Chapter 14 · The Prince's Bad Wine

"You can't be here."

Prince Erran didn't move from the doorway. Just stood there in his formal coat, medals gleaming under the hallway torchlight, looking at her like she hadn't just told him to leave.

"I know what you're planning," he said.

Kira's hand went to the knife at her belt. Instinct. She forced it back down. "You don't know anything."

"You're going after Halrik tonight." He stepped inside and shut the door behind him. Locked it. "At the feast. You're going to kill him."

She didn't answer. Didn't need to. He read it on her face.

"I won't let you," Erran said.

Her pulse kicked up. Not fear. Anger. "You won't let me?"

"Not like this." He crossed the room, boots quiet on stone. "You go for him in front of the entire court, you're dead before you take two steps. His guards will cut you down. Then they'll say you were an assassin. They'll use your corpse to justify everything he's done."

"I don't care."

"I do."

The words hit harder than they should have. She turned away, checked the blade she'd hidden in her sleeve. "This isn't your fight."

"It is now." His voice was closer.