Page 28 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

Reynard

I swore under my breath for the hundredth time.

How long had I been sitting here, unable to think of anything except the scent of that woman’s hair?

The stack of unread paperwork on my desk was a testament to my distraction, and that was just this morning’s reports and petitions.

The pile my assistant had slammed down threatened to bury me as it teetered on the edge, but I found it impossible to care.

I wished I were more like Orm. My brother could do this with a smile on his face, the bureaucracy calming to his savage heart.

I could still feel her, her scent lingering on my fingertips driving me insane, but I couldn’t let it affect me. That Viper could be my salvation if I trusted her enough to reveal that her poison was slowly killing me.

‘Don’t give yourself false hope,’ I muttered once again, but the hope awakened this morning refused to die. Once Riordan had confirmed she was the same woman who had come to warn the mages, I went to talk to her, only to see my fucking guard manhandling her.

Maybe I should go to the garrison?

A few rounds sparring with that arsehole might bring me peace of mind.

My grip tightened on my quill and the delicate tool snapped, staining my hand with ink. This loss of control wasn’t helpful, so with a deep breath, I wiped the stain, pushing aside the ruined document, and grabbed another file.

The page in front of me was a merchant’s petition, the Dwarven League asking for reduced taxes on their precious metals. I’d rejected it already, but the stubborn bastards wouldn’t give up and sent me at least one petition a week.

Do they think I’ll sign one by mistake, or are they trying to wear me down?

Just as I’d expected, since I’d returned half-blind, many took it as a sign of weakness.

Meetings with the Royal Council had become an endless battle, the old families fiercely opposing my reforms, and various factions had flooded me with demands, as if I were more susceptible to falling for their nonsense now that I’d been injured.

I lost an eye, for fuck’s sake, not half my brain.

Only my army remained loyal, showing me steadfast support, but they long ago learned that a man’s value was more than the sum of his body parts.

I glanced briefly at the stained-glass window overlooking the river, my guest once again occupying my mind, confounding me with her attitude.

Why did she do that? I wondered. Roksana’s promise to fight me if I overstepped had impressed me, but she’d done more than trust me. I’d felt her reaction, seen the blush of desire.

And I almost gave in, forgetting who she was and what she had done. Calling her Sanika was a mistake, but her reflection, a ray of light surrounded by the darkness of my presence threatening to consume her, was just that—the hope before dawn.

Gods, what am I thinking?

Would it have been different if we’d met in better circumstances? Would we still be denying this maddeningly irresistible desire that filled the air with the tension of an approaching storm?

‘Will I be able to let you go?’ I muttered, knowing this couldn’t carry on.

Fascinating as she was, and despite her reasons, Roksana had caused the unthinkable and paved the way for Dagome’s enemies to ramp up their demands. After the war, I’d promised myself I’d not use brute force to rule my country, but because of her, I might not be able to keep that vow.

But today . . . Today was madness.

I’d only wanted to test if the scent that drove me crazy the other night was still there. The servants had done a good job bathing her, but it hadn’t changed a thing, and as soon as my nose touched her skin, I’d lost myself in her.

The documents stacked in front of me chose that moment to wobble, spilling over my desk and bringing me back to reality. I had more important issues to deal with than the woman sleeping under my roof.

I grabbed the morning papers, determined to read through them even if it took all night.

Annoyingly, the next reports weren’t critical either. They were about quarrelling nobles that the chancellor could deal with, and two related to the mages that I put aside for Riordan. Then I came across an unmarked envelope slipped between the official letters.

Your Majesty,

The Observers you stationed on the border have noticed increased movement between our kingdom and the Care’etavos Empire.

Two days ago, a wagon became bogged down on a muddy road.

Its axles were so deep that it took several horses to pull it out.

The mage working with us became ill upon getting close and confirmed it was srebrec.

We will track this shipment wherever it goes and keep you informed.

Additionally, a month ago, our spies noticed bulwark construction on the Tivalaran border. I’ll update you as soon as we receive more information.

The letter was unsigned, but I easily recognised Arto’s style of writing.

If anyone could gather intel on Tivala, it was my sergeant-turned-spy, even if his disguise was one of a disgruntled former soldier who drank and fornicated his way around Dagome.

Roksana thought she’d disclosed new information by telling the mages about the illegal srebrec trade, but I already knew about M?ot’s little side business.

I just hadn’t known he was so callously sacrificing his people for it.

However, the bulwarks on the border of Tivalaran were a surprise. I’d have to investigate those sooner rather than later.

‘I hope that old fool isn’t building a wall,’ I muttered, reaching for a new quill and drafting orders to send more sentinels to the region to observe their movements.

As soon as I was done, my mind drifted again, and I caught myself staring through the window, wondering if she was asleep.

‘I give up.’ I sighed, banging my head on the desk before calling the guards.

‘Bring the arch healer,’ I said, waiting impatiently, even as guilt crept in. It was almost midnight, but I needed an answer, or at least a theory.

