Page 120 of Queen of War and Ruin

“Gerard?” I stammer.

Prince Elrick’s guard scowls at me. Even in this cold, pale light, he looks exhausted.

I could definitely outrun him.

“What in the hells are you doing here?” I ask.

“What in the hells does it look like?” he snaps, waving his dagger at me.

I cross my arms over my chest to let him know I’m not even a little intimidated by him or his tiny blade.

“You came for Lilias,” I say. “Is that why you’re waiting by the stables? You figured she’d come here sooner or later?” He doesn’t reply, and another thought comes to me. “Did her brother send you?”

“There’s a concept called loyalty,” Gerard snarls. “Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Not here in Vsenrog, obviously, but maybe before Malrik destroyed your shit kingdom?”

I really should not let this asshole get under my skin. I clench my jaw, then force myself to say something civil.

“She’ll be happy to see you,” I admit.

Because my wife has terrible taste in men, my mind finishes.

“You slimy son of a bitch,” Gerard replies.

He lunges forward. I see it coming, but I can’t move out of the way fast enough. He crashes into me, forcing my back against the wall of the stables. A horse snorts on the other side. Gerard’s arm presses against my chest; his hot breath washes over my face.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving without her,” he growls. “I should kill you right here.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You think you can kill me that easily?”

Gerard growls, pushing more of his weight against my chest. Moonlight winks off the dagger in his fist.

“I should,” he replies. “Gods know I’d be doing her a favor.”

Oh, fuck this guy.

I twist my hips and drop under his arm. He has enough time to gasp before I bring my arm down hard on top of his, knocking him into the wall. There’s a dull metallic thud as his blade sinks into the rough wood. I raise my knee, and I just barely stop myself from landing a solid hit between his legs.

He deserves it, though. He really does.

“Asshole,” I growl.

Gerard scowls at me as he tries to pull his dagger out of the stable wall.

“She’s meeting me here, you idiot,” I tell him. “You really think I’d leave without her?”

Gerard doesn’t reply, which is probably for the best. I don’t know how long I can resist the temptation to kick him in the balls. His blade finally comes loose, and I try to ignore the pang of jealousy as he shoves it into the sheath on his belt. I feel utterly naked without my daggers.

“Great,” Gerard mutters. “Very noble of you, helping her leave the palace like that.”

My jaw clenches, and my fingers tighten into fists as I fight the urge to punch this asshole right between the eyes.

Because he’s right. The two people I love the most in this world are in the palace right now, beneath Malrik’s fucking nose. And here I am. Escaping.

Damn it. Her taste is still on my lips, the sound of her soft, muffled cries still echoes through my mind. She came to save my life, even after everything that’s happened between us, after all of the horrible shit I’ve done and said and put her through.

And what did I do? I kissed her, I devoured her on the servants’ staircase, and then I left her on her own.

I glare at Gerard. The bastard has a point, but I’m never going to admit it.