Read Online Two-Faced (Assassin at Court Series Book 1) by Nia Davenport - Free Book Online Page B

offending soldier as possible.
    His friends chuckled in the background. He turned livid. He raised a hand to backslap me, but I caught it mid-strike. I pushed off the table and used the momentum to knee him in the stomach. He doubled over in pain. I could have left it at that, but I was pissed and far from finished with him. While he was doubled over, I took advantage of the opportunity and smashed my booted foot into his face. Bone and cartilage crunched beneath it. He dropped to his knees. I bent down and grabbed the same hand he grabbed Charlize’s shoulder with. I squeezed and squeezed until the bones splintered. I brought my lips inches away from his ear and whispered, “Next time when a Lady says leave her alone, listen . Now one of two things can happen. You can pick yourself up and limp away or you can continue annoying me and I can use the knife I have strapped to my leg to slit your vocal chords. Nod once if you choose option A.”
    He nodded once. Smart man. When I turned back to the table, three sets of eyes looked at me with expressions that were equal parts horror-stricken, shocked and amazed.  Our guard chose that moment to make an appearance. All of the commotion must have compelled him to check on us.
    “You are about five minutes too late,” I said across the room. “But can you make yourself useful and escort us back to the palace please?” I demanded more than I asked him but at least I said please.
    My plan was to return to my room and go to bed when we arrived back at the castle, but everyone else had other plans. Charlize, Rosemary and Emily crowded around me in our room bombarding me with a million and one questions.
    “You were amazing. Where did you learn to do that?” Emily wanted to know.
    “Can you teach me?” Charlize pleaded.
    “What did you say to him?” Rosemary inquired.
    You would think if they wanted answers they would allow me to get a single word. Then an urgent knock echoed through the room.
    “Skyler, are you alright?” Zander rushed into the room.
    I was so happy to see him I jumped up from my position on the chaise and met him in the middle. His arms immediately went around me and he pulled me into a quick kiss.
    “I’m okay,” I told him.
    “I apologize for not being around after the trial. I would have escorted you into town myself had I known. I was busy having a discussion with my mother.” He said the latter part through clenched teeth.
    I was not ready to think about the discussion he had with his mother.
    Zander finally became aware of the other girls’ presence in the room. “Hello, Ladies,” he said a little awkwardly. His guard immediately went up. He transformed before my eyes from Zander to Prince Edwin Alexander the Fifth. He straightened his spine and squared his shoulders and delivered a Princely dip of his head toward Emily, Rosemary and Charlize. When he spoke to me again, his voice sounded like the Zander I knew even though his posture was now wrong. It was too rigid and serious. “Will you meet me for breakfast in the morning as usual?”
    I smiled teasingly at him. “Do you even have to ask?”
    He placed his forehead to mine. ”Yes. You might decide this is all too much for you and you would rather go back to a simpler life.”
    Whoa. Where did that come from? I wanted to ask what he was talking about, but I couldn’t with an audience. Instead I kissed him on his cheek and said, “Never.”
    I did not mean to lie to him. When I spoke the single word, it was not a conscious effort. The response automatically rolled off my tongue as if it was the only possible answer to his unspoken question.
    After Zander left, I turned back to the girls. All of their mouths hung open. I even think Rosemary may have drooled a bit.
    “He is gorgeous up close,” Rosemary fawned.
    “I am so jealous,” Charlize gushed.
    “When you two get married, can I be one of your ladies-in-waiting?” Emily pleaded
    “Ooh, me too!” The other two swooned.
    My