Prince of Spies by Bianca D'Arc Read Free Book Online Page B

you, my dear. Besides, we’re still in hostile territory. Nick the Spy is who I am when outside the borders of my homeland.”
    Riki nodded gravely, realizing all too well how important it was that his true identity remain a secret. If Lucan ever got wind of exactly who and what Nico was, he would move heaven and earth to kill him. Not that Lucan wasn’t probably already moving heaven and earth to get her back.
    She knew how important she was to his continued existence.
    Without a healer at his beck and call, the skith blood and venom inside Lucan would begin to kill him, slowly, painfully, and terribly. She felt a slight pang for what he would suffer, but she relished her freedom. Going back was not an option. She’d die rather than be recaptured.
    “Eat, sweetheart. It’s nearly time for us to make our move on the town.”
    Riki bit into the perfectly cooked rabbit, enjoying her first taste of meat in months. Lucan hadn’t allowed

    her to eat well, throwing her scraps from his table only rarely. Most often, she was fed by a slave who brought her gruel once a day from the palace kitchens. It was nearly unpalatable stuff, but she knew Lucan kept her weak on purpose so she’d be more biddable.
    She wolfed down the portion, savoring each bite though she couldn’t help but eat fast. She was starving. Only now, with food in front of her, did she allow herself to feel the true extent of her hunger.

    “Aren’t you going to have any?”
    Nico shook his head, passing her the rest of the rabbit. “I’ll get something in town.”
    He crouched down opposite her, smiling so kindly, it made her knees weak.
    “Please, I feel like a glutton. Won’t you have some?”
    She held the skewer out to him and he seemed to consider it for a short moment before leaning even closer. He snapped at it with his teeth, holding her gaze as he tugged a piece from the skewer in her hand. For some reason, his actions made her breathless, her gaze imprisoned by his as he chewed, swallowed, then licked his lips with a slow, sensuous glide of his tongue.
    “Delicious.”
    Somehow she got the impression he was talking about more than just the meat. His hand lifted, covering
    hers gently and guiding the skewer back towards her mouth as he watched her.
    “Eat up, sweetheart. We need to get moving soon.”
    Nico jerked back suddenly, his head cocked toward the road a short distance to their left, behind the towering rocks. Nobody could see them from the road, nor could Nico and Riki see much unless they climbed a bit higher on the rocks, but they could hear pretty well. Sound carried over the barren landscape of this part of Skithdron.
    Fright shivered through Riki as she became aware of frightening noises.
    The jingle of tack meant horses, and the galloping sound of their hooves indicated they were traveling fast. Metal clanks made her think of the swords, shields and light armor favored by some of Lucan’s guards.
    Riki said not a word as Nico straightened. He climbed just high enough to see over the rocks to the road while Riki sat still as stone and worried. Her ragged fingernails bit into her palms as she clenched her fists in fright, every muscle in her body screaming silently in terror they would be discovered.
    Nico dropped down on nearly silent feet. His face was grim, but his stance seemed mostly relaxed. “We’re safe for now, but those were palace guards, which can’t be good for us. They’re heading for the town. That means you can’t be seen there, Riki, but we badly need supplies.”
    “Then what can we do?”
    “I’ll go in alone. There’s less chance they’ll recognize me. I have ways to blend in and I can fight them
    off better than you if they do catch me. But that means we’ll have to stash you someplace safe first.” “You make it sound so easy.”

    “It’s anything but, sweetheart. But we’ll make this work. Never fear.”
    Riki caught movement out of the corner of her eye. It was slithering and it was