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I clench my jaw tight to try and hide my disgust at being bought, but I’ve never been good at concealing my emotions. The disgust I feel must flicker across my face because the man chuckles, unfazed by my reaction, his head shaking in bemusement. “I’m sorry. I assumed you were one of the Madam’s Ladies. Generally speaking, I don’t have to pay women to be in my company.”
“Lucky you.” I tilt my knife, signaling him to walk in front of me. This man has caught me off guard twice tonight. It won’t happen again.
He heeds my instruction and tucks his hands into his coat pockets. His steps are annoyingly slow as he purposefully takes his time to travel the last dozen yards to the Red Keep's door. If I weren’t worried he might touch me again, I’d shove him forward to make him go faster. I just want to get to the tavern, find my target, and get tonight over with, but this man seems to have other plans.
“I was only trying to imply I find you interesting and that if you need the money, I would rather pay for you to have an easy night filled with riveting conversation.” He looks over his shoulder and winks. “Than have you fall into the hands of the brutes that wait inside the tavern.”
I let him ramble rather than respond. He doesn’t seem to mind that I haven’t added to the conversation. In fact, by the time we finally make it to the tavern, I get the feeling he likes the sound of his voice.
The soldier climbs the three wooden steps to the Red Keep’s foyer but hesitates before reaching for the door. Rumor has it that the building got its name because the large cedar door was painted red with the blood of King Travers’s enemies. It is both a relief and disappointment that the entry is a faded amber rather than bright crimson. It seems this last deployment didn’t find a traitor worthy of adding a fresh coat to the peeling stain.
That could change if anyone discovers what I have planned for tonight.
I climb one step and hesitate. I don’t know why. I’m not stallingbecause I’m scared to enter the Red Keep. I can’t even enter this way if I want to be a working girl tonight.
I think…
Fuck. This is confusing. I think I want to take this man up on his offer and have that drink, even though I know I shouldn’t. I can’t.
I stare at him now that we have the glow of the Red Keep’s light to chase away the night’s shadows. Despite the mark on his face, this man is breathtaking. Utterly gorgeous. I press my lips together and try to ignore the flutters in my stomach.
Nerves.
That’s what this is.
Not attraction.
I’m just nervous for the night to begin.
“You’re staring,” he says, a cocky grin lifting his lips. “Like what you see?”
I roll my eyes and groan. This man is… He’s… I don’t know what he is, but I don’t like it.
“Khiara!” Ezra, my uncle’s stable man and my best friend, barks. He crosses his arms and glares my way. There’s an unspoken warning on his face, one I don’t need to read into to understand.
The clock is ticking, and every second wasted is one I might need to escape later.
I step backward, startled by how close I’d gotten to the soldier. I didn’t even realize we’d drifted together, yet somehow, I’m on the top step of the stoop, only inches away.
I turn too quickly and step on the hem of my cloak. Embarrassment has my cheeks flushing red as I realize I’m going to fall, but before I can kiss the ground, a strong hand steadies me and pulls me close.
“Are you alright?” the man asks, his breath a warm whisper on my skin.
My heart flutters and an annoying heat paints my face a new shade of red. I don’t know what’s happening or why I feel this way. I want this man to touch me. Anywhere. Everywhere. Which is the opposite of how I usually react to someone being this close. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Khiara!” Ezra growls again. The night is slipping away. There are onlya few hours left until dawn, barely enough time to get in, get out, and return to the Village Inn, where I can hide until dusk.
“I have to go,” I mutter.
I gather my cloak and the layers of my petticoat in my hands, then spin around. My heart races as I hurry down the steps. For no other reason than this is the moment I’ve been working toward. Every life taken, every lie told, every hiccup along the way has led to this.
Tonight, I’ll finally cross the last name off my list.
Tonight, I will kill the man who murdered my family.
"Whowas that?" Ezra stares at me, his thick brows bunching with worry as I approach the Red Keep’s side door.
"Just someone I met in the woods. Nothing to worry about." I shiver, feeling the bite of the evening air sink its teeth into me as I unfasten my drenched cloak and place it on a nearby branch. The heat I’d felt simmering under my skin earlier in the night is gone. I almost miss the warmth, but then I remember what happened the last time I let that heat flow uncontrolled in my veins and decide it’s better to shiver.
