Page 12 (1/2)

“Fine,” she said, “you may speak with , after all “But here in the village, not at the castle”

Demands Who was she to make them? And yet she did

A hint of amusement played on his too-handsome-for-words face With a nod, he said, “The library then” Turning his attention to Lisette, he asked, “Do you mind?”

She shot Jade a worried look, but Jade gave her a quick, albeit tight, smile

“Of course not,” Lisette consented What choice did she have, really?

“Jade,” Michael’s i tone made her head turn in his direction

“It’ll be okay,” she said “The king merely wishes a word and everyone here knohen and where we’recould hardly expect it to be disht?”

She glanced over her shoulder and found Walker and Tanner rigid and at the ready—for what, she wasn’t sure It wasn’t as though the two of thedoo awry Even with Lisette’s vanquishing spells to help Still, having everyone bear witness as sheprovided a modicum of relief

Returning her attention to Darien, she said, “Lead the way, my Lord”

Neither said a word as they stalked down the ay, Jade’s strides wide enough to keep up with the king’s Though, given his long legs, she suspected he’d slowed his usual pace so she could match it When they reached the library, he burst into it and turned sharply to face her

“First,” he said as he wagged a finger in her face, as though she were a disobedient child, “enough with challenging ”

“I know you’re the king,” she said “Ifor honest answers And while you iven that your laws have been broken by your…creatures Possibly even by you,” she added as she moved away She crossed to the fireplace to war hall without slipping into her gloves and jacket

Darien rearesture would only infuriate hih he’d appeared to find so, she knew not to push too hard There was such a thing as being too stubborn for one’s own good

She took the cloak from him and draped it over her shoulders Jade wasn’t a small woman, but the black material dwarfed her and pooled at her feet

“Thank you,” she said “And I apologize for being so blunt I’ve not spoken to a king before, and I tend to say what’s onit I’ll behave as appropriately as I canthis conversation”