Page 34 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

‘Yes!’ I exclaimed when I finally found it—the spell's anchor, a loose strand I could pull to unravel the healer’s entire mesh. Praying I wasn’t making a mistake, I tugged on the glistening thread.

‘Embrace me,’ I said, pressing my forehead to his, and when his arms locked around me, I yanked it loose. The lattice that protected the king from the horrors of my creation unravelled, Reynard’s guttural cry filling the room.

‘Roksana . . . please.’

The words, gentle and pleading after such an echoing shout, pulled at my heart.

Reynard fought against the agony, his face forced into a rictus of spasming muscle as the poison flooded his bloodstream, but I had no time for hesitation or mercy.

‘Come to me,’ I whispered, focusing on my aether in the poison.

The familiar energy swirled and changed direction, flowing towards me, pulling the liquid with it.

It seeped through the king’s skin, and I gathered it on my fingers—a thin translucent layer of death, coating them like a strange paint.

I continued until I was sure there was nothing left.

Only then did I tear its bonds apart, the residue dissolving on my fingertips.

Reynard’s head dropped to my shoulder, exhaustion in every panting, shuddering breath. I embraced him, gently stroking his back, laughing like a maniac.

‘We did it. You’ll live, Rey. I told you I could do it.’

My triumph was filled with an unhealthy dose of relief. A quiet voice in my head admitted that I’d acted rashly, but it was easy to ignore it. I’d corrected at least one of my mistakes and could feel a small sense of achievement.

As my laughter quietened, I noticed Reynard’s silence . . . and his arms as he pulled me closer, inhaling sharply.

Then I remembered where, and how, I was sitting.

‘It’s done, Your Majesty. You can let me go.’ His title slipped from my lips, a desperate attempt to place a barrier between us. Without a task to perform, this closeness felt like too much, felt too intimate.

My breath hitched when he raised his head and fixed me with the glowing golden gaze of a berserker.

‘No,’ he growled, arms flexing around me, pressing me closer.

Fear slid down my spine like a trickle of freezing water. I stilled, knowing enough about predators not to trigger him further with my fight. After a moment, the gold bled from his eye, and he exhaled slowly.

‘What am I going to do with you?’ he asked, reaching for a lock of my hair and twisting it around his fingers.

‘You can unhand me. That would be a good start,’ I said, determined to hide how his touch and the hunger in his gaze were affecting me.

‘I could, but I don’t want to. You are a surprising creature, my little Viper. What you did was . . . nothing short of a miracle,’ he said in an eerily calm voice. I exhaled with relief. This time, when I pulled back, he let me go.

‘I did what needed doing. Now, will you keep your oath? Tova and Lily—you promised to release them with no retribution.’

Reynard smirked, stretching out in the chair. ‘You know, I know someone just like you. She faced a goddess to save her lover . . . Tell me, are you in love with the dwarf? Was that why you tried to shield him with your body and gave your oath to protect him?’

What? Is he bloody serious?

I huffed in disbelief, the question taking me aback.

‘I have no lover. Tova is . . . I’m his drah’sa—his sister, someone he’ll challenge a king for. Please . . . when will you free him?’

With each word from my lips, Reynard visibly relaxed. My bloody handprint marked his face, making him look like some ancient war chief, but he looked calm, almost happy.

‘Later,’ he promised. ‘His stay in a cell is simply a lesson in manners. You can see him tomorrow, you have my word. But only after he’s had a polite conversation with Riordan, of course. Then Orenson can crawl back up Veles’ arse if he so chooses.’

‘What about me? Am I free to leave?’ I asked.

He stared at me with an unreadable expression.

‘Free? Are you trying to trick me out of your oath, little Viper? I’m not freeing you—not now, maybe never,’ he said, stroking his scar as if he couldn’t believe it no longer hurt. ‘However, I will allow you to leave the palace, but not Truso, and you’ll work for me , Roksana.’

‘So, my leash just got longer?’

‘For now, yes, but we can revisit this discussion once you’ve fulfilled my request. Be my spy. Return to the Brotherhood and find out who’s behind Jagon and where the srebrec’s going,’ he said.

I frowned.

‘That wasn’t a part of the oath!’ I snapped, walking to the large window to give myself some time to think. ‘What happens if I refuse?’

‘Then you’ll leave me no choice. If you won’t help me end this threat, I’ll have to do it myself.

And as I don’t know who to trust, I’ll have to wipe the Brotherhood from the face of the earth,’ he responded, smiling bitterly.

‘That is the harsh truth. So, what will it be, Viper? Will you work for me?’

It was no choice at all. As happy as I was at the prospect of Jagon’s and his cronies’ deaths, there was Boyan and Irsha to think about . . . They were the heart and soul of the Brotherhood, as were many others who had found structure and shelter within the Chapter House’s walls.

‘Congratulations, Your Majesty. You have your assassin,’ I snapped, feeling the cage of this voluntary trap locking around me. ‘How should I contact you? I can’t keep sneaking into your bedroom,’ I said, focusing on the practicalities of my hopeless situation.

‘You will meet with Riordan. You just proved Ciesko was right and that you can manipulate aether. I will ensure my mage is part of your training regimen.’

‘You’ve got it all planned out, don’t you?’

‘I didn’t plan to have an attack in front of you.

Even I’m not that cunning,’ he said with a smirk that made me want to choke him.

‘But the rest? I don’t like taking chances.

I was open with my plans, and I will honour my vow, just not in the way either of us expected,’ he concluded, coming closer and wrapping the shawl tighter around my shoulders.

He paused for a moment, hesitation written all over his face before gentleness softened his features.

‘Thank you, Sanika. Your help has returned my life to me . . . and given me the hope I’d long since lost,’ he said, fingers lingering on my shoulders.

A bird’s cry outside broke through the moment, and Reynard stepped away.

‘Now go. Liliana should be waiting for you in a carriage. Rest and await my orders.’

‘You are such a manipulative bastard,’ I whispered, unsure what to think.

His cheek muscle twitched before he released a humourless laugh.

‘No, my beautiful poison, I’m much worse. I’m the king.’