Page 42 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)

“Your zariina probably wouldn’t approve.” Someone should remind him he was betrothed.

“The zariina has a lover, so I really don’t care.”

I whirled. “How do you know?”

“Don’t tell me the mighty assassin didn’t.”

“She wasn’t my target.” Then because curiosity filled me. “Who is her lover? Is it a lord? A soldier?”

“It’s someone in her entourage is the best guess. She has never been caught with him, but according to information acquired, her sheets showed the stains of intercourse.”

I couldn’t help but curl my lip. “Sloppy.”

“Indeed. One would think she wanted to be caught.”

“Maybe she wants you to cancel the engagement.”

“Not likely. I don’t care how many she sleeps with so long as she doesn’t pass off a bastard as mine.”

“Harsh since you probably already have a few.”

“I don’t. Some of us know how to pull out fast.” And on that note, he said, “Good night,” and blew out the lamp. When his breathing evened into that of sleep, I crept onto the bed and curled up on top of the blanket.

I woke smothered in a cocoon of his arms and legs.

CHAPTERELEVEN

Feelinghis limbs wrapped around me—a cage! —I might have panicked. In my defense, I didn’t sleep with people, and certainly never snuggled.

I lashed out. His pained bellow drew banging at the door and saw me standing beside the bed with my dagger out, cursing myself for just elbowing him in the man parts when I could have slit his throat.

Apparently, I really had given up on the whole killing-him thing. But his horde didn’t know that.

The door and part of the wall caved in as a giant barreled through.

Konstantin sat up and groaned. “What is wrong with you?”

“You yelled.” Broon had a simple explanation.

“Did it occur to you that perhaps I yelled because I had a woman in the room?”

Broon’s gaze went to me, my knife, and my scowl. “Is she trying to kill you?”

“If I wanted him dead, he’d be dead. And he’d die quietly.”

“You hurt him,” Broon insisted.

“In a good way, right, Barbarian?” I winked, and I swear he almost laughed.

“Out,” he ordered.

“But…” Broon appeared so confused.

“Now,” Konstantin said softly.

I thought the giant would put another hole in the wall when he suddenly bolted, muttering, “Sorry, Majesty. Next time I’ll knock.”

“I’ll admit, I’m impressed,” I said, eyeing the way Broon took down the door.