Chapter 74
was a faint smile on his face, the kind that doesn’t sit well with me…at all
There was a
Not cruel. Not kind. Just dangerous.
He crossed his arms lazily over his broad chest, his sharp amber eyes glinting with something that felt way too close to amuseme
“Have dinner with me.” he said casually, like he hadn’t just caught me eavesdropping. Like this was normal. Like this was fine.
I blinked. “Me?”
He nodded once, like it was obvious
wildly against my ribs. This…this could be my chance. A chance to gain his trust. To spy properly. To do
I hesitated, my heart thudding wi what Alaric sent me here for.
And maybe a small part of me–the reckless part that still remembered that kiss by the stream- -wanted to know what Harden Fernandez was really about.
I swallowed and forced a small smile. “I would be honored.”
or me to follow
He chuckled under his breath, the sound low and oddly warm. Without waiting for my answer, he turned and gestured for
him.
I did my steps cautious, my fingers twitching at my sides.
He led me away from the main courtyard, down a narrow, lantern–lit path that twisted through the back gardens. The scent of night- blooming flowers clung thick to the air, but beneath it, I caught something else the smell of smoke, steel and blood.
Every survival instinct screamed at me to turn back.
But I kept going
He stopped at a small, secluded stone house tucked near the edge of the forest. It looked abandoned, but when he pushed the door open, a soft golden glow spilled out.
Inside was a table.
Set for two.
Platters of roasted meat, fresh fruits, warm bread, and cheeses filled the table. A bottle of dark wine rested between the plates.
Harden shrugged off his black coat, tossing it carelessly onto a nearby chair. His tonic was half undone already, exposing strong arms and a flash of toned chest
He caught me staring and smirked.
“Sit,” he said simply, pulling out a chair for me like a perfect gentleman–or a perfect villain.
I hesitated only a second before moving toward it. I sat, smoothing the folds of my plain dress over my thighs, trying not to let my juervousness show.
He took the seat across from me, leaning back like he had all the time in the world.
“I hope you’re not trying to poison me,” I said lightly, reaching for the goblet of wine but not drinking yet.
Harden laughed, the sound low and genuine. It startled me how human it made him seem.
“Of course not,” he said, pouring himself a glass. “If I wanted you dead, little bird, you wouldn’t have made it past the garden”
Conducting
Luffered a stiff smile and glanced at the food. It smelled divine And gods help me. I was starving. They didn’t exactly feed the handmaidens much, and today’s work had left my stomach hollow
“Fat, he said, catching my hesitation. “They don’t give you mauds real food here
Chapter 74
It wasn’t a question.
I picked up a shoe of bread, tearing off a piece with my fingers.
He watched me closely, his eyes never leaving mine.
“So tell me, Elena,” he said slowly, the name thick with teasing. “is spying what you do for fun, or is this new?”
I choked on the bread, coughing into my
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
“I’m not a spy.” I managed to say, my voice scratchy.
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “No?”
“No,” I said, fimmer this time. I’m a handmaid.”
“To who?” he asked, tilting his head.
I but my tongue hard.
Think
Lie
“Tm-“I began, then paused. “I’m new to the palace. Assigned wherever they need me. You know where I come from and who I came
with
Technically true,
Harden smiled again, slow and untrusting. He tapped his fingers lightly against the goblet.
“Well, Elena the Handmaid,” he said with mock seriousness, “you have terrible instincts. Wandering into royal conversations. Speaking around gardens. Eating food with strange men.”
I flashed and reached for the wine to cover it, taking a quick sip.
The wine was rich and warm, and it spread through me like a small, dangerous.comfort.
“Maybe I’m braver than I look,” I said, surprising even myself.
He laughed again–a short, low sound that rumbled in his chest.
“I don’t doubt that,” he said.
We ate in a weird kind of silence after that. I stole glances at him from under my lashes, studying the way his mouth twisted when he thought, the way his fingers drummed absent patterns against the wood of the table.
He was nothing like Alaric
Alaric was
was cold control
Harden was fire wrapped in silk.
Both dangerous.
Both kings in their own way.
Unpredictable
Unruly
look another bite of the bread chewing slowly, when his next words almost made me choke again.
“So,” he said lazily, “you work for Alaric, don’t you?”
Chapter 71
The bread turned to ash in my mout
I lifted my eyes to his, but there was no amusement there now,
Only a calm, lethal certainty
He knew
He fucking knew.
And I had just walked straight into the lion’s den
Imed not to let it show–the spike of fear, the way my fingers twitched slightly against the side of the goblet.
I forced a smile, tilting my head. Tm not sure what you mean.”
Harden leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing lazily o
cover his chest as he studied me. “You’re a terrible liar, Elena”
I huffed out a laugh that sounded a little too tight. “I never said I was a good one.”
He smirked at that, but there was no humor in it. “You’re careful with your words. You don’t deny it. That’s smart.”
I pushed the goblet away, feeling the pressure building inside my chest. “lielieve what you want.”
“Oh, I intend to. His eyes narrowed slightly, like he was weighing something. “Tell me, does he know what he’s doing? Sending you here. like a lamb to a slaughterhouse?”
I straightened, trying to hold my ground. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He chuckled darkly, shaking his head. “You’re not court trained. Not properly. You don’t know how to lie with your body yet. Only your
I flushed, fists clenching in my lap.
“Relax” Harden said lazily, reaching forward to tear a piece of bread. “I’m not going to gut you for it.”
I watched him carefully, every movement he made, trying to read something–anything
“bat,” he added casually, “let’s play a little game.”
I suffered. “What
Kame?”
He lifted a brow “You answer one question. Truthfully. No clever dodging, no hallanswers. Ift catch you lying–he paused, tapping
the edge of the ta
ble lightly, -I’ll know”
“And if I tell the truth???
His smile was slow and wicked. “Then you get to walk out of here alive.”
I swallowed hard.
