Page 226 of A Touch of Poison
No weapons were allowed in the palace corridors today. Guests had been made to surrender theirs at the grand hall. Even Bastian had left ours in his office. I’d tried slipping his old dagger into a leather garter on my thigh, but it was impossible to hide anything under this clingy fabric. I suspected Bastian had something stashed in a boot, but, officially, no weapons.
As they turned, I dropped their jacket and pushed a friendly, foolish smile on my face like I hadn’t seen.
“What do you want?” they ground out.
“At the race. You helped me, didn’t you? When that tree fell…”
Their eyes narrowed, but they didn’t deny it.
Why did they have the blades? They didn’t look dressed for a wedding, so perhaps they had other business in the palace. Perhaps.
I blinked, realising how long I’d left the silence between us. Too long for someone who wasn’t suspicious. Cocking my head, I shrugged. “I just want to know why.”
They huffed a long breath out through their nose and rolled their eyes. I could almost hear the way they wanted to mutterhumans.
“You saved me from the snare. I owed you.”
So theywerethe fox.
“Then I saved you from the waterfall.”
A transaction. Said like a true fae.
They took a step closer, towering over me. Their arms dropped to their sides, putting their hand close to the hidden weapons. “Now, I owe you nothing.”
My heart stuttered as I took a step back. It was a job to keep my smile empty-headed and bright—thank the gods for long years of practice. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d have done without your help.” I glanced down the corridor. “Well, I’d better get back to the celebrations.”
“You should.” Their jaw tightened as I turned away. I could feel that stare follow me—an itch between my shoulder blades.
It was only once I was out of sight that I allowed myself to frown. It might be nothing—it probably was, but I needed to let Bastian know they were armed and in the palace. For all I knew, they might be one of Dawn’s guards. That would make sense.
It took another couple of turns before I realised I was lost. Dawn’s layout was similar to Dusk’s, but not quite. In running after the fox-haired fae (and trying to ensure my breasts didn’t bounce out of my dress entirely), I hadn’t paid enough attention.
Still, I hadn’t come far. I just needed to find my way back to the bathroom, then I’d find the ballroom from there.
Left at a familiar hallway, then right. Yes, the bathroom was round the corner from here, I was sure of it.
Just as I reached the end of the corridor, a figure in grey stepped out, continuing straight at the T-junction I was about to turn onto.
Black hair, slate grey leather armour, a cleft chin, he glanced this way, then did a double take and slowed. His hand rested on the hilt of a sword at his belt. A dagger sat beside it.
I sucked in a breath, gaze flicking back to his face, but the skin around his eyes tightened. He’d seen me spot his weapons.
Palace guards didn’t wear grey. Not that shade of it, anyway. And people who lived in the palace didn’t tend to wander around in armour. What were the chances oftwoarmed fae walking the halls for benign reasons?
“Hello, pretty one.” He gave a slow smile as he stalked this way, but his eyes pierced me, intent and calculating. “What are you doing here?”
“Bathroom. But I think I’m a bit lost.” I touched my chest and managed a chuckle that said “silly me” but my heart beat grew heavier and heavier with each step he took.
“Very lost. No one’s supposed to be here.” He cocked his head, gaze skimming over me. It rested on my cleavage.
My fingers tingled, and I curled them into loose fists at my sides, away from his focus on my tits.
“What say I show you back to your friends? You never know what kind of trouble you might get into in the wrong place at the wrong time.” His smile eased, brightening, and I almost believed it.
Almost.
Because he angled his shoulders in that way Bastian did before he drew his blade.
