Wild Knight (Midnight Empire: The Tower #1)(14)

He eyed me warily. “You won’t use it as a weapon?”

“No, I’m going to paddle us to shore. While I do that hard labor, you can tell me why you’re following me.”

“I’ve been watching you.”

I cut a glance at him as I pushed us through the water. “Not at all creepy.”

“You’ve impressed me.”

Fear pricked my skin. How much did he see? I racked my brain for all the magic I performed. Was there anything that could’ve given me away? I didn’t think so.

I raised my chin a fraction. “I have a license to perform magic.”

“Oh I know. And I’m more convinced than ever you’re the right one for the job.”

“The job you offered me and I already turned down? That job?”

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Yes. That job.”

“There are dozens of knights to choose from. Try one of them.” I turned away and continued paddling. Almost to shore.

“I want you.”

My heart beat rapidly at the sound of his velvety voice telling me, of all things, that he wanted me. My lips parted but no sound came out.

“Need help loosening your tongue? I might know a few tricks.”

I bet. “I’m good, thanks.”

“I’d like to extend an invitation to the official residence of House Lewis to discuss the matter in greater detail.”

My head jerked toward him. “You mean the palace?” The royal family-owned multiple residences throughout the city as well as the countryside.

“Do you know it?”

“Hard to miss.” It was a sprawling building called Buckingham Palace that once served as the official administrative residence of the House of Windsor, the last royal human family before the Eternal Night began.

“Good, then I don’t need to give you the address.”

Only a few more feet to shore and my weapons. “And what if I don’t show?”

“You will be well-compensated.”

The board slid onto solid ground and I caught sight of my sheath exactly where I left it. I stepped off the board and handed him the paddle.

“Maybe money isn’t the only thing that motivates me. I’d like to know more now before I waste my time.”

His eyes narrowed. “You will know more when I choose to share that information. I’ll expect you at 14:00 tomorrow.”

I opened my mouth to lodge another objection but his face gave me pause. Handsome yet intense, it was the kind of face that formed a natural barrier to the word ‘no.’

“I am a prince of the two most formidable Houses in the realm,” he said. “You would do well to stay on my good side.”

The bastard had a good side? “I’ll keep that in mind when consulting my schedule.” Oops. It seemed my sarcasm was stronger than my will to live.

He dropped the paddle next to the board and walked away.

An invitation to the palace? I felt like Cinderella, except instead of a gown and glass slippers I’d be dressed in my finest armor with a cache of weapons tucked in all available crevices in case the prince got too frisky. I couldn’t possibly go to the palace and yet it seemed I was unable to refuse. If the Demon of House Duncan demanded your presence, you showed up or risked him coming to find you. I definitely wouldn’t want him angry when he tracked me down. I thought of how easily he snapped the selkie’s neck and discarded her like a broken toy. Prince Callan was notorious throughout the realm for his power and cold indifference to life.

Retrieving my sheath, I shivered, but it wasn’t because of the wind.

For the first time in many years, I was terrified.





5





I climbed the steps to my flat on the fifth floor that I affectionately referred to as the penthouse suite. The building itself was fairly rundown and maintenance never seemed to respond to the many requests, but it was in a prime location near the Euston train station and within walking distance to museums and the library, a place I liked to frequent. I was overdue for a visit. It wasn’t exactly a home away from home—the staff recognized me, but our conversations didn’t extend beyond pleasantries and the Dewey Decimal System.

I unlocked the door. It had been sticking lately, so I leaned my body weight against the edge to force it open. I spilled into the flat and nearly tripped over the red panda who was waiting patiently on the other side of the door. Red pandas were close to extinction and not native to the region. This one ended up coming home with me after a job involving a seller of endangered animals on the black market—for food.

“Hey, Big Red.” The name was a misnomer since he was no bigger than a domestic cat, albeit with a slightly longer body. I scratched his reddish-brown fur. “I bet you’re hungry.” Like the others, Big Red was always hungry.

Jemima clucked as she made her way across the living room floor to greet me. The Bantam hen’s diaper was droopy and I felt a stab of guilt. One of the reasons I resisted keeping a menagerie of animals was because…Well, the most important reason was because they violated the terms of my lease. I was allowed one pet and one pet only. The second most important reason was because I never knew how long I would be gone and I worried about leaving them too long. It couldn’t be helped though. Jobs took however long they took and I didn’t have the luxury of turning down work.