Rough, Sara Fields [the top 100 crime novels of all time txt] 📗

“Thank you, Alpha,” I whispered.

Tonight, I would serve wine to the king’s table. I’d be able to get close to every member of power here in the castle, and I would be able to look for the Acolyte in much closer proximity than I had so far. I handed Magnar the bag with the goblet.

I’d already filled the hidden chamber with the poison I’d stolen from Neegan’s study. It was ready to be served to the man who had tried to tear us apart, whoever he turned out to be.

He tied the bag to his belt and took my arm in his. Together, we left his chambers and descended into the castle. We walked down the familiar halls and finally entered the massive room where Magnar had been crowned not so long ago.

The tables were full of the city’s people. The rich and the noble sat at those tables and up on the raised platform was Magnar’s royal advisory team. I recognized some of the faces, including Neegan, the master of coin, the commander of the Kingsworth army, as well as a number of others who played lesser roles.

Magnar climbed the stage and I followed with him. I felt the eyes of the audience on my back and I was keenly aware of the fact that the dress I’d been given put my mark on full display. The gown made a statement and Magnar had been the one to choose it.

I liked that.

He took his place at the center of the king’s table and I followed. A woman handed me a pitcher of wine and I started to pour for the table. I began with Magnar and Erik, ensuring that their glasses were full before I moved on to the others.

I took some time to study Erik’s hands. His hands were smooth and unscarred. He didn’t have the mark I was looking for. As I shuffled down the line, I didn’t see anything that was particularly heartening. Before long, I’d made my way to Neegan. The cuff of his sleeve was ruffled and extended a bit too far down for me to see where the scar would be. Not wanting to appear suspicious, I poured his wine and moved on.

I watched in silence as the table talked amongst themselves and then Magnar stood up before his people.

The room quieted in a hush.

“We gather today to welcome Erik the Undefeated and the King of Daneridge into our halls. It is with this day that I bring you news of the highest honor,” he began.

A glimmer of excitement passed over the room and gleeful mutterings chattered through the crowd before they quieted once again.

“Kingsworth and Daneridge have come to an accord upon the eve of the Second Great War. With their defenses and ours combined, we will stand strong against our enemies and survive their onslaught, whatever it may be that they throw at us,” he continued.

Neegan stood up beside him. I narrowed my gaze, unwilling to look away as the man turned around and a few servants rushed to his side. They rushed to pass him a wooden chest and he took it in his arms. He turned in Erik’s direction and took a step.

His foot caught on one of the servant’s boots and he tripped. He caught himself and took several steps.

Then he limped.

Exactly the way the Acolyte had.

He recovered quickly, but I’d seen it anyway. It must have taken a lot of practice to cover something up like that. I narrowed my eyes as he walked normally to stand behind Erik’s seat. He bowed his head, feigning respect for the visiting king.

I already knew he had brown eyes.

I just needed to see his hand. It was the last piece of evidence that would confirm my suspicions and convince me enough to be willing to commit murder.

Magnar kept speaking but I was too engrossed in trying to see Neegan’s hand in order to listen to what he was saying. My alpha opened the crate and on the cushion inside it was a crown that was designed in a similar fashion to Magnar’s own.

Magnar held up his hand and the audience went quiet.

“My omega will be the one to give Erik this gift. Not only do I trust him with my city, but I trust in him as an alpha to be granted the right to be near my mate,” he declared.

I’d expected this, so I moved closer and took the golden crown into my fingers. I lifted it and placed it on top of the blond curls of Erik’s head as I stood behind him. He didn’t look back to face me and I didn’t care to study him any further. I was far more interested in Neegan.

The crowd started to roar with excitement.

Neegan closed the crate and passed it to me, before he gestured to me to get rid of it.

I took it and moved to go where I was bidden, but I had to know if his hand was scarred too. Purposefully, I caught the toe of my sandal just beneath his leather boot, tripping just as he had done. With a growl, he rushed to grab my wrist with his right hand.

The cuff of his sleeve flipped up, revealing exactly what I had wanted to see.

The scar. It was there on his right hand.

I sucked in a breath before I remembered myself.

“Thank you, Neegan,” I whispered.

He pressed a small vial into my palm, leaning close enough to brush his lips against my ear as he lifted me back up to my feet. I swallowed a shudder of revulsion.

“You passed the test. Use this to do what needs to be done. Do it tonight when he takes you to his bed,” he whispered.

“I pleased the people you answer to,” I breathed quietly. The roaring sound of the audience drowned out every word I said, but he heard me anyway.

“You did. Now take