Page 30 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)
CHAPTEREIGHT
I hungfrom the Barbarian King’s fist. At least he wore pants, but nothing else I realized as I blinked through my wet lashes at him. Water streamed from me, puddling on the floor. What excuse could I use?
He said nothing.
One of us had to. “Hi.” I used my little girl voice, the sweet one to distract him while I figured out my options.
He arched a brow. “Ilyana, what a surprise. Come to my room to seduce me? Although next time you’re going to use the tub, you should strip first.
Despite the fact he still gripped me by the tunic and held me above the floor, I stated, “Well, you did say we should go somewhere private if we were going to fight.”
“And why would we fight?”
“Because I have to kill you.”
He arched a brow. “Have to?”
“Nothing personal. I was hired.”
“By whom?”
“Anonymous patron willing to drop quite a bit of coin to have you removed.”
“You’re an assassin?” He sounded a touch incredulous.
“One of the best.”
He eyed me up and down. “Compared to?” He threw some definite disdain in my direction.
“I’ll admit I am slightly out of practice. I am surprised you spotted me so easily.”
“Not so hard.” He shifted me so I could see the pink tub. “You leaked some color in there.”
“Stupid blood,” I grumbled. I should have found a less messy way to silence the competition.
“You’re injured?” He set me on my feet and proceeded to examine me again.
“Not me. The other person sent to kill you. They’re under your bed.”
He stilled in surprise. “There’s someone else here?”
“Not anymore. I handled it.”
To my surprise, he turned his back on me, grabbed a hold of the bed, and lifted. We both got to the see the body of the failed assassin.
“He’s dead,” Konstantin flatly stated.
“You’re welcome. No charge.”
That earned me an incredulous look.
Someone knocked at the outer door. “How long until we’re leaving?”
Konstantin yelled, “Give me five minutes.”
If I got lucky, I could take him down in less than two. With him distracted, I palmed and swung my knife. He blocked it. He didn’t even turn his head.
“You aren’t killing me, my little Yanna.”