“YOUR MAJESTY, I’VE BEEN LOOKING ALL OVER for you,” King Niallan growled, stopping me in my tracks as I was making my way back to my room. His gaze roamed up and down my frame in a quick assessment. “Where have you been?”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk,” I lied easily. I crossed my arms over my chest and yawned, wanting a few more hours of sleep—in my own bed. What I did not want was to be harassed after a secret meeting, not by the man we were plotting to kill. “What do you need, my king?”
The handsome druid king ran his fingers through his tousled hair, also wearing his pajamas. He turned his body so that my bodyguard, Crow, was behind him to give us a semblance of privacy. He whispered under his breath, “I’ve been trying to call you all night, but it’s just going to voicemail.”
“I’m so sorry. I turned my phone off last night and left it in my room.” I took a step closer to him and placed my right hand on his left shoulder. I asked again, “Did you need something?”
He snorted and rubbed at his red-rimmed eyes. “I need a decent night’s rest is what I need. I was hoping we could have shared a bed last night.”
Ah. Yes.
I needed to be his friend in his time of need.
Perhaps if I cut out his tongue, he would quit worrying about his deceased, felonious lovers, and worry more about his physical pain.
Hmm.
Doubtful. He had loved them, after all.
Mentally, I sighed. Cutting out his tongue sounded like so much more fun. But…
Friend, it was.
I squeezed his shoulder and nodded my head down the hallway, keeping my voice gentle. “We can rest together in my room if you want. I’d like a few hours of sleep before the day starts. Do you want to try that?”
His shoulder sagged in relief under my hand. “I’d actually love that.” His green eyes caught mine. “I’m in no mood to deal with Lord Belshazzar today, so let’s keep this between us.”
I snorted and linked my arm with his, then started walking down the hallway with him at my side. “I would actually agree. He was in a foul mood last night when I saw him after he dealt with Ms. Francis. I doubt he’ll be in any better spirits today.” Oh, the beautiful lies just rolled off my tongue like a sweet, sweet assassination.
“Actually, I did find that odd. His reaction in the meeting, knowing he’d have to fuck her wasn’t normal compared to his usual behavior.” Striking, tired green eyes flicked to mine as he yawned behind a fist. “Didn’t you find it strange?”
“Actually, yes, I did. He appeared a little faint.” I released his arm and dug out my key from the tiny pocket in my pajama shorts, and unlocked my door. “Come on in.”
My asshole king stepped inside my bedchamber, glancing around the sparsely decorated living area. He shook his head and chuckled at all of the white…well, white everything. “I see you’ve been busy making the room your own.”
“Shut up. I haven’t had time to decorate it yet.” I glanced at my guards now standing on either side of my door. “Phoenix, Crow, no one disturbs us.”
Both nodded, staring straight forward.
I slipped inside my room and shut my door, locking it behind me. I tossed my key on the small white table next to the door, and asked, “Would you like a drink before we head to bed?”
King Niallan rubbed at his eyes again. “Yes, a shot of vodka, please.”
I strolled to my mini-bar across the room.
But I stopped dead in my tracks halfway there when a wall of fire surrounded me. I whipped around in place, and hissed, “What the hell are you doing? You know I hate this fire shit.”
“Actually, I remember you liked it. You really should stop lying to me,” King Niallan stated, a smirk gracing his features. He slowly straightened to his full height, no longer slumped over in exhaustion, and his grin only grew. His green eyes had turned to gold, and cruel excitement stained his gaze. “I must say, your majesty, these soundproof rooms are quite nice, don’t you think?”
My features were quickly blanking.
This was not him playing around.
I swallowed and wisely kept away from the circle of fire inching closer to me. I asked carefully, “What are you doing, my king?”
“I’ll be kind and tell you.” He sat down on a chair with a regal air and waved a hand to the side. The fire burned even hotter, my skin quickly perspiring. “I am the king now.”
I stared. “Yes, you are.”
“And…” He hummed with a smile flirting on his pretty lips. “What is the one thing a king to the vampires does not need?”
Ticking. Silence.
We had been wrong. So very, very wrong.
King Niallan laughed. “Come now. I can see it on your face. You know the answer. Say it.” He flicked his hand into the air again.
The fire burned even hotter.
I let the drops of sweat fall down the sides of my face, not bothering to wipe them off—barely even noticing them now as my mind churned for solutions to this dilemma.
“Answer it,” he growled quietly.
Another toss of his hand. The fire roared.
“A queen,” I hissed.
It wasn’t Lord Cato he would assassinate.
It was me.
My death gleamed in King Niallan’s eyes. “This will be so very lovely, taking away the one person who has broken the ice to Lord Belshazzar’s black heart.”
I held perfectly still, fear tearing at my thoughts.
My king raised his hand again.
Sweat dripped off my face.
I stared at that hand. My life depended on it.
With punishing grace, he flicked his wrist.
The deadly fire raced at me.
I screamed.