Page 31 of A Warrior's Heart

“You dare question the king’s decision?” Lorcan asked Ervin. “You forget your place, assassin. Shall I remind you of it?”

“Apologies, my prince.” Ervin kept his gaze lowered.

“I do not want your apologies,” Lorcan said. “By mocking the commander in charge of this mission, you mock your king. Do so again, and I will have no qualms about taking your head. Am I clear?”

“Yes, my prince.”

He sounds like King Triton too.

I stared at Lorcan in a new light. Had he really changed so much over the years? Gone was the prince who rebelled and fought his responsibilities. The hardness in his voice was no mere show. Whether he realized it yet or not, he was very much his father’s son. In more ways than one.

Lorcan turned away and headed toward the bow of the ship where Alek and Eva were practicing magic.

Ervin rose to his feet. His eyes burned into me before he strode in the opposite direction.

“Do not pay him any mind,” an unfamiliar voice said. My gaze landed on one of the other assassins. He lowered his hood to reveal a head of golden hair. His purple eyes held a humored gleam. “Being on ships makes him awfully cranky. One of our past assignments required us to travel on a ship for close to two months, and by the end of it, Ervin threatened to gut me and hang me from the sail. All because I sneezed. Best thing to do is give him space.”

“I don’t believe I recall your name.”

“Shar,” he answered, lightly thumping an arm across his chest and bowing his head before lifting it again. “I grew up hearing stories of you. My favorite is when you defeated an entire army with only a handful of men. It’s an honor to be in your presence.”

I couldn’t tell if he was deceiving me or if he truly meant the words.

“Ervin admires you too,” Shar said, moving his fingers through his golden hair. “Do not let his attitude fool you. He can be a real ass at times, but he means well.”

“This is the most I’ve heard any of you speak,” Troy said, brows raised.

Shar smiled with his eyes, and I got the impression that when he wasn’t on a mission, he used his good looks to his advantage. Even with half his face covered, he exuded charm and a touch of playfulness.

“Do not expect the same of them,” Shar responded, nodding to the other assassins. “Cain is more like me, but the rest follow the old ways. Silent as the night, except for when speaking to men from our brotherhood. They also abstain from all pleasures.” Shar shook his head. “Drink I can give up, but I’d lose my mind if I couldn’t wet my cock every once in a while.”

Troy gawked at him, and the blush in his cheeks was unmistakable.

“Whose cock is getting wet?” Eva asked, approaching us. Lorcan and Alek remained at the bow, looking out over the water.

“Apologies, milady,” Shar said, lowering his head to her. “I do not pride myself in speaking so crudely in front of a beautiful creature as yourself.”

Eva snorted a laugh. “I, myself, am crude, assassin.” She put her hands on her hips and faced him. Her blonde hair hung in one braid down her back, though some of her bangs fell free. “And if you think me as some pretty damsel, you are poorly mistaken.”

Ever since she was a young girl, she’d favored tunics and trousers over frilly dresses. When other girls were playing with dolls, Eva was practicing with wooden swords in the training field outside the palace. I had often humored her and practiced with her.

Quite funny that Troy was the opposite. He loved pretty things, makeup, and feminine clothing.

“Forgive me,” Shar said, still with that smile in his eyes. “Allow me to correct that mistake by walking you to your quarters?”

Most definitely a charmer.

“I’d rather chop my own arm off, thanks,” Eva responded before nodding to me and taking her leave.

Shar watched after her a moment before looking at me. “Quite an extraordinary female.”

“I’d put aside any thoughts of wooing her if that’s your aim,” Troy said with a laugh. “She treats men like her playthings and then casts them aside once she’s done with them. And that’s if she favors them. Imagine what she’d do to you.”

“Is that so?” Shar perked up even more. “I’ve always loved a good challenge.”

“Yet, a warrior should choose his battles wisely,” I said, doing my best not to smile. Eva was feisty, independent, and would eat Shar alive, assassin or not. For as long as I’d known her, she had taken pleasure in men, women as well, yet she had never settled down with any one of them. “Regardless, this is not the time for such things. We have a job to complete.”

The excited gleam left Shar’s eyes as he nodded. “I have not forgotten the mission. Have no doubt as to where my loyalties lie. Duty will always come first.” The mischief returned to his gaze. “Besides… I much prefer the company of men.”