Free Finding the Blood Assassin [Lords of the Expanse 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) by Honor James Page A

so that she could touch his cheek and whispered to him. “It’s a new day, I’m awake and yet here I am still in your arms.” Leaning in, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “And I still love you,” she added, knowing she’d have to say it often for him to truly believe her.
    His body jolted at her words, breaking the silence. It took a moment, but he finally drew back so their eyes met. “How are you feeling today, my lady?” he asked politely. He was ignoring what she’d said, and she knew exactly which part he’d discounted, the slightly stiff words telling her more than if he’d spoken it aloud.
    She sighed and looked at him. “I slept well, thank you for asking, my lord. I feel slightly better, and when I move its not hurting me or slicing through me painfully.”
    “That is good,” he said softly as he watched her, his eyes moving over her face. Then he frowned slightly and tipped his head, an odd expression flitting over his face before it vanished like it never was. She wanted to say guilt, but that couldn’t be right. “Do you feel up to getting up for a meal, or should I get something brought up for you?” he asked gently, moving his hand to touch her cheek.
    “I believe that I should likely get up and move so that I can start to work the kinks and pains out of my body.” She paused and looked up at him, the hurt and pain was there, she knew it was all over her face. “So that I can get out of your hair, my lord.” A tear fell, followed by another. “I’m sorry that I’ve taken up so much of your time and space, my lord. However, I will be gone as soon as I’m able to.”
    Leaning in suddenly, he kissed the tears away, his tongue lightly tracing over her skin. “If that is what you want to do,” he told her quietly, pulling away and then rolling from the bed. “It is, of course, your choice,” he said as he moved toward the door. “The guard at the end of the hall will escort you down when you are ready.” Raven murmured with a bow of his head and then then turned to leave.
    “It’s not what I want, Raven, but I can’t fight the battle with you.” She rubbed her hands over her face and sat up in the bed. “I love you, Raven. I want to be with you, but you keep pushing me away.” She sighed and shook her head as she stood. When she turned to face him he was gone, and that blow hurt her more than any other could have. 
    Sitting back down on the bed hard, she pressed her face into her hands and began to cry for long hard minutes before she stilled them enough to rise once more. She moved through the pain, through the hurt, and pulled out one of his shirts and a pair of pants, which she tied at the waist. She couldn’t just leave, so she turned to his desk and left him a simple note that had her hidey hole’s coordinates to it with a note. When you figure out what the mythical love is, find me. Be safe, my lord, I will miss you.
    Stepping from his bedroom, she had to force back the bile and fear when the guard turned to her and walked toward him. Her heart was thundering in her ears, and every step closer to the unknown man was as if she were walking to her grave. Close to a panic attack, she stopped ten feet from him. “I need to go to my ship.” She needed to throw up, but that was neither here nor there. “I’m going to be leaving now, so if you wouldn’t mind showing me how to get out of here please?”
    Staring at her, the guard nodded. His lord had obviously passed along orders as Raven had claimed. Stepping back, he turned slightly. “If you will follow me, my lady,” he said and then headed off down the hall. Passing another guard, he gave the man a nod. She thought she saw something cross the other man’s face, but they were past him in a moment and continuing down the stairs to the main entrance. At the doors, he opened them for her. “May you have a safe journey, my lady, be well,” he said, bowing as she came abreast of him.
    She hesitated at the door and found