Prince of Spies - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,14
he’d been in dire straits before, but this time was different. This time, it wasn’t just his own skin at stake, and he refused to take any chances with Riki’s precious life. She pressed close to his chest, gazing up at him as if she could see right into his soul.
“Thank you, Nico, but you’ve got to save your strength. We need to get out of Skithdron as quickly as possible.”
Her words brought him back to his senses. “You’ll get no argument from me on that, milady. But first, we have to rest. And then we need to secure some food and perhaps some warmer clothing for you.”
“But where?”
“We are near one of the larger towns.” He nodded toward his left as he let her pull away from him, little by little. It was hard to let her go, but he knew he had to do so. “After we rest, just before sundown, we’ll go into the village and get what we need.”
“But we don’t have any money.”
Nico grinned as she moved away and sat on the rock he’d used before. “I could steal things, but as it happens…” he lifted his left foot and opened a secret compartment in the sole of his boot, “…I do have some coins left.”
Riki leaned over to look at the footwear more closely. “That’s ingenious!”
Nico bowed slightly. “Thank you. I thought so too. Lucan’s men took my purse and all other items of value, but I always try to have a stash available for emergencies such as this.”
“You do this kind of thing often, then?” Her teasing smile enchanted him.
Nico shrugged. “Often enough. It’s one of the hazards of being a spy.”
He watched her reaction closely. He’d never told a woman the truth of his profession before, but this woman was different. Her reaction mattered to him.
It nearly sickened him to think she might be horrified by the idea, but he needn’t have worried. Her beautiful eyes lit with sparks of interest and a kind of daring intrigue mirroring the way he felt about the work he performed in service to his land and people.
“I knew there was something special about you.”
Her casual acceptance seeped into his heart and warmed his soul. “You’re the special one, milady. I’m but a humble soldier in service to my king.”
“You work for the king of Draconia?”
Nico nodded as he pocketed just a few of the spare coins in his shoe, leaving the rest hidden. “He’s my brother.”
“Your brother? So does that make you a prince?” She paused. “Good gods! You’re Prince Nicolas.”
He bowed his head, laughing at her stunned reaction. “The very same.”
“Lucan is a fool. He had no idea who you were.”
“All the better for me. If he’d known—”
“If he’d known,” she cut him off, her voice somber, “you’d already be dead. He hates the royal family of Draconia. He’s insanely jealous of you all and wants every last one of you dead. He rants about it, even when he’s alone. It’s an obsession of his.”
“I feared as much. We’ve learned only recently about his machinations even before he was crowned, and all evidence points to the fact that he’s been working for years to destroy every royal line in Draconia. Including yours.”
“Me?” She laughed nervously. “I’m not royal.”
“I beg to differ. Rightfully, you are Princess Arikia of the House of Kent.”
“You must be joking.”
He smiled at her, enjoying her soft manner, even when she was outraged. “I’m afraid not. Your mother was the only survivor. Her entire family was murdered when she was just a baby. I believe that was done at Lucan’s command, though I may never be able to prove it. As far as we’ve been able to determine, a maidservant took your mother and ran off the very night of the massacre. She raised your mother, renaming her and keeping her as her own. Your mother never knew of her birthright, yet she had an affinity for dragons that led her—even as a toddler—to the dragoness, Kelzy.”
“You’re saying my mother is like you? Half-dragon?”
“As are you. All the members of the various royal lines carry the dragon as part of their soul. Like it or not, you’re a princess of Draconia.” She didn’t look convinced.
“I suppose we’re cousins, then?” She seemed to be thinking out loud.
Nico moved close to her, sweeping one arm around her waist and pulling her lithe form up against his chest. He liked the little gasp she emitted at his sudden move. He liked even more that