Ozias’s thick brow shot into his cropped hairline. Leena offered him a tight nod, taking a small step back. Dominating in presence, his hulking frame outshadowed every assassin in Cruor, and yet he was the least of Leena’s worries within my walls.
Kost’s face bled to the surface of my thoughts. He’d want to murder her on principle. Time to make this deal official. “Once we have all four beasts, I’ll deal with the bounty. Until then, you’re stuck with us.”
“And by deal with the bounty, you mean refuse to execute it, correct?”
Clever woman. If she’d never placed a hit with us, then she likely didn’t know about the magic attached to her bounty. And yet, she’d scrutinized my words in the span of a breath. Her survival instinct was admirable. Pity she wasn’t one of ours.
Feigning dismissiveness, I started to make my way from the room. “Follow through with your end of the bargain, and I can assure you one of my men won’t come after your head.”
One of my men, no. Me? That was another matter. This time, she didn’t catch on, but she threatened me just the same.
“You should know,” Leena warned, “all beast trades are subject to the Charmer’s Law. Meaning, if you or any of your assassins harm the beasts I give you in any way, I am permitted to kill you.”
I paused, glancing back at her. The heat in Leena’s glare was warmer than the fire, but an unhurried grin claimed my face. “I welcome the day that happens.”
Pallid pink anger tinged her cheeks. “I want our deal in writing. Not some verbal agreement that can’t be used as proof.”
I raised a brow. Verbal, handwritten, signed by the king himself—it didn’t matter. The magic of Cruor’s Oath couldn’t be stopped. “Fine. Though that doesn’t stop someone outside my guild from coming after you.”
“If that happens, I’ll deal with it.” She toyed with the flaps of her black jacket. “We need to leave immediately.”
“Day after tomorrow.” I ignored her obvious frustration. “We need time to prepare.”
“Sign me up for some beach time!” Calem danced in place, tossing a grin in Leena’s direction. “Bringing any bathing garments?”
She scowled. “Keep your imagination to yourself.”
I turned to my third-in-command. “Ozias.”
“Yes?”
“Show Leena to her room. East wing.”
She stilled. “Wait. How do I know you won’t come for me in the night?”
Calem couldn’t resist. “If I come for you in the middle of the night, I can promise you won’t regret it.” Leena balked, and I swallowed a groan. Keeping up with Calem’s succession of flings had never been an issue before, but I hoped this time he’d be smarter. He couldn’t lose sight of what had happened to Kost, no matter the temptation this fierce Charmer might represent.
Clearing my throat, I frowned at Calem. “Go pack.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He spun around and took the stairs two at a time, whistling the whole way.
“No one will kill you while you stay in my home. That’s an order for all my brethren, and you can rest assured they’re listening. Now, Ozias, please take Leena to her room.”
Tremors of fear touched Leena’s body again, but she angled her chin up in defiance and followed Ozias without turning back once.
So much for those survival wits.She should have watched her back the whole way to her room. She had no way of knowing I’d keep my promise. Yet, there was something about the confident nature of her steps. The way she kept her head high.
After they disappeared, I took the stairs and hooked a left at the loft, heading toward the west wing to check on Kost. Palms flat against the worn wood, I pushed open a set of double doors without a glance to the bronze plaque readingMedical. The sharp aroma of bleach and lemon assaulted my nose.
Kost sat shirtless on a cot, gloves and tattered dress tunic discarded on the sheets beside him. A spare lingered untouched on the pillow. The medical attendant was missing, but a silver tray next to Kost brimmed with needles and thread. Not like he’d need stitching. His skin would resew within the hour of its own accord.
He pinned me with a strained stare the moment I entered. “I’m sorry. I underestimated her.”
I blew out a low breath, parking my hip on the desk by the door. Parchment crunched beneath my weight. “I hope that’s not an oversight we’ll make again.”
Kost stilled. “What do you mean?”
“I made a deal with her.”
