Lois Greiman by Seducing a Princess Read Free Book Online Page A

that he realized she was watching him.
    “What does it cost you to feed that habit?” she asked.
    “I take it you don’t approve of drinking spirits.” He felt more himself already. Whoever that was.
    “As I’ve said, it matters little to me either way. I was just curious what you’ve given up for it.”
    Tattered memories flashed through his brain. A funeral. He’d been drunk when they’d put her in the ground. But who was she? And how many times before that had he been just as inebriated? Memories of loss, of pain, sparked through him. He’d lost much. Is that what had driven him to his present occupation? Perhaps he had nothing else to lose. But in the back of his mind a tiny, disembodied voice taunted him. He still had his life. And if he wished to keep it that way, he’d best be careful with the Scotch, for despite his formidable abilities, he would need all his wits about him to survive the Den. Yes, for now he would put the drink aside. Just one more sip then. He took it. Warmth and comfort eased into his system. He kept his palms wrapped around the cup, but why should he not?
    She was still watching him. He could sense her gaze on his face and looked up, feeling irritable. “You seem strangely judgmental,” he said, “for a thief.”
    “Not at all,” she argued. She was not a woman who agreed easily. “The bottle is nearly full. Would you like me to fetch it?”
    He snorted derisively. “I’m certain this will be plenty,” he said, but when next he glanced into the cup, he realized it was already empty. Something like panic burbled in his gut.
    “Are you all right?”
    He raised his gaze to hers, calming his nerves. The queen’s man could surely not be so easily unnerved. “I’ve been shot in the chest,” he said, and felt marginally better for the explanation.
    “Ahhh. And so I should pity you?”
    He gritted his teeth. His stomach roiled. “Did you know that some consider women to be the gentler sex?”
    “Do they?”
    “’Tis a widely accepted theory.” His legs shook, and he spasmed.
    If she noticed she made no sign. “Maybe things are different here than in…somewhere else.”
    He stared at her askance, trying to follow the conversation.
    “Somewhere else,” she explained. “Where you come from. Are you quite well?”
    “Certainly. I’m…” But suddenly his stomach was being ripped apart. “No,” he growled and leaning over the edge of the bed, spewed out the contents of his stomach. Spasms wracked him. He calmed, shivered, and spasmed again. It took him several moments to realize she had thrust a wooden bowl beneath his head. Rolling carefully back onto the mattress, he concentrated on breathing. Every fiber ached as if he’d been beaten.
    Her face swam into view. His own felt hot, his mind the same, hot and heavy and barely coherent. “You poisoned me,” he accused and she laughed. The sound seemed loud and strangely musical in the closeness of the room.
    “Don’t be daft, Dancer. You’ve poisoned yourself,” she said, then there was nothing but blackness.
     
    “You feelin’ any better?”
    Will looked about. Lucidity wavered in. Gem sat at his bedside, her wide eyes round and innocent, probably deceptively so.
    “What day is it?” His voice was hoarse and broken.
    “Don’t know. You need to eat somethin’.”
    He croaked a sound.
    “You want somethin’ to drink?”
    He managed a nod.
    “I think Master Poke’s got some Scotch. I’ll fetch—”
    But his guts twisted threateningly at the thought. “Something easier on my stomach maybe.”
    “Sure. Master Poke may be a—” She stopped, pursing her lips and glancing toward the door as if expecting a ghost at any moment. “We eat good ’ere at the Den. We got beer.”
    “So you’re still alive.” Princess stood in the doorway.
    Will’s stomach roiled at the sight of her. Anger flickered through him. She was probably the person he was supposed to bring to justice, he thought, and hoped quite