KINGSLAYER

♕ 1 | 3 | 0 ♕

The hidden door did not make a single noise as Alexander pushed it open and dragged her out into the hall. Though she could see perfectly fine in the moonlight from the other end, his grip on her hand was as tight as ever.

It was not too far a walk to the wing his quarters were in, but it was several stories lower. The journey down the first two staircases were blessedly clear, which she was glad for due to their length. If anyone happened to be taking a midnight stroll, Jaylah had nowhere to duck behind. Being seen meant her enemies would finally have conclusive proof that she was adulterous.

The bottom of the third, and last, staircase was devoid of guards. Jaylah made to head down it, but Alexander wordlessly pulled her back behind a column holding up the vaulted ceiling. When she looked to the floor below, confused, three guards strode by to find their next post. Just five seconds before, they had not been there. For better or for worse, Alexander truly had memorized the guards' schedules. Even she did not know that much.

Jaylah had strangely high faith in him as he decided it was alright to descend the steps into the block of Navrikan guest rooms. He strode past the doors of his sleeping comrades without a care in the world, putting at ease most of her anxiety that this was a trap. She looked down as he swung their conjoined hands. What a child. She had to bite down on her lip to keep back a disgraceful smile.

Alexander only let go of her when he unlocked his door. Only a single light flickered in the entire room. Jaylah narrowed her eyes, trying to find the book through the dimness. "There actually is a book, correct?"

"You don't have to whisper, the walls are soundproof. I've run some experiments to be sure of that." Over his shoulder, he winked at her. Jaylah tried to remain at ease. He laughed. "Yes, there's actually a book. Light that candle, will you?"

She did, making the gold leaf on the cover of the book in his hand shine. "Stranger of Eternity," she read. "At least you have good taste in classics."

"I just stole the most pretentious-looking one I could find."

Frowning, Jaylah sat on the edge of his desk. "You keep saying stole. You do know the books in the library are free as long as you check them out, correct?"

"You think I checked it out? Let a man live a little."

As he sat on the edge of his bed facing her, she contemplated the thick spine of the book. "Start at the beginning. We will take it one page at a time."

"What will you give me if I do it?"

The words were out of her mouth before she remembered who she was speaking to. "What do you want?" To cover her mistake, her glare sharpened. "Choose your next words very carefully."

The tilt of his grin was a bit too knowing. "For every page I read, you have to use that silver tongue of yours to compliment me."

Jaylah rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.

Before she could dispute it, he had already started reading the first page. Jaylah huffed. At least it was a classic, and therefore used prose chock full of long, complicated words. Given his reading level, he would never—

"Done." He smiled expectantly up at her.

When she sealed her lips, he leaned ever so slightly closer. "I suppose we can sit in silence if you want." His eyes were so dark.

No. Absolutely not.

Her gaze roved his figure, trying to pick out the easiest option. "Your hair—you have hair. You are not in danger of balding."

"No insincerity, no sarcasm."

"Fine. Your hair is an adequate color."

Alexander seemed to take that as a sufficient compliment and continued on with the story. He stumbled terribly over complicated sentences, but he was determined to wring as many indulgent words from her as possible. Jaylah could tell he did not understand what he was saying in the slightest, though he did not care.