Page 46 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

Just as I thought I’d finally recovered, my transport pulled up in front of the House of Lilies, and the sudden stop filled my mouth with a sour taste.

I fell through the door, latching onto a lawn ornament to steady myself while my stomach emptied itself on the stone pavers.

I was still heaving when the door to the house opened.

‘Sana? How much did you drink? Now I know why you didn’t want to take me to this feast.’

The amusement in Tova’s voice grated on my last nerve, but his help was godsent. The dwarf slipped an arm around my waist, holding me upright while he guided me back to my room.

‘You look worse than a necromancer after a graveyard shift. If I knew you were going to binge, I would have insisted on joining you,’ he said, laying me on the bed and placing an empty basin beside me.

‘I’m not drunk,’ I croaked when he put a wet cloth on my forehead. I grimaced at the burning in my throat. ‘I purged some poison.’

Tova dropped down to look me in the eye, grasping my hand in alarm. ‘How can I help? Talk to me, girl. Should I call Lily . . . or the healer?’ He squeezed my hand so hard I winced. ‘Fuck Sana, you aren’t dying, are you? Who did this to you? I’ll make lute strings out of his guts.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ I said, pressing the wet, cold cloth to my skin, sighing with relief at how much it helped. ‘I forgot how much it hurts. How was your evening?’

‘Sana, stop changing the subject. What happened? Who did this?’

‘I did it to myself. Jagon was killing his apprentice to teach me a lesson. I just took the hit. But it was worth it, as I learned a few interesting things, and it brought back some sweet, old memories.’

‘Of all the stupid, unreasonable things . . .’ he said, standing up to jam his fists on his hips and glare at me.

‘Tova, remember how much you moaned the day after you won the moonshine drinking competition?’ I asked, halting his tirade.

‘Yeah, so?’

‘So, shut up, you’re giving me a headache,’ I responded.

Tova sighed, sitting heavily on the bed, stroking my back as I dry heaved.

‘Fine, but this conversation isn’t over.

At least you learned something—we didn’t have quite as much luck.

The merchants didn’t even get drunk, let alone talk to me or Lily's entertainers. They were from Wiosna, but one of them remembered buying some of my trinkets, so they clammed up after that. The only thing I learned was that M?ot has issued arrest warrants for us, and one of Lily’s girls heard they were heading south soon. ’

‘Would you recognise them if you saw them again?’ I asked, unwilling to open my eyes. ‘Can you sneak a look at their wagon? It would be helpful to know what goods they’re transporting—even better if we could steal a sample, especially since M?ot already considers us criminals.’

‘I’d recognise them easily. We can have a look tomorrow after viewing the house I told you about.

Oh! Two letters came after you left. One, from the arch healer, was more of a note, saying he wanted to see you tomorrow.

The other was sealed and stamped with wolf’s head, whatever the fuck that means. ’

‘Read it for me, please,’ I said with a sigh, already knowing who’d sent it. Reynard hadn’t wasted any time, and as much as I wanted to ignore it, the king’s missive might be urgent.

Tova nodded, bringing a fae light closer and cutting off the seal with a swipe of his dagger.

‘“You promised me gossip, Viper. Come to see me tomorrow at noon in the palace gardens.” There’s no signature,’ Tova said, inspecting the letter under the light and then heating it over the flame. ‘Nope, nothing hidden either.’

He folded the paper and passed it to me.

‘He doesn’t need one. Only one person calls me Viper and wears a wolf’s mask. I guess he seals his letters with a wolf’s head, too. It’s from the king,’ I said, draping an arm over my eyes. ‘Tova, call a maid. I need to undress and rest. The world can wait until tomorrow.’

‘Well, best recover quickly. We’re looking at that house first thing in the morning. I arranged an early viewing.’ Tova’s lips widened into a wicked grin. ‘If you feel anything like you did the day after the drinking contest, it’ll be a ghastly day.’

‘You’re a heartless bastard,’ I moaned as I heard him walk towards the door.

‘Yeah, but you still love me,’ he said with an evil chuckle.

An hour later, I’d washed and changed my clothes with the help of Lily’s maid, who promised to come check up on me later.

I didn’t protest, so tired that my eyelids felt glued together, hoping that the world would leave me to sleep off my encounter with Jagon’s poison.

Sweet oblivion beckoned, my senses lulled by the music downstairs while a draft made me shiver under the covers.

‘I’m fine, just close the window,’ I muttered, hearing footsteps approach. I appreciated her care, but this was too much, and irritation made me groan.

‘Are you unwell?’ a soft baritone asked while a pair of powerful hands wrapped the covers around my body, preventing the inevitable yelp when I jerked awake.

I recognised the voice, but what the fuck was Reynard doing in my room?

‘Why are you here?’ It was hard to rein in my anger, but I didn’t want to raise my voice and risk Tova charging in for another confrontation with the king.

‘If I recall correctly, you began this adorable custom of evening visits,’ Reynard answered, sitting on my bed. ‘Don’t blame me for continuing our new tradition.’

‘What do you want? I got your letter; can’t you wait until tomorrow?’

‘Maybe,’ he said, ‘but seeing my spy vomiting on the pavement, I became a little concerned.’

He finally freed me, so I scrambled back and sat up. ‘I’m just drunk. The Brotherhood knows how to party.’

Reynard eyed me suspiciously before grabbing the pitcher on the bedside table and pouring me a cup of water. ‘Drink, little Viper,’ he said, putting the cup to my lips, but I turned away.

‘You know Lily has maids for this? You can go back to your palace.’

I didn’t know how to react. He shouldn’t be here, and he certainly shouldn’t be here to take care of me. I bit my lip, fighting the weakness that came with his gentle touch. Reynard should be the last person I wanted to hold me, but it felt so good, and I was tired of fighting men today.

‘Drink, and I’ll leave,’ he said, still holding the cup.

With an exaggerated sigh, I placed my lips on the rim, letting him pull me against his chest. Reynard was massive, warm .

. . and perfect. My hand shook a little when I placed it on his, tilting the cup and enjoying the heat of his skin, its rough texture so essentially masculine.

The king’s smile widened when I snuggled against him, and the corners of those bow-shaped lips pursed a bit when he wiped away the droplets that landed on my chin.

The thumping of my heart drowned out every sound as I watched him lick the moisture off his thumb.

‘Sanika . . . do you still want me to leave?’ His voice was so guttural that I groaned.

No, I don’t. But you can’t stay . . . I thought, chastising myself for my reluctance to let him go.

Closing my eyes, I pointed to the window. ‘Out. Now.’ Reynard made me feel things I couldn’t afford to feel, and I needed him gone before I changed my mind.

His fleeting disappointment was soon replaced by a mischief that strangely suited him.

‘As you wish, little Viper. I’ll see you tomorrow when you feel less waspish,’ he said, putting his mask back on. With a quick, exaggerated bow, the infuriating man was gone, slipping through the window.

I waited until I heard the dull thud of his feet hitting the ground, then walked to the window and bolted it shut, acutely aware I wasn’t cold anymore.

Heat crawled up my cheeks when I realised that I—a commoner, a criminal, a woman struggling to survive—wanted to kiss the king.

But this wasn’t a fairytale where the poor orphan could capture the king’s heart . . . even if the king did want to kiss her back.