Prince of Cats - Tasha Black Page 0,27

far suggested them to be.

She took a long, slow sip and smacked her lips.

The men relaxed visibly, and both drained their glasses with no appreciation for the fine vintage. Such a waste.

She held her glass out and Baird took it, placing it on the table.

While the men watched, she slid two vials of sticky, amber liquid from her pocket.

She uncorked one and drank the contents without a word.

She placed the other vial on the table as the two men stared at her in confusion.

“I forgot to mention that I need only one of you for this job,” she said. “The wine was poisoned with heart of holly. There’s one dose of antidote on the table. Whichever of you makes it out of this room will have shown me they have the stomach for the job. Instructions will follow.”

She turned on her heel and marched toward the door, Berit and Baird hurrying ahead to open it for her.

By the time it closed behind her, she could already hear the two mercenaries scrabbling for the vial in a fight to the death.

Hopefully, one of them would survive long enough to help her.

And whichever one it was, she didn’t think he’d remain seated the next time she entered the room.

19

Piper

The day after the presentation ceremony, Piper sat with Kieran on a thick brocade blanket in the middle of the palace garden.

When Ruthyr suggested they have a picnic lunch, Piper had had no idea exactly what than entailed.

She looked around at the rose garden, bursting with fragrant fall blossoms, and at the feast spread out before her - enough delicacies for ten people.

If only she and Kieran didn’t have to enjoy it alone.

Despite all that had happened, it was hard not to wish Killian were sitting opposite them on the blanket.

Kieran crowed in delight and crawled over to the edge of the blanket to snatch up a flame-colored petal from the lush grass.

“I see that,” Piper told him. “You found a flower.”

“Mama,” he replied, grinning at her and waving the petal around for emphasis.

“Baby,” she said. “I love you.”

He smiled and moved the petal toward his mouth.

“No, no,” she said. “Not in your mouth.”

But of course the petal continued on its journey to the little pink lips.

She started to crawl over to snatch it, but movement wasn’t easy with so many petticoats and skirts. She wound up tangled in her own garments as Kieran tasted the petal and spit it out, making a horrible face.

“Serves you right, bud,” Piper laughed, picking herself up.

Kieran laughed too, and crawled over to her for a cuddle.

“Hello,” someone said softly.

Piper looked up to see a lovely young woman in a pale lavender gown. She recognized her from last night’s dinner. The woman had been sitting next to Killian’s brother. Piper had thought her eyes seemed kind at the time, and was surprised again by the warmth in the regal woman’s voice.

“My name is Ashe,” she said. “I’m Princess Wynter’s sister, which makes me Kieran’s aunt.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Piper said carefully, wondering exactly how much a nanny could talk to a Princess’s sister without seeming impudent. “I’m Piper, Kieran’s nurse.”

“Nice to meet you Piper,” Ashe said in a friendly way that made Piper relax just a little.

She looked down wistfully at the meal and the baby.

“Would you, uh, like to join us?” Piper offered. “There’s way too much food here. They must think I’m nursing a battalion.”

Ashe laughed and seated herself in a fluid motion opposite Piper on the blanket.

Piper wished she had watched more carefully to see how Ashe managed the dress.

“Hello, nephew,” Ashe said brightly, but not in a baby talk voice.

Kieran squeaked at her and she laughed.

“You are a very handsome boy,” she told him. “I can’t wait to see you grow up.”

Kieran waggled his fingers at her.

“Oh,” Piper said. “That means he wants to go to you.”

Ashe opened her arms and Kieran scooted over to investigate his aunt.

When he made it over, he grabbed one of her hands and very slowly pulled himself up to standing.

“Oh, you’re showing your aunt your trick,” Piper said, pleased.

Kieran pulled himself to standing and sometimes took a few steps while holding onto the coffee table at home. But he wasn’t all that interested in walking yet.

Piper’s mom always scolded her for holding him too much. But she figured he would walk when he was ready, probably not too long from now.

“Kieran, you’re amazing,” Ashe breathed.

He grinned at her and then turned back to Piper.

“Mama,” he crowed, and