Page 32 of A Court of Truth and Thorns (Royal Scout #2)
S tanding on a rooftop above the Wandering Dog’s alley, I press deep into the shadows.
A man’s footsteps approach. I only hear them because he wants me to, and I shuffle my own feet to confirm my presence—the days of Rune and me just knowing each other’s precise location passed moons ago.
The connection remaining between us limits itself to sharing emotional peaks and general whereabouts.
No doubt, Rune is here now because he felt my thrill and grew curious. Or needlessly worried.
“Is there a reason you’re playing with rats today?” he asks, his low voice a caress against my ear. “Or do you simply enjoy driving me out of my mind? Did you know I was in the middle of greeting Everett’s newest envoy when enough excitement to send a pig squealing rushed through my veins?”
“You actually squealed?”
“I said—” Rune cuts off with a small growl as he catches the humor on my face .
I lay my hand on his cheek, the light prickle of his skin warm beneath my cold palm.
His heart beats a harmony to my own, each stroke echoing through my body.
The strength and power that is Rune encircles me like a blanket.
The practical side of me little needs Rune here to help me hunt, but the rest of me sings at his presence.
Rune’s lips brush my ear. “If driving me mad was indeed your end goal, I must congratulate you for achieving it.”
My breath quickens. Stars. I force myself to stare at a real rat—currently scurrying across a discarded crate—just to calm my treacherous body.
“I’ve other goals too,” I murmur. “Such as weeding out Viva Sylthia parasites. Five founding members of the regrouping Delta cell went into the Wandering Dog an hour ago. They will be greeting a jail cell come morning.”
Rune’s sigh is one of long sufferance. “You know this isn’t your job anymore.”
“And you know we’ve no one better. Plus, it’s hardly fair to let Luca’s soldiers have all the fun.”
A low chuckle, more of a rumble than a noise, vibrates Rune’s wide chest. For all his words, I can feel the predator in Rune salivating to join in the hunt. To my ongoing surprise, where I’ve always preferred solitude, I welcome his company.
“Five bastards, you say?” He squeezes my hand before sliding his own to his sword. “Whichever of us has fewer wrapped up by the end of the evening has to go to all the diplomatic council meetings for the next week.”
“That is absurdly unfair. I’m the one who found them. Making up rules to suit your own strengths is a dirty turn.”
Despite the night’s darkness, I swear I see Rune’s eyes gleam with wicked delight. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
An exhilarating shiver races through my body. Before I can say more, however, the Wandering Dog’s door opens and the five marks stroll onto the street .
Rune and I dissolve into the shared hunt.
Thank for reading the Royal Scout series.