Page 80 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)

My lips twitched. “Anyone ever tell you it’s a bad idea to irritate an assassin?”

“He drank it. Not my fault he couldn’t handle it.”

“And you can?”

“Weztrogians start drinking it from the cradle.” He grinned.

“That’s wrong.”

“It makes us strong.”

“Stronger than me.” I then broached the nagging thought in my head. “You should move me to another room and have Jrijori or someone else in here with you.”

“No.”

“Don’t say no. We both know I’m not up to par yet. If you’re attacked again—”

“We won’t be attacked.”

“Don’t be stubborn. We will be and have been. It’s only a matter of time before the next attempt.”

“I won’t let them hurt you.” The claim emerged soft, yet menacing.

He wanted to protect me? I was glad my face remained tucked against his chest so he couldn’t see my expression.

“It’s my job to defend.”

“Then why does it feel as if I failed you? You took an arrow meant for me.”

“Because I shoved instead of yelling duck.”

“You tried to save me instead of simply saving yourself.”

“It’s what you’re paying me to do.” Almost a whisper.

His fingers gripped my chin lightly and tilted it. “Is that the only reason?”

The right answer, yes, wouldn’t slip past my lips. Because I didn’t do it just for the money. I just didn’t want to admit the real reason behind my reluctance to see him come to harm.

“You feel something for me.” He stated it, and I should have refuted.

Denied it. Truth was I didn’t know how to handle the way he made me feel. I’d never had someone come to my rescue. Who chose to be my hero. Who treated me as a woman. Flirted. Complimented me. But never forced me. A man unafraid to challenge me despite knowing what I could do. The one person I might give my trust to even knowing he’d shatter my heart. He’d have to because an assassin and a king?

“We can’t be together.”

“We belong together.”

I stared at him. The statement brought a flutter to my chest. “You’re engaged,” I reminded him.

“I’ll end it.”

“If you break it off now, you won’t get a chance at the grand vizier.”

“I’ll find another way.”

“The insult would most likely launch a war.”

“We’re used to fighting.” His finger stroked my cheek.