Page 42 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

Roksana

T ruso’s nightlife had only just begun to stir when I stepped out of Lily’s, the scent of roasted meats and spiced breads curling through the air from nearby street vendors.

I hadn’t made it far before the crowd thickened; soon, I had to pause as richly dressed individuals pushed past in pursuit of their evening’s entertainment.

I stiffened as a group of masked strangers came too close for comfort.

None of them were my confusing wolf or Jagon’s goons—just men chasing thrills they could indulge in without tarnishing their names.

I huffed, half-amused, half-annoyed, and pressed on, silently scolding myself for the foolish flicker of hope that one of them might have been Reynard.

After our last encounter, I expected . . . more. That he’d left me unmolested for five days was strangely disappointing. Those were dangerous sentiments to have, so I pushed them to the back of my mind and merged back into the swirl of colour and noise, heading for the Chapter House.

Above me, stars shimmered in the sky, an early warning of the autumn equinox’s bite.

The air wasn’t freezing yet, but sharp enough to make me pull my cloak close.

Fae lanterns swayed between buildings, their glow shining beside torchlight, casting gold across the cobbles where music and laughter had replaced the midday shouts of merchants. Truso never slept and was rarely quiet.

Shadows stirred behind me—figures lingering in dim alcoves or perched on rooftops, watching as I walked. The dagger in my grip offered some comfort, but it was the pinch of sleeper’s ash in my other hand that truly steadied me.

Blood thrummed in my ears, a rhythm of warning I refused to ignore. Instead of shoving the fear down, I used it to my advantage. The Brotherhood might be on the verge of conflict, but whoever was tailing me wouldn’t strike without provocation.

I paused before a jewellery shop, pretending to admire the delicate trinkets in its window.

‘If you think this will intimidate me, you arsehole, you’re sadly mistaken,’ I muttered under my breath, my thoughts drifting to Jagon while I scanned the reflections behind me. Unfortunately, all I could see was my determined expression.

In a way, I should be grateful to my former master. I’d been feeling suffocated in the dwarven kingdom for some time but had been too stubborn to admit it and leave. Now, the lost daughter had found her way home, mature enough that fear of him no longer controlled my choices.

I was nearly at the Brotherhood’s mansion when I realised something was wrong. The unease I’d carried since leaving Lily’s had thickened into something heavier and now felt oppressive. The men following me were no longer hiding, sending me a clear warning.

I stopped several metres away from the building’s front door.

The stone walls towered over me, the pale light of the rising moon creating a stark contrast to the dark granite.

But tonight, the usually dark windows were all lit, and there were no guards—almost as if Boyan had left the welcome mat out . . .

I glanced around, listening to the sounds of the night and trying to sense which direction the attack would come from.

And it would come—I felt it in my gut, anticipation building with each breath. The faintest rustling behind me was the only sign of what was to come, but before I could react, someone covered my mouth and pulled me into a dark corner.

‘Not so fast, sweetheart. You can’t be that stupid. Jagon told us to give you time and plenty of hints to change your mind, but this is taking too long.’

The rough whisper made me flinch, but I refused to go quietly and bit the dirty hand as hard as I could.

‘Fucking bitch ,’ the man who’d grabbed me grunted, shaking his hand while I spun, spitting out the foul taste of his blood. ‘Last chance,’ he said, pulling out a knife and twirling it between his fingers. ‘Get the fuck away from here or—’

‘Or what?’ I scoffed, bringing my fist up to my lips and blowing hard. My attacker gasped as the shimmering white powder coated his face. My grin widened as his breathing turned into a choking cough, and he stumbled to his knees with wide, bulging eyes.

‘That’s what I thought. Goodnight, dumbass.’

His head collided with the wall before hitting the ground, and I winced. ‘Gods, why are the stupid ones always filthy?’ I muttered, wiping my mouth.

I turned, about to leave the alley when something landed on my shoulder. My dagger swept up as I turned, only to halt as a hand caught my wrist in a harsh, unforgiving grip. My eyes focused on the familiar mask, and I gulped when I recognised the wolf staring back at me.

