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Chapter

Forty-Nine

“ W here are you taking me?”

Lessia cautiously surveyed the wide streets of the western part of Asker.

She wasn’t too familiar with this area; the neighborhoods here were more upscale than where her home, taverns, and gambling rooms lay.

Loche nudged her with his shoulder, his face once again shrouded from view by his hood. “Do you trust me?”

Pulling at her own hood, she shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”

A laugh escaped him. “Fair enough. I’m taking you to my house.”

Her steps faltered. “I thought you lived in the castle? Isn’t that what regents do?”

“Officially, yes. Unofficially, I live right there.” Loche gestured toward a white three-story building before them, where a large glass-encased balcony jutted out from the top floor.

The glass was black, impossible to see through, and she wondered whyever someone might choose to do that when they had the opportunity to have a clear view of Asker, given the hill the house was embedded in.

Dragging her with him, Loche pulled the hood from his face when they neared a large steel door with two of his masked guards posted outside.

The men bowed their heads as they recognized him, opening the squeaking door to reveal a beautiful foyer with light gray walls and glass lamps lining the entire ceiling.

Soft music flowed through the house as she stepped over the threshold, and muffled laughter and conversation reached her ears as Loche led her up a black spiral staircase.

When they reached the third floor, Lessia’s eyes widened.

On a table to her right, a dozen of those frightening black masks were lined up, and farther in, several couches and chairs stood before a massive stone fireplace.

More than twenty men turned their heads as they approached, the conversation falling silent, and as her eyes met Zaddock’s where he leaned against one of the pillars lining the walls, his mouth fell open.

Zaddock made his way over to them, his wide eyes shifting to Loche. “What is she doing here?”

Loche plucked two goblets of wine off a side table, barely sparing Zaddock a look as he pressed one into her hands. “I invited her.”

Zaddock’s face tightened, and he turned his back on her, not realizing Lessia heard every word he whispered into Loche’s ear. “Did she do something to you?”

Muscles tensing, Loche glanced at her from over his shoulder before he responded. “I’m pretty sure she can hear everything we say, so why don’t you ask her directly?”

Zaddock’s eyes flew to hers, and he cleared his throat. “My apologies, Lessia. We don’t usually bring anyone here. ”

She fixed her gaze on his. “I didn’t do anything to him, Zaddock.”

“I’m pretty sure you do more than you think,” he mumbled but then excused himself, returning to the conversation he was having with a man clad in the black uniform Loche’s men always wore.

Sweeping her gaze across the room, she realized every man in here was one of Loche’s guards.

She’d never seen any of them without the masks.

Hadn’t even heard of anyone who had.

“This is our safe space.” Loche squeezed her elbow, steering her toward the balcony she’d spotted from the outside. “They don’t need to hide here.”

She turned to him, a wrinkle forming between her brows. “What do you mean, they don’t need to hide?”

Pausing for a moment, he sipped from his goblet. “I just meant they don’t need to be guards. They can just be themselves.”

Loche motioned for her to continue walking, and as she stepped onto the marble floor of the balcony, she sucked in a breath.

The impenetrable glass she’d seen from the street was completely clear, offering them a breathtaking view of Asker, of every single person walking the streets beneath them.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

When her eyes settled on his face, the genuine smile that graced it threatened to take her breath once more, and she could only nod.

It was amazing.

She could see all the way to the castle, the harbor to the east, the forest to the north, and every building in between.

Loche directed her to a small couch facing the glass .

Taking the seat beside her, he clinked his glass against her own before leaning back and releasing a sigh.

“I had this built when I was elected.” Loche’s steely eyes collided with hers. “There is so much scrutiny when you’re regent, people tracking your every step, so I wanted a place where I could do the same. Anonymously watching and evaluating and judging.”

Lessia glanced at the people below, every expression and movement clear to her as they walked the streets. “I can see why that would be appealing.”

“I thought you might.”

Leaning over her knees, he pointed to an older couple walking on one of the dimly lit streets. “See how she turns away from him? They’re in an argument, but they’re waiting to get home before they start yelling.”

His face was an inch from hers when he turned back to look at her.

Fighting the instinct to lean back, to get some space between them, Lessia made herself stare right back into those storming eyes, biting her lip not to blush under his piercing gaze. “So, this is where you learned how to read people so well?”

Loche’s eyes remained locked on her mouth as he smirked. “You’d be surprised how much you can learn from studying your enemies in secret.”

Her brows rose. “Your enemies? I thought they were your people.”

“You know as well as I do the people who live here aren’t my people. These are Craven’s people, and they hate every moment of my reign.”

Loche offered her another devastating smile, but it was replaced with hardness as he continued. “I’m sorry that you must live with so much hate from them, Lessia. It’s not fair, but if you’re to trust me with anything, know that I will dedicate my life to ensure no one else of your kind has to.”

A weak smile overtook her face as she nodded.

“Unless you win, that is.” Loche grinned.

Lessia snorted, shifting her gaze out to the night again.

Nobles and wealthy merchants walked in and out of upscale taverns and music rooms, the laughter and boisterous voices brushing her ears.

A soft sigh escaped her as she wondered if there would be a time when she, or any of her kind, might walk into those establishments and be greeted with warmth instead of glacial stares and hostile whispers.

A tiny seed of hope took root in her heart.

Perhaps if she succeeded in what her king wanted, and if Loche kept his grand promises, she would live to see it.

Loche’s hand gently cupped her chin, shifting her gaze to his again. “What thought just crossed your mind?”

Holding his stare, she asked, “Do you know what it’s like wanting something so badly, believing you can never have it? And suddenly, it might be within reach?”

Loche’s eyes flared as they traced over her. “More than you can imagine.”

Her cheeks heated, but she whispered, “That’s why I have to do this, Loche.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

Her eyes fell to the goblet she held in her hands.

“I do, Lessia.” Loche’s fingers brushed her cheek, his eyes darkening as he leaned in closer. “I know what it’s like to risk everything for what’s right.”

“I…” Her tattoo burned again, the pain rippling through her arm, sparking every nerve inside her.

No.

The goblet clattered to the floor, wine splashing her legs, and she couldn’t stop herself from rising, an invisible tether pulling her.

“Where are you going?” Loche’s dark brows knitted.

“I… I must go. I’m sorry.”

He called out for her as she nearly sprinted out of the room, but she couldn’t even turn her head over her shoulder as the force of King Rioner’s command overpowered everything else.