’t helped dress her. She just about gaped as she recognized one.

Mazie. The female warrior who’d ridden with her after the attempt on the king’s life.

Interesting. It seemed that perhaps her maids weren’t all they seemed to be.

Mazie caught her look and batted her long sooty lashes as if to say,“Are you happy to see me again?”

Mer grinned and winked at the warrior.

King Raziel leaned down and whispered in her ear, causing the hair along the back of her neck to rise. “Be careful with that grin. You might scare someone with the deviousness of it.” They reached a set of immense double doors, and Mer fought not to roll her eyes.

“If anyone is devious, it’s you, my lord,” she murmured, nodding to a fancy-looking lady to her left who curtsied. Two footmen pulled open the doors, and she blinked at the blinding rays of sun. “Don’t think I didn’t notice your plant among my ladies.”

The king smiled broadly, not in the least bit ashamed. “I take your protection seriously.”

Mer snorted, her smile turning brittle. “Mazie is here formyprotection? I’m surprised you could say that with a straight face.”

He shrugged. “Believe what you want, but for the love of the heights, wipe that false smile from your face. It’s so tight, it looks as if you’re going to break your teeth.”

She adjusted her smile into one of closed lips and softened her expression as he led her outside for the first time since she’d arrived in Methi. “Better?”