An Angel Among Dogs by Charli Mac

Author:Charli Mac
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamsphere Books
Published: 2023-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

19

Kai sat with his back to the wall, watching the light breeze flowing through the open window ruffle the gauzy curtains that surrounded Lady Bethany’s bed. She lay within, sleeping peacefully, no sign of the nightmares that had plagued her at the inn. It would be dawn soon, and in the short time he’d known Lady Bethany, he knew she’d rise with its first rays. He’d have to move, retreat to the living room of the fancy suite Prince Faron had provided for her.

A subtle power play that said: look what I can offer you.

Kai couldn’t compete, not even close. He didn’t have a home, never mind a castle. What use would there be in it, when he spent his life running with the Hounds, going where he was needed?

Going where he was told. Might as well be honest about that.

Mouth set in an unhappy grimace, he levered himself up off the floor, his muscles stiff from spending the night on unnecessary watch. He’d pay for it today, could already feel tiredness dragging at his limbs, burning in his eyes, but he hadn’t been able to tear himself away. They’d been in the palace less than a day and already he could feel her slipping through his fingers.

“First,” Miller murmured from his position by the door. He kept his head down, avoiding looking at Kai, like he’d done all night.

Out in the living room, he felt the silent stares of Bex and Jay, two others in Lady Bethany’s secondary guard. They could feel his agitation but, like Miller, they wisely said nothing about it.

The main door to the suite opened and all three heads swiveled in that direction, Bex coming to his feet and Jay shifting to a ready crouch. It was murky in the living room, the candles deliberately extinguished to put any would-be human attackers at a disadvantage, but Kai was still able to easily make out Dane’s youthful features when he popped his head around the door.

“Barret is here,” he said.

“It’s the middle of the night,” Kai threw back, though dawn was all but breaking the horizon. “Lady Bethany is sleeping. What does he want?”

“He wants to speak to you,” Dane replied.

Kai gave Bex and Jay meaningful looks to be sure they knew to be on high alert in case this was some sort of ploy. Perhaps it was paranoia, but he trusted no one here. They both gave him short, sharp nods in return.

Barret waited in the corridor, a servant a step behind holding a torch to illuminate the gloomy passageway. Barret had positioned himself as far from Dane as it was possible to get in the narrow space, his tense body language giving away his discomfort, but he didn’t have the sneer on his face that the nobles adopted when they were forced to interact with the Hounds. Barret was a soldier, one who’d risen higher than his birth would have suggested.

“What is it?” Kai asked, dispensing with the pleasantries.

Barret didn’t bat an eyelid at his abruptness.

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