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Did he wait for me to try and do the same? Only I’d meant it when I said I was after information, not his death. A dead king wouldn’t help us if there was a threat. Especially since he’d remained cagey about explaining exactly what threatened. Monsters, obviously, but I got the impression he knew more. Could it be he knew how to stop them?
I’d probably never find out now. Unless… I could always invite him to my room for a real seduction. It wasn’t as if I couldn’t have sex with my targets. I just chose not to.
Of course, seduction worked better when I had someone to flirt with. The King made no appearance that evening. I stayed down long enough to get annoyed. Jrijori waved goodnight as I headed for my room, losing my guard as he remained in the hallway.
When I entered and saw someone sitting on the chair by my bed, my heart fluttered.
The happiness shifted to tension as I realized who’d invaded my privacy.
“What are you doing here?” I asked of Oriz.
“Can’t a friend say hello?”
“We’re not friends. And I didn’t invite you into my room.”
“The King’s room. A king who should be told his guest isn’t who she’s claiming to be.”
I shrugged. “He knows.”
“Does he now?” Oriz drawled.
“What do you want? Why are you here?” I couldn’t help but remember seeing him with the widow. Coincidence she’d attempted to assassinate the King not long after?
“Same reason as you. To find the measure of the King. He’s actually an interesting sort in that no one knows much of him.”
“Because he’s private.”
“That could be one explanation.” The sly rejoinder.
“Listen, I don’t know why you’re here, but you need to leave.”
“Don’t be so hasty to toss me out. After all, we can help each other.”
I snorted. “I highly doubt that.” I meant it, and I said it aloud not just because there might be watchers in the wall. Oriz might be handsome, but I didn’t trust him. “Did you convince the widow to try and kill the King?”
“She didn’t need any help in that quarter,” was his less-than-helpful reply.
“How did you get in here? What do you want? Are you planning to take over where the widow failed?”
“I don’t want to kill the King. On the contrary, I need him.” As he said it, his eyes glowed orange for a just a moment. Probably a trick of the light.
“For?”
He shook his head and offered an enigmatic smile. “As if I’d tell you and risk you running to his majesty.”
“You’re the one who asked for my help.”
“And you refused. If you change your mind, let me know.”
“Doubtful.” Something about Oriz discomfited. Blame the way his eyes kept catching the lantern and making me see things.
Oriz stood, and for a moment, I worried he might try something, he stared at me so long. Then his lips quirked. “Seems like you have another visitor.”
Knock. Knock.The brisk rapping caught my attention, and I glanced over my shoulder to the door. I doubted the King stood patiently knocking. But even if it were a servant, I couldn’t risk them seeing Oriz in my room. I whirled to tell him to hide, only to realize he’d disappeared.
Just in time. The King burst into my room and stared at me before stomping into every corner.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
