Assassin Queen Read Online Free Page B

awaiting my return. Nor am I waiting for the return of my love.”
    He took some joy in turning the tables on her, but the victory came at a cost, as a dull ache spread through his chest. And that ache became sharp and piercing as her skin took on the warm glow of a blush as she apparently started to think about her knight. Oh, to be the man who put that blush upon her face.
    “Of course. You’ve never been in love. We shall see how you feel about the topic of matrimony when you have.”
    The words hurt more than they should have. She was technically correct. He’d had deep feelings for a few women, but he’d never been in love. At least, not that he was aware of. And it seemed like that would be something one would be aware of. Still, when she said it, the statement sounded like a judgment on his character. He didn’t like her judging him in any aspect of his life and finding him lacking.
    “We should focus on the road before us.” He looked around them. Most of the men remained, but some had left during the night. “We have ten men to take back your throne. How do you plan to overpower the city’s defenses, the King’s Guard, and the king himself with ten men at your disposal?”
    “Since you so kindly brought up the possibility of being reunited with a lost love, I would’ve thought you’d already guessed.”
    His eye twitched uncomfortably. “Your betrothed.”
    “Once I’ve returned, he will take up my cause. That was, after all, the plan. After he convinces the others in the King’s Guard to follow me, the rest of the coup should be purely academic.”
    “Academic in what manner?” It had been Kirin’s experience that kings did not willingly relinquish their thrones after losing a game of chess or a round of debates.
    “My stepfather is a power-hungry man, but he’s also lazy and has a strong sense of self-preservation. Once he has lost his Guard to me, I will give him the option of unconditional surrender or death. The rest will be treaties and contracts.”
    The plan did have some merit.
    “Simple and straightforward. That has worked best for us in the past.”
    If Kirin could keep himself from killing the knight on sight, it might actually work. It didn’t bode well for the plan that just the thought of running the man through with a sword made him all warm and fuzzy inside.
    “Your mood seems to have suddenly brightened, Mage.” She studied him with her eyes squinted suspiciously, as if she guessed his thoughts.
    “Just thinking about the opportunities that will be available to me once you return home.”
    She quirked an eyebrow but didn’t say anything further on the subject. “Let’s break camp. If we ride hard, we can arrive at my stepfather’s doorstep in a week.”
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    “Have you seen enough?”
    Kirin was exhausted, and even after being in the city for three days, every inch of his body still ached from the hard journey that had gotten them to Crown City in one week’s time. He didn’t mean to be rude. He could only imagine how much the scene in front of her hurt Lilly. But her pain didn’t make it any less real. Her betrothed was currently locked in a passionate embrace with another woman. And staring at the scene all night wasn’t going to make them suddenly stop or erase it from her memory. They needed a good night’s sleep so they could come up with a new plan. And that wasn’t going to happen if they continued to linger on the street staring at the couple.
    “Can we return to the inn?”
    “She might be nothing more than a common prostitute. I’m a realist. I’ve been gone a long time. That he occasionally takes comfort in a woman’s bed doesn’t mean he’s been unfaithful in his vow to me.”
    “Mommy, Daddy….” Two kids raced through the crowded streets and threw themselves at the man and woman in a tackling embrace. The knight stopped kissing the woman and laughed heartily as he bent over to scoop the youngest one up in his