‘Stop. You’re still being followed,’ he whispered into my ear as he pressed me to the wall, blocking my view and immobilising me under his body. ‘Three more men are about to ambush you.’

I raised my foot and stomped on his instep to get him to move, enjoying the vicious snarl he made before he shifted so that I could breathe again.

‘Do you have a death wish, you idiot ?’ I whispered, the fear that I had almost killed the king—again—loosening my tongue.

His amused huff made me slam my hand on his chest. ‘What if I’d stabbed you?

Would you blame me for that, too? You can’t keep following me if you want me to be your spy,’ I hissed.

He was still close, his chin resting on my head, and despite the fur that covered his mask, I felt him smile before he pulled back, hand resting on the wall behind me.

‘Of course, I’d blame you, especially since I wasn’t here for you. Still, I just saved you, so the words, “ Thank you, my wonderful protector ,” might be in order,’ he said with such arrogance that I rolled my eyes.

‘You want me to thank you? How about, were you born stupid, or did your mother drop you on your head?’ I said, empowered by the informality of our discussion. Somehow, hidden behind the mask, Reynard became more of a man and less of a king . . . and I found that I liked it way more than I should.

My bemused expression was reflected in the wolf’s red eyes as Reynard’s body shook with silent laughter.

‘How do you do that, my little Viper? Why am I drawn to the fire in your eyes?’ he said eventually, leaning in closer as his finger traced my earlobe.

My confusion turned to shock at his words, and even more so when I pressed back against his caress, my breath catching in my throat.

‘What are . . . Look, you need to back away. I have somewhere to be. Maybe you should be more worried about how dangerous I can be. Did that scar not teach you that lesson?’ I snapped, but he only laughed harder.

‘Ah yes, my eye. You still haven’t paid the price for that—and you’ve grown bolder, maybe a little too bold. I may be forced to lock you away again . . . Though I doubt I’ll be able to let you go this time.’

He definitely landed on his head, I thought.

His whole attitude baffled me. This wasn’t the time or place for .

. . whatever this was, even if he’d disguised himself.

Observers weren’t stupid. He might have worn a mask, but his massive, muscular body and commanding presence were a dead giveaway.

Sooner or later, someone would connect the dots, unless . . .

I reached out and touched the mask. Reynard pulled back slightly, startled by my gesture, but I’d already felt it—the traces of aether in the wolf’s muzzle tangled into an enchantment.

‘Do you follow every assassin you employ, or am I the only one granted this honour?’ I asked, pulling his hood farther forward to conceal his dark hair.

I didn’t know exactly how the enchantment worked, but it was the wrong place to take chances.

He stilled, tilting his head down to let me adjust the fabric.

‘As I said, I wasn’t following you. In fact, I’ve been trying to avoid you, but it seems fate had other plans.

There’s a major gathering at the Brotherhood Chapter House today.

I wanted to investigate . . . and noticed you heading straight into a trap.

Did you know you’ve been followed since you left the House of Lilies?

The man you dispatched was one of many,’ he said, tapping my forehead.

‘Your life belongs to me. I can’t let anyone else take it. ’

‘How gracious of you,’ I responded, ‘but my life is my own. I’m only working for you—which I could do far more efficiently if you’d let me go.’

The bastard chuckled.

‘Oh, I let you go quite some time ago,’ he murmured.

‘But here you are. Still standing so close I can smell your perfume. Lilac . . . and honey.’ His eyes dragged over me.

‘You’re making me hungry, Viper. It’s so tempting, I want to take a bite, right here.

’ The low rasp of his voice crawled down my spine as his finger traced the curve of my neck, slow and deliberate, before pulling away.

I missed his proximity almost instantly.

What is wrong with me?

My mouth opened—probably to argue, to say something —but no sound came. His hands weren’t anywhere near me, yet mine were still fisted in the fabric of his hood, pulling him back in . . .

Oh, for all the gods, Sana.

I made a weak attempt to push him away, but Reynard was built like a mountain. He didn’t move, so I did—stepping aside, head down, trying to hide the burn in my cheeks.

‘You should really send your men for errands like this,’ I said when I was sure my voice wouldn’t betray me.

