Page 25 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

My words caught him off guard. Reynard frowned, but before he could argue, a soft knock announced the arrival of the food he’d ordered. Still, he looked indecisive, silently watching the maidservant as she placed the tray on the table.

‘You know I’ll check this story,’ he said finally.

I nodded. ‘I expect no less. The grand master has a record of it. Just ask him to send you a copy from the archives. As for the contract, I burned it when I bought my freedom,’ I said, turning my attention to the food.

I didn’t want to look at Reynard, not right now. I didn’t need his pity or his understanding or his disbelief, just . . . his absence.

He got the message.

I waited until the door closed behind him before I sat to eat my breakfast. Sun, sweet pastries, and herbal tea slowly erased the traces of sadness, allowing me to focus on my surroundings.

What am I caught up in now? I wondered, falling back onto the bed, pleasantly sated after my meal.

Well, whatever it is, at least it has gilded bars.

I allowed myself a small smile, testing the deliciously soft mattress while stroking the finest silk bedding.

Reynard was an enigma I couldn’t decipher.

His rage at seeing me made perfect sense, but his kindness?

The bath, this room, and the strange apology felt like a trap or some twisted game.

I didn’t like the uncertainty or gratitude I felt because of it, and I certainly shouldn’t like the broody, brutal bastard himself.

My bones creaked as I stretched out, yawning so hard my jaw popped.

I fought my exhaustion, knowing I should find a means of escape.

A valiant hero would rip up the bedding and sneak away through the window, but I was no hero.

The window overlooked a massive drop that ended in jumbled, sharp rocks, and I was too bloody tired to swing on the end of a makeshift rope like some deranged squirrel.

Half asleep, my thoughts again drifted to Reynard. It was no surprise I hadn’t recognised him in the forest. On Dagome’s coins, his profile looked chiselled and unforgiving, but up close, he was handsome, with an intriguing softness to his lips, especially when he kissed.

I moaned, pushing my face into a pillow, annoyed and embarrassed by my reaction to him. But gods, did the man know how to kiss.

If we weren’t enemies . . . I thought, trailing a finger over my lips.

His harshness matched the defined lines and sculpted muscles beneath his tanned skin.

His short black beard and eyepatch that now covered his scar only added to the illusion, making him look more like a villain or an ancient warlord from tales of old, the kind whispered to blushing daughters to warn them of the world’s dangers.

And unfortunately, as much as I wished to deny it, I’d really liked that kiss.

‘Get those stupid thoughts out of your head, Sana,’ I muttered. ‘It’ll never happen again.’

It didn’t matter if he had his moments.

Reynard was still the king. And I was still his prisoner.

‘Sana. Wake up, troublemaker, we need to go,’ a gentle voice whispered next to my ear.

When I opened my eyes, shadows danced in the fading light of twilight, and a large, looming shape knelt next to my bed. The scent of burnt caramel, the signature of Irsha’s favourite mead, instantly calmed my senses.

‘What are you doing here?’ I whispered, reaching up to stroke his face.

‘I came to rescue my princess from her ivory tower,’ he said, and I rolled my eyes when I felt his smile widen. ‘Now come on, we don’t have much time.’

He tried to pull me out of bed, but I shook my head. ‘No, wait. Let me think.’

‘We don’t have time. The guards are about to change, so we need to go,’ he urged.

‘Sana, Jagon’s back, and the Brotherhood’s in uproar.

Boyan issued your invitation, but Jagon challenged him, claiming it was just a cover-up and that Boyan no longer had control over the city.

I need to take you to a safe house before he learns where you are. ’

‘He already knows, and he threatened Lily to keep me in check,’ I said.

Irsha cursed, standing up. ‘I’ll kill that motherfucker. What did he say? Is she in danger now?’

‘No, you know the rules. If you kill him now, the rest of the Brotherhood will hunt you down as a traitor. The only way to kill Jagon and stay alive is to challenge him during the grand master’s trial when Boyan dies.’

Irsha muttered another curse. ‘I hate to see you in danger . . . or Lily, for that matter. She’s so delicate,’ he said, his last remark surprising me. Lily might look like a porcelain doll, but beneath her fragile exterior lay a core of steel and a will that often scared me.

