She believed him.
"The Ugoeze," she said."But there’s no need to do such a thing.If you strike now, you'll die, and I'll lose my investment."
His brows twitched."Investment?"
Perhaps no one had ever called him such a thing before; still, she meant it."You owe me a life.I intend to collect it at maximum value."
"Oh?"he asked."How long am I supposed to serve then?Until I die?"
She giggled."Something like that."
"...Audacious woman, I will forgive you this time."
She let her head drop back, looking at her ceiling.
She felt sleepy—perhaps by morning he would be gone.
"You can stay," she said, her voice already soft at the edges with exhaustion.When last had she gotten any sleep?She couldn’t recall."If you want.I don't mind."
Then her breathing evened out, and she was gone.
Ragnar watched her.The poison had perhaps been too kind—that was the problem.The flush had spread from her cheeks all the way down her throat, deepening the warmth of her skin, and her robes were in disarray.Her hair was loose and thoroughly undone, falling across the floor in a pale spill.Her lips were slightly parted.The hand in her bloodied lap was open.
The same hand that had pressed into his stab wound last night until his vision went white.
He remembered being on his knees in front of her—remembered it so vividly that it was becoming a problem.
"Tsenkhinn Narvaal," he murmured.
He thought it was simply because his injuries had clouded his mind that he saw her that way, but he was wrong.
I don't mind.Her voice echoed in his head; he pressed the back of his hand hard against his mask and breathed through his nose.
She had giggled just now, briefly, as though she'd surprised herself, but it was best he stopped thinking about it.
The poison had stripped away whatever composure she maintained during waking hours and left something underneath that she hadn't chosen to show him.Tsenkhinn Narvaal, the old stories said, never knew her own power.That was what made her dangerous.She didn't use her beauty in any meaningful way; she only watched and let men destroy themselves of their own volition.
Ragnar exhaled, feeling his shoulders sink.
He once more opted to look at the window, unwilling to keep staring at her.
The Steppes were vast and cold and full of people who wanted him dead, but he never had any difficulty returning to them.
He found, with some alarm, that tonight was a little different.
Chapter 14
Thecouncilchamberfilledquickly with nervous men, most old, some younger.
They had gathered quickly—too quickly,Borji thought—which meant the news had been moving through the palace before the gong even sounded.He'd been coming in from the eastern gate following an undisclosed meeting when the first strike rang out, still brushing road dust from his sleeve, and he'd had perhaps thirty seconds to arrange his expression before walking through the doors.
He took his place across from Somadina, the only other prince old enough to attend court.
Somadina’s eyes moved to Borji as he sat, taking note of the dust on his collar and the slightly hurried quality of his arrival.
Where were you?the look said.
Borji met it pleasantly with a stifled smile.He wished to say out loud,Planning to kill you.