‘And miss all this? Doesn’t your king deserve some entertainment? Besides, you seem well-informed, so tell me: Do you know what is happening inside the mansion?’ he asked, and I grimaced, wondering how much I could share without risking involvement.

‘I have a vague idea . . .’ I hedged. ‘But I’ll know for sure once I’m inside. Let me pass so I can investigate. Who knows’—I shrugged—‘I might even have some gossip for you tomorrow.’

He smirked, tilting his head before placing his palm on the wall above my head once more.

‘And if I don’t step away—what then, Viper?

Are you going to put me to sleep like that fool now snoring on the ground?

You’ll need more than a handful of powder to do that,’ he teased, and although I was caged between his body and the wall, the heat radiating from him was comforting rather than threatening.

‘It would certainly remove a certain stubborn obstacle in my way.’ I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. Reynard seemed to be having the time of his life teasing me, but I was running out of time. ‘Look, I really have to go. Should I forget the orders you gave me?’

‘No, Viper, you shouldn’t forget me . . .

or my orders, and I’m stalling for a reason,’ he said with a smirk before shifting slightly to let me see the street.

‘If you can endure my company for a moment longer, your way in will be much easier. The mask is bespelled to divert onlookers’ attention.

The two by the door have already lost interest, but I bet more are watching the alley entrance from the rooftop.

I’ll distract them, but you must tell me what you know.

What’s so special about this meeting that you’re willing to push past me to get inside? ’

So, all this teasing and stalling for time was a part of his strategy .

I huffed in annoyance, not because of what he’d done, but because he had deceived me, too. His touch had felt so real. Still, I held back, even when he reached for a lock of hair, wrapping it around a finger.

Oh, no, my wolf. Two can play this game.

I smiled sweetly, sliding my arms around his neck, and drew Reynard close. He didn’t resist. When he leaned in—so near I could kiss the curve of his ear—I lowered my voice to a sultry whisper.

‘I think someone plans to oust the grand master tonight, using a promise I made after returning to Truso.’ Reynard tensed, his muscles straining under my touch. ‘I have to enter the Brotherhood house before midnight, or they’ll use my absence to remove him.’

‘Do you know who will take his place?’ Ruthlessness hardened the soft baritone of his voice, and for the first time since meeting him, genuine fear tightened my throat.

‘No one . . . if I make my entrance,’ I answered quietly, glad his glacial anger wasn’t directed at me.

‘Then let’s go,’ he said, already moving. ‘I’ll get you inside—over their corpses if I have to. Just make sure Boyan keeps his seat.’

With that, he pulled me in close, his broad frame shielding me as we slipped from the alley. Two shadowy figures detached themselves from the wall, their movements flawlessly coordinated as they began to circle to accost me.

‘Stop,’ I whispered, still hidden behind him. ‘Those are trained killers. I can’t let them kill the king.’

Reynard turned, and the cheeky, boyish chuckle he released shook his wide shoulders.

‘You forget, Viper. I’m a warrior—one who’s bloody good with a sword,’ he said, reaching for my hood and pulling it over my face, leaving me speechless for the second time tonight. ‘Don’t worry about me, and keep close to the wall. I’ll take care of your little problem.’

He didn’t give me time to answer, throwing off his cloak in a dramatic gesture, and I used the distraction to disappear into the shadows while he advanced on the men running towards us.

The clash of steel diverted my attention and when someone leapt from the rooftop, I almost missed his attack. He struck where I’d been standing, but I’d already started running.

Time slowed as I bolted, the man’s cudgel whistling past my head.

I heard him curse, but it was too late to stop me as I threw myself forward and pushed my way through the heavy bronze doors of the Chapter House.

His angry grimace appeared in the gap as I worked to close the doors, my attacker trying to force them open.

He reached for me, and I quickly grabbed a handful of sleeping powder and blew it straight into his snarling face.

The thud of his body hitting the floor echoed down the corridor, but I was already striding toward the great hall, shouting at the top of my lungs.

‘Sweet wine for the Deadly Nightshade. The prodigal daughter has returned, you swine!’