Free The Twelve Kingdoms by Jeffe Kennedy Page B

to be behind you. Trust me. I’m not going to harm the Heir to the High Throne in the heart of Ordnung.”
    Maybe not the heir. Not anymore. The grief and failure of it rode between my shoulder blades, a physical pain that threatened to override all else. But I would not be the one to give voice to it until Uorsin did. No one would notice if I didn’t wear the circlet, since I rarely had. Still, I’d keep up a strong front with the mercenary. “If only because your contract forbids it.”
    â€œWhich it does. We are here as allies, not enemies. You have your version of honor. I have mine.”
    I would have snorted at that, but he wrapped those bearlike arms around me and I tensed to break the hold.
    â€œRelax, Ursula.” His deep voice rumbled through me. “I’m helping you.” He crossed his arms over mine, locking one hand around his other wrist and pulling me back against his broad chest. Easily twice as wide as mine. And strong as an ox. If we ever fought in truth, I’d have to avoid being caught in any grip such as this or I’d never wrestle free.
    â€œDrop your head back on my shoulder.” His soft laugh against my back reminded me of far-off thunder. “Which means to relax. Surely you know how.”
    Annoyed with him, I rocked my head on my neck, cracking the bones there, then dropped my head onto his shoulder. Moranu’s moon sailed silver overhead.
    â€œBreathe deep. In and out.” His dark voice soothed something in me, and leaning against the unshakably strong pillar of his body, I was able to exhale some of the fear and worry.
    With a snap of his shoulders, he lifted me off my feet, my spine releasing with an audible pop and a sharp “Ah!” from me. The shock rattled my brain, making my head swim a moment, and though he’d set me on my feet again, he held me until I steadied.
    â€œWow,” I said on a long breath.
    â€œDid that get it?”
    â€œYes.” I started to move away, but his arms tightened.
    â€œBecause I can do it again, if not. As often as you like.” He spoke the words quietly into my ear, his breath feathering warm across my cheek, clearly intending the double entendre. Something buried deep in me warmed to it.
    I twisted one hand up in a knife palm, breaking the hold and stepping free, pleased with how smoothly it went. Mostly because I surprised him. I doubted I could pull that off if he’d really locked down his superior upper-arm strength. He turned the surprise around by snaking a hand around my elbow, keeping me from clearing him entirely.
    â€œNot so fast. I—” He broke off, narrowing his eyes and tugging me closer. “You’re hurt.”
    â€œNo.” Thrice-damn it. I’d forgotten to ice the forming bruise, hadn’t expected anyone to see me. I pulled back, but his grip held this time. “I accidentally hit myself with the sword hilt in practice just now. It’s nothing.”
    His pale eyes glittered. “I bet you haven’t hit yourself with your own sword since you were ten years old.”
    Eight, actually. “Let me go, Captain.”
    He did. “I was right to be concerned, I see. The High King struck you in his anger.”
    I hated, hated, hated, that he’d glimpsed that. That I’d forgotten the evidence would be visible. “You have no need to give a thought to me. Or to what transpires between me and the High King. You were hired to do a job. Presumably that contract of yours, the one you rely on to inform your honor and ethics, details exactly what is your concern. I suggest you stick to that.”
    â€œI’m surprised you defend him.”
    I had no choice. My sacred duty to defend the High Throne and the man who embodied it. “You dance perilously close to treason, Dasnarian. I’m sure your contract precludes that.”
    â€œYou seem uncommonly interested in the Vervaldr contract, Your Highness. Perhaps you