Page 53 of The Fury She Holds
Faron barked out a laugh, throwing his head back. By his reaction, Tal couldn’t tell if she was right or not. He wiped tears from his eyes. “How much champagne did you have that night that you couldn’t tell if it was me?”
Embarrassment warmed her cheeks. She didn’t feel the need to remind him that the second time she’d met him had been several weeks before the ball. “Well, who else could it be? And why else won’t you tell me?”
“My dear huntress, I am not one for dancing. And I am not telling you who it is because I enjoy seeing you flustered.” He ended on a near whisper, leaning close to her.
Tal could imagine the feel of his breath on her cheek and grabbed the food out of his hand. “I’m not flustered,” she grumbled before shoving it in her mouth. He was right, though. Her mysterious dance partner had blue eyes, not the mixture of green and tan that she noted in her companion’s gaze today.
He held out another piece of meat with mischief in his eyes.
She snatched the quail out of his hand and ate it none-too-gracefully, earning a light chuckle from him.
“His name is James.” Faron watched her reaction.
Tal slowed her chewing. “James?”
“As in King James.” He drew out the name.
Tal swallowed a large chunk of meat. “The king?”
Faron nodded.
The king?Tal repeated to herself.Why would the king take an interest in me?Her mind reeled. She remembered the conversation on the balcony, how she had pulled him into thegardens and lain beside him in the grass. She remembered his hands on her waist while he pulled her across the dance floor, how Daire had insisted she accept his request. Her thoughts darkened. Daire criticized her behavior, called her a barbarian, and yetthe kinghad sought her out. Her emotions warred between anger, confusion, and wariness. Daire could be dealt with later, but her earlier suspicion of King James resurfaced.
“Do you wish I hadn’t told you?” Faron teased. He took her inner turmoil for embarrassment.
“No. I just—Why?”
“Who wouldn’t want to have your attention?”
Tal didn’t reciprocate his lighthearted tone. “I’m serious, Faron. After the way I behaved, why would he take an interest in me?”
He held his jaw between his thumb and forefinger, and his eyebrow twitched. “I suppose he likes to cause a stir. You’d already turned a few heads. Dancing with the beautiful woman who ate and drank without restraint sent quite the message to the small-minded elite.”
“You mean the woman who retched said food and drink all over the dance floor.” She grimaced.
“His opinion of you only improved, I assure you.” When Tal widened her eyes at him, Faron said, “Don’t worry. I’ve told him you’re off limits.”
Tal choked on the berry in her mouth, sending Faron into fits of laughter.
When they’d finished eating, Tal cleaned up the leftovers and smothered the fire while Faron went back inside the house. He emerged with a hard leather case, the same color as his red suit,slung across his back. Faron gestured to the case and instructed Tal to open it.
“What is it?” She studied it with suspicion.
“Open it and find out,” he goaded.
Tal set the leather case on her lap and fumbled with the ties. When she lifted the lid, she gasped at its contents. Inside lay two beautifully crafted battle axes. The craftsmanship was unlike any she had seen. Each blade had been expertly carved with ancient runes. The deep brown wooden handle was smooth as the surface of the Taralin at daybreak and secured to the blade with a fine leather strap braided down its length. She’d never seen a weapon so well made, and if she had to guess, the materials used were the finest in the four nations. “Where did you get these?” Tal asked without taking her eyes off the weapons.
“They’re a gift from the king for the person who rescued valued members of his staff.”
“You mean the king who may be responsible for their kidnapping. And who suddenly has an interest in me. You told him I helped,” she accused.
“I had to tell him so he could dispatch soldiers to Silaron, but I promise you, it wasn’t him. I mentioned that a skilled bounty hunter and her associates tracked down and retrieved the missing staff with minimal repercussions. He hasn’t made the connection to the masquerade.” Faron met her gaze. He was an excellent liar.
“And I’m supposed to believe it’s a coincidence they were tortured under his palace and in his private summer home.” The skepticism dripped from her words.
“He has enough to occupy his every waking minute. Two palace servants are no use to him outside of their duties. It appears someone is hatching their own schemes while his attention is elsewhere.”
Tal still wasn’t convinced, but her companion showed no sign of doubt in his trust of the king. “What schemes would require the torture of two palace servants?”
