“Uh huh.”He stares at me for a moment, and I open my eyes wide so I won’t blink.Fabia says I get a certain twitchy look when I’m doing something “highly suspicious”, and if Jace thinks I am now, that wouldn’t be fair at all considering I’m not doing anything highly suspicious.Only because you couldn’t find any poison.But a fact is a fact, and technically correct is technically correct.And oh dear gods,Jace, pleasebelieve me.
Shruggingin agreement,he turns to look at the cake.His teal eyes brighten with delight.“So what kind of cake is it?”
“Vanilla and gosberry.”
He moans as he swipes a finger through the icing.“I love vanilla and gosberries.”Sticking it into his mouth, he sucks it off, and a little noise escapes me.Dear gods, what is it with me accidentally, almost killing Jace?
He glances at me askew, and I grin so hard my cheeks hurt so he won’t suspect a thing.
“I assume this is for Richard?”he says sadly, looking back at the cake.
I nod, and he sighs as if I’ve broken his heart.“Alright then.Come on.I’ll take you to him while it’s fresh.We can do the other thing later.”
“What other thing?”
He waves my question off as he ushers me to the door.I take a step towards it, my nerves making me do whatever it is he wants me to, but he stops me with atilt of his head.“Don’t forget the cake.”
I nod dumbly as I turn around to grab it.A part of me wants toleave it here and run back to my room.What’s the point of takingitto himif it’s not even poisoned?
I can hear Fabia rolling her eyes at me, and just to spite her, I come up with a good reason to follow through.This might not bethecake I’m going to use to poison Richard, but it’ll still get him to lower his guard for the day that Idobring himpoisoned food.
Giving myself a mental pat on the back, I step out into the hall.Jacefollows, pausing to relieve the two guards of their duty, and then shows me through the palace alone.
My pulse kicks hard in my throat as I realise we’re not walking in the direction of Richard’s study.Am I too late?Is he in the fairy ring already with Karl?Oh gods, is he going to think I’m bringing him a celebratory cake and that I’ve come around on him killing people?
Feeling sick, I try to think up an excuse to run back to my rooms.But by the time we stop outside of an ornate door not too far from my own, I’ve still got nothing.Jace opens the door and gestures me in while he stands outside.
But holy fuck, this isn’t a fairy ring.It’s so much worse.
Spread out before me in colours that would make Fabia weep –black, black, and more black– is Richard’s bedroom.I gulp.
“Go on,” Jace says with a twinkle in his eye.“He could do with a good meal.”
With legs thatdon’tseem like my own, I stumbleinside.The doorclicksclosed behind me.My pulse screams in my skull.I’m in the bird’s nest now, and there is no escape.
“I’m in here,” Richard callsfrom my right,and I look through the archway to see a queen-sized bed.
Rooted to the floorin his living room, I call out on a shaky breath, “I think we should eat out here.Don’twant to get the bed dirty…”
Images of his bedbeingwet and stainedin a different waypop into my mind.Biting back a groan, Ihurryto the black two-seater sofabefore he can appear in my line of sight and lure me in there.Staying busy, I place the cake on the dark coffee table and then grab some plates and forks from his kitchenette.The open plan of his suiteissimilar to mine, and that familiarity helpsme relax a little.
Turning with the platesin my hands, I jumpwhen I findmy kingright in front of me.The platesflyhigh, asdothe cutlery.His eyesdon’tleave mine.Reaching up, he grabsall four items before even gravitycanget hold of them.
Swallowing hard, my pulse spasming in my throat, I lean back on the counter.Screw the bed, he’sfucking me right here with his eyes.
And he’sshirtless.Whydoeshe have to be shirtless?Whyis he shirtless?It’s in the middle of the day.Surely, he should be clothed?Did he take it off when he heard it was me?Oh!If he did, that is so not fair.
“You brought me a cake?”Richard murmurs, leaning forward to put the stuff down,pressing so close against me but not quite touching.
My hands tighten on the edge of the counter.Dear gods, don’t look down.My lips parting, Ilick my lips.
His eyeslower, and I blurt,“Yes, cake.I brought.Eat!We should eat… it.”I gulp.
He leansin.“There’s something Iwantto eat.”His breathcaressesmy neck.“But it’s not cake.”
Grabbing my hips, he liftsme up onto the counter.I scramble to jump down, only to realise that the orders going through my headdon’tseem to be reaching my limbs.My nervesarefried.Ohno!Not again.
Breathing heavily, I watch as he spreadsmy legs open anddropsto his knees.