‘I know, but Jagon is only part of the problem. There was a man with him—’ I paused, wondering how to voice my concerns. ‘The way he spoke . . . he’s bad news, Irsha. I fear something much bigger than your, my, or even the Brotherhood’s plans is in play.’

‘Alright, but that changes nothing in the moment. We need to get you out of here, and our time is running out. Get dressed. Now ,’ he said.

‘No. Trust me. I need to stay,’ I responded, expecting Irsha’s pained groan.

‘But please do something for me. Remember that lip rouge I made? It’s somewhere in Jagon’s workshop, and there are probably some letters incriminating Lily there as well.

We need them. Without that evidence, Jagon has nothing to submit to the court.

’ I paused. ‘And should Tivala find out and try to circumnavigate the court by hiring a Blade to end her . . . Well, the request must go through you.’

He smiled. ‘You sound like you’re still Boyan’s shadow.’

‘I sound like a woman who won’t lose another family to vengeful arseholes,’ I said, pushing him off the bed.

‘Now, go and bribe Jagon’s current apprentice.

I’m sure my former master makes their life just as miserable as he did mine.

They’ll likely be willing to provide a little information for some money—and Irsha? Wait for me. I’ll be back, I promise.’

‘Or I could just throw you over my shoulder and leave with you now,’ he said, visibly irritated once more.

‘Come on, Blade, you can always return and play hero tomorrow if need be. Trust my judgement and keep an eye out for any strangers with southern accents and pasty white skin hanging around Jagon.’

‘You saw his backer?’ Irsha asked, playing with his dagger.

‘Only a servant, unfortunately, and only his chin,’ I said, smirking. ‘The little shit wasn’t too happy that Jagon kept me alive. So just keep an eye out while I try begging forgiveness for stabbing the king in the face.’

‘That was you ? The woman he’s been searching for like a madman? Fuuuuck Roksana, you really know how to make life interesting, don’t you?’

‘Yeah, tell me about it.’ I rolled my eyes, not mentioning that I’d spent the last few hours dreaming of the king. My poor Blade might have thought I’d completely lost my mind.

‘Fine, I’ll come back soon—unless you manage to convince our illustrious monarch to release you,’ Irsha said before bending and kissing my forehead.

‘Be careful, Nightshade, and don’t worry about Lily.

I’ll stay with her.’ He was pulling away when we heard the heavy footsteps of the returning guards, and we both jerked back.

Irsha shook his head and unwrapped a thin but durable cord from his waist. ‘This is all your fault,’ he said with a smile, tying the cord to the bedpost. ‘Let’s hope no one sees my sorry arse dangling from the window. Untie the cord once I’m down and I’ll collect it later.’

He climbed through the window, barely visible in the darkness that had replaced the twilight, while I sat on the windowsill thinking over the concern and fondness in his voice when he had mentioned Lily’s name.

I remembered that tone from when he was courting me, and I could only hope he hadn’t fallen for the courtesan whose moniker was the ‘Ice Queen.’

One way or another, he’d protect her. However, I had little hope that Irsha would find the rouge.

My Blade was a skilled assassin, and he’d proven it by sneaking in here despite all the guards, but asking him to search Jagon’s workshop was like expecting him to find a needle in a haystack, especially with its many hidden areas.

We still had time, but a niggling doubt irked me.

Am I making a mistake by staying here?

No. I owed the king a sliver of trust, if only as a way to repay his defence of me in the forest. Rested, fed, and out of direct danger, I could no longer avoid thinking about how everything between us had started.

Despite my excuses, maiming the man whose only crime was that of trying to help me weighed heavily on my conscience.

‘I wish I could turn back time,’ I whispered, staring at the starry sky until a noise dragged my attention to another balcony where a solitary figure stood motionlessly looking at my window.

I easily recognised the shape. Only one man could be so tall, so imposing, even from this distance.

I doubted Reynard could see me, but had he seen Irsha? As if in answer to my question, he spun around and disappeared inside.

‘Well, this will be interesting,’ I mused, untying the cord and letting it fall before closing the window. With no better option, I went back to bed and waited for him to arrive.

If I’d learnt anything about the king, it was that he wouldn’t come and ask questions politely but charge in with the power of a blizzard.

And I needed to find a way to calm the storm.