Page 23 (1/2)

"Proain," he said

"I only kicked you because you kissed rip

"Proht," I bit out "I promise"

"Then we have a deal"

He droppedhe couldn’t see et out"

"It’sIt did not prohibit slapping, punching, biting, or cutting you in half"

He grinned "Afraid Oretsev onder e’ve gotten up to?"

That was exactly what I orried about "I’m concerned that if I’m forced to spend another minute with you, I er our alliance, the better it will be for both of us I’m sorry if it puts a burr in Mal’s sock, but it’s a necessity"

"That kiss wasn’t a necessity"

"I was iot carried away"

"You never ie personalities the way other people change hats And you knohat? It’s creepy Aren’t you ever just yourself?"

"I’m a prince, Alina I can’t afford to be myself"

I blew out an annoyed breath

He was silent for a moment and then said, "I … you really think I’m creepy?"

It was the first time he’d sounded less than sure of himself Despite what he’d done, I actually felt a little sorry for him

"Occasionally," I admitted

He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck, looking distinctly uncoer son, most likely a bastard, and I’ve been away fro I can to strengthenan entire nation or led at hi after the word "bastard" Genya had hinted that there were rue, but I was shocked that he would acknowledge the to survive at court if you don’t learn to hide what you’re thinking a bit better You look like you just sat in a bowl of cold porridge Close your mouth"

I shut my mouth with a snap and tried to school my features into a pleasant expression That just h harder "Now you look like you’ve had too ainst the seat "How can you joke about so like that?"

"I’ve heard the whispers since I was a child It’s not so I want repeated outside of this coach--and I’ll deny it if you do--but I couldn’t care less whether or not I have Lantsov blood In fact, given all the royal inbreeding, being a bastard is probably a point inIt was hard to knohat to take seriously when it came to Nikolai

"Why is the crown so ih all of this?"

"Is it so hard to believe I ht actually care what happens to this country?"

"Honestly? Yes"

He studied the toes of his polished boots I could never figure out how he kept thes," he said "I always have"

It wasn’ttrue

"You truly think your brother will step aside?"

"I hope so He knows the First Army will follow me, and I don’t think he has the stomach for civil war Besides, Vasily inherited our father’s aversion to hard work Once he realizes what it really takes to run a country, I doubt he’ll be able to run froive up so easily?"

"It’s siht incentive Pauper or prince, every ht"

More wisdolanced out the coach’sI could just see Mal sitting tall in his saddle as he kept pace with the coach