Read Online Twice Upon a Time by Olivia Cunning - Free Book Online

table. The man kept glancing over his shoulder at the sleeping princess and then her guard, whom he apparently assumed was also sleeping. His nervousness was apparent, which certainly raised Reece's suspicions. When the man moved to leave, Reece cleared his throat.
    “Aren't you going to taste each dish?” Reece asked.
    The man started and spun around, his dark eyes locating Reece, who was lounging comfortably among the cushions.

    “I did, sir,” the man said.
    “I must have missed it. Perhaps, you should try it again.”
    “I assure you this food is safe for the princess.”
    “Then you'll have no problems consuming some for your own pleasure, with me watching, natural y.”
    “I assure you this food is safe,” he said. He bowed and headed for the door.
    Safe, my ass! “Where are you going?” Reece asked, climbing to his feet.
    “I must bring the morning meal to the others,” he said.
    “You're not the same man who brought Farima's food yesterday.” Lara was stirring. “Nasir,” she murmured, rubbing her face drowsily and, he couldn't help but notice, looking irresistibly sexy, as usual. “What's wrong?”
    “Go back to sleep, Farima,” Reece said, crossing the room to stand in front of the door. This man was not leaving until he tested the food with Reece watching. “I have everything under control.”
    The eunuch surprised him by shoving him to the side and running out the door.
    Reece shouted, “Don't eat the food, Farima,” before he ran after the eunuch.
    The man would have been an Olympic class sprinter in the 21st century. He raced far ahead of Reece, turning corners with the precision of an Italian made sports car.
    Darting around pil ars and rushing through common areas that were empty at this early hour, the gap between them lengthened with every step. Reece pursued him, half his mind back with Lara, whom he'd left alone. What if someone decided to attack her in his absence? Or if she didn’t heed his warning about the food? The man Reece was chasing ducked around a corner. Reece fol owed. When he turned the corner, the man was gone. Reece drew to a halt, breathing hard. He concentrated on quieting his breath so he could listen for receding footsteps or any sound that might alert him to the other man’s hiding place. Reece glanced back down the corridor, his fear for Farima tangible.
    He needed to return to her at once. He turned to go and caught a movement out of the corner of his eye.
    He sidestepped just in time to miss the downward thrust of a knife. Who would have thought that a harem would be one of the most dangerous places he'd ever visited?
    Reece ducked and kicked the man in the knee in the same motion. As planned, the man's knee buckled, and he staggered, but did not go down. Reece stood, looking for his next opening. The African man lunged at Reece, swinging his blade in a wide arch.
    It slashed Reece across the chest. Deep enough to bleed, but not enough to kil .
    Praising his martial arts training, Reece side-kicked the man in the side and then, while the man's concentration was broken, roundhouse kicked him in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Reece would have kicked him in the balls to keep him down, but, well, a eunuch didn't have any.
    On impact, the knife flew out of the man's hand, slid across the floor, and disappeared in the shadows. Reece, bent to force the man back to his feet. Sweat made the wound on Reece’s chest sting, but he was too hyped on adrenaline to feel much pain. The man struggled to free himself from Reece's grasp, but a forearm to the nose settled him down.
    “Who is trying to kill the princess?” Reece asked in a cold voice. When the man refused to speak, Reece slammed him into the wall, with his forearm pressed hard into the man's chest. “I'm only going to repeat this once. Who is trying to kil Farima?”

    “I will not answer any of your questions,” he said.
    “Perhaps counsel with the governor will loosen your tongue. Or with her