Page 16
Story: A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly (Compelling Fates Saga #1)
Chapter
Fifteen
N ot even the strong gusts of wind filled with shards of ice could wipe the smile off her face as she walked along the dark cliffs toward the white castle. It was a clear night, and she was grateful for the light the moon and the winking stars provided in the deep winter darkness.
Soft light spilled out of the many windows in the castle, and Lessia wished she could bottle the sense of safety that filled her after spending time with her friends, could take a sip every time Merrick snarled at her or one of the other nominees glared.
When steps crunched behind her, she threw a glance over her shoulder and found two men making their way toward her with their eyes narrowed.
Her stomach lurched when she realized she’d forgotten to pull up her hood. Quickening her steps, she fixed her gaze on the castle but slipped on the slick stone path, wincing when small rocks pierced her hands as she fell .
“Did you get thrown out so quickly, halfling? Guess the others weren’t too happy having a Fae in their midst.”
Springing to her feet, she spun around.
Her heart began racing when she found the men were only a few steps away.
Lessia backed up—slowly, so she would not fall again—and took a deep breath to draw on her magic.
It proved quite easy with the adrenaline thrumming through her veins.
“No, my guard is just around the corner. He probably wouldn’t be pleased finding you here, though, so I’d run along now if I were you.”
She didn’t think they’d believe her, but when the men peered over her shoulder, she quickly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they hesitated at the golden glow she knew met them.
Lessia fixed her gaze on the closest man. “You didn’t see me here tonight. Now go on home, and don’t cause any trouble.”
As he spun on his heel, heading back the way he’d come, the other man’s mouth fell open.
“You’re not allowed to use magic on us, halfling. It’s against the law,” he snarled.
The man took a step toward her, unwisely holding her gaze, and she flashed her teeth. “I know. But so is attacking someone, so I’d say it’s only fair. Now you go home as well and forget all about me and what happened here tonight.”
Eyes glazed, the man whirled around, his steps heavy as he followed his friend.
Lessia rolled her neck, blinking a few times to get her amber eyes back, then turned toward the castle only to slam right into a hard chest.
Nearly tripping again, stumbling a little too close for her liking to the tall drop into the dark waves, she stared right into stormy gray eyes.
Her hand flew to her pounding chest. “What are you doing? You nearly had me fall off the cliff!”
Loche ignored her, his eyes lifting to follow the men’s backs, which were quickly disappearing as they turned onto the path leading into town.
“How did you get them to leave you alone?” he asked quietly.
Tilting her head, she tried to calm her frantic heart and keep her features passive. “I can be persuasive when I need to.”
It technically wasn’t a lie.
Brows pulling close, Loche observed her, his eyes roving over her as if he could see through her cloak—into her very soul.
Narrowing her own eyes, she trailed them over him.
Despite the winter evening, he wasn’t dressed in a cloak, only a black uniform jacket that fit snugly over his thick arms. It was coupled with breeches and soft leather boots in the same inky black, not a spot on them, and he looked every bit the powerful regent he was.
Lethally handsome and deadly.
When their gazes locked again, he raised a dark brow, and she had to force herself not to scowl.
She still needed information from him, and ideally without using her magic, so she wouldn’t learn more than her king required.
Even if it could potentially get her out of this situation faster, she didn’t trust her king one bit, and she wasn’t about to share more than absolutely necessary about the leader of the lands she now called home.
Lessia cleared her throat. “What are you doing out here? ”
When he didn’t respond and only continued to quietly assess her with those piercing eyes, she frowned. “Did you follow me?”
Still no answer, only that unnerving stare.
He must have followed her.
But where she lived wasn’t a secret—his men had been at her home at least once a month since she’d bought her first tavern—and there was no way he’d spotted the children.
They were allowed out only on the balcony that faced the sea, and its railings were so high it was impossible to see anything from the path behind the house.
“Well, I should head back.” Grimacing to herself, Lessia stepped around him, forcing her legs to take long strides to return to the castle as fast as possible.
She was going to be late for this dinner, and Merrick would not be happy.
Not that he ever was.
Her sensitive ears picked up on Loche following her, but not close enough that it seemed he’d bother speaking with her, so she ignored him, keeping her gaze on the metal gates enclosing the castle grounds.
More voices, drunken singing, and laughs echoed between the buildings to her left, and she pulled up her hood not to risk another run-in with angry townsfolk.
As the sounds rang closer, a large hand wrapped around her arm, dragging her into a dark alley. Loche slammed her into the freezing stone wall of the building, his back molding with her body as he covered her.
“What are you doing?” she hissed. “Get off me!”
“Be quiet,” he growled as he strained his neck to see how close the people were.
The laughter was louder now, and Loche swore quietly under his breath as he pressed her harder against the wall .
Lessia’s chest heaved against his back, her breaths quickening as she tried to shove him off. But Loche pushed six foot four and seemed to be made up of pure muscle.
He didn’t move an inch when she tried to shift him.
“Get off me. I don’t need you to protect me from anyone,” she snarled against his back.
She had her hood pulled up; they wouldn’t even recognize her.
Spinning around so he faced her, Loche covered her mouth with his hand, his gray eyes nearly black as he glared at her. “I said be quiet. I can’t have anyone see me with you.”
She couldn’t stop her eyes from dropping, her hands falling limp to her sides.
Of course he wasn’t protecting her.
He just couldn’t risk his reputation if anyone saw them walking together.
His brows snapped together for a moment, but the voices were right beside them now, and the hardness returned as his eyes warned her not to say another word.
Loche’s heart thundered against her chest, his breaths fanning over her cheeks as he glowered at her until the voices were muffled, the people heading farther into Asker.
He didn’t remove his hand until the road beside them was entirely silent, only the snow softly blowing across the ground whispering in the dark.
When he finally took a step back, his eyes remained on hers as she brushed off the snow and ice that stuck to her cloak, wincing at the soreness of her limbs. Tiredness seeped into her bones under his scrutiny, and she averted her gaze and pulled the hood more snugly around her face.
How fast the sense of home evaporated under his loathing glare .
“I’ll wait here for a moment so you don’t risk anyone seeing us together again,” she said quietly.
Leaning back against the wall once more, she kept her eyes on her boots, but when she didn’t hear him leave, she slowly lifted them.
His searing gaze still lingered on her, and a jolt shot through her at the flicker of…
Curiosity?
Surprise?
But as fast as it appeared, it disappeared again, reverting to haunting steel.
Loche spun on his heel, taking two long strides before he turned his head over his shoulder and lifted his brows.
Frowning, she took a hesitant step forward.
Only when she was nearly by his side did he start toward the castle again, keeping a half step before her the whole way, not uttering another word as they passed through the gates and walked the stony path to the castle.
Lessia shook her head when he slammed open the doors, immediately stalking off somewhere without another glance at her.
They probably weren’t off to the best of starts.
Table of Contents
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