An hour later, Ciesko walked in, concern etched in the weathered lines of his face.

‘Is the poison troubling you again, sire?’

He came closer, but when he tried to place a hand on my injured face, I stopped him.

‘Not the poison—a Viper. I have the assassin in my custody, but the situation is complicated.’

‘Oh?’ Eagerness flashed in his eyes. ‘Did she talk? If not, I’ll coax the antidote out of her. If that doesn’t help, I’m sure Riordan has his ways.’

‘No,’ I said, my answer startling him. ‘I want Riordan interrogating her, but only when I’m certain she won’t cause further damage will I take any potion of her design.’

Ciesko pulled up a chair and sat next to me with the professional, benevolent patience that many healers adopted in conversations with lost causes or total idiots.

‘If that’s your decision, then what is it that is troubling you now, sire?’ he asked, taking my hand, and for the first time in my life, I felt utterly defeated.

‘I can’t get her out of my head. I react unnaturally . . .’ I paused, struggling to admit my feelings. ‘I can’t control myself around her.’

‘And how can I help with that? Do you need a calming draught?’

‘No, I want you to examine her. Something happened between us in the forest, right before she struck me . . . I need to know if it’s her magic or something in her body that’s making a fool of me. I’ll take any explanation, whatever it is.’

‘I can examine her, sire, but you likely know the answer already. I’m not sure, however, if you’re ready to admit it.’

‘Stop talking in riddles, Ciesko.’

Like it or not, I had to know. I couldn’t be tethered to the whims of a woman, especially a shadow of the Brotherhood. My determination must have been apparent on my face, because Ciesko sighed before continuing.

‘I treated your wounds during the Battle of the Rift, and I can recognise your aether signature in a room full of people,’ he said, confusing me because I thought we were talking about Roksana.

He smiled. ‘But since the accident, your signature has changed. The pattern has become more chaotic and much stronger, closely resembling your brother’s. ’

‘Oh, please don’t tell me that at the ripe old age of thirty-five I’m destined to become a dragon rider?’

I laughed it off, but he remained serious.

‘I don’t think you’ll be able to bond with a dragon, no, but the wild magic within you has grown stronger. If not for the stasis spell Riordan put you in, I’m afraid you would have lost your sanity to the power that kept you alive.’

‘How the fuck did that happen?’ I shot up from the chair and walked to the window where I’d previously stood watching a man escape from Sana’s balcony.

‘Hard to say. Wild magic is called that for a reason. No one can predict what it will do. All we know is that your bloodline has a strong affinity for its chaos, creating at least one dragon rider a generation, while those who do not become riders are seeded with the berserker’s rage.

There have even been cases where near-death experiences have awakened the power. ’

‘So you don’t think she hexed me . . . but how does that explain this obsession? Especially with her scent. Why do I feel like this? I should despise her for what she did,’ I said, drumming my fingers on the desk’s surface with such force that Ciesko shifted in his chair, fear flashing in his eyes.

I was afraid of losing control. I saw what wild magic had done to my brother.

He was barely eight years old when he almost killed a man and I’d had to witness him being dragged away to the Cave of Choosing.

My mother wailed, clawing at my father’s arm when they took him, and I promised I would never let that happen ever again.

‘Sire, if I may? I heard the young lady is attractive. Wild magic can react strangely when emotions are enflamed . . . I can promise you one thing, though—if you’d despise her as you claim you should, with the wild magic in control .

. .’ He paused, muttering, ‘How to put this gently?’ to himself.

‘Your guest wouldn’t be sleeping peacefully in her room, and I would be by her side, healing what was left of her. ’

‘You mean I’d have violated her.’ I stated it emotionlessly, but my entire soul recoiled at such a thought. The wave of protectiveness that washed over me left me confused, but despite the violence of our first meeting, I couldn’t hate my bewitching Viper.

‘Is there any way I can weaken these feelings?’ I asked. If there was the slightest chance I could be cured of this peculiar affliction, I’d take it.

‘Time and distance, possibly? Right now, your senses are heightened and every reaction exaggerated. You could ask your brother. I heard he had a similar reaction to his mate. Or if you know someone you’re drawn to in a similar way, try spending more time with them?

’ Ciesko smiled, patting my shoulder. ‘Wild magic works in mysterious ways, but we are not animals, sire. Our actions are our own.’

I nodded, unconvinced by the old healer’s words. He hadn’t felt the maelstrom in my soul when I held her in my arms.

‘I still want you to examine her at your earliest convenience. Something feels odd about her, and I can’t neglect any avenue when it comes to her.’

Ciesko nodded, and I inclined my head, signalling his dismissal.

Alone, I stood by the window, gazing into the darkness. This conversation would have amused Roksana. Despite what I’d said to her earlier, if Ciesko confirmed she’d done nothing to me, I would let her go.

I could not be under the same roof with a woman whose touch threatened to unravel my sanity.