Page 117 of Hellbound

Sweaty, pudgy hands grasped hers as the court parted ways after the ceremony.

His breath was hot and rancid in her face. “Lady Senka, what a vision you are in that dress,” Valdren crooned. “I see you accepted my gift.” The yellowed whites of his eyes glistened as he widened them before he winked at her conspiratorially.

She pried his damp fingers from her as she forced a tight smile onto her face: “Grand Chancellor—”

“Valdren. Please, call me Valdren.” His pasty face pressed its folds into a smile.

“Valdren. Your generosity knows no bounds. I appreciate your token—”

“My dear, as the steward of Kraal’s wealth, I have no shortage of finery I wish to offer you, if only for a mere moment with you.”

His simpering voice was making her sick.

“How kind—”

“Nonsense! A woman of your beauty and talents deserves to be adorned appropriately.” His hand snatched hers, his thumb tracing circles against her palm. “I was hoping you might join me for dinner this evening? We have much to discuss—your position at court, who to befriend, who is a foe…”

Her jaw clenched. The next time he interrupted her, she would rip out his windpipe.

“I’m honored by that invitation, Grand Chancellor, but I should ask the captain first.”

“The captain?” Valdren’s wet eyes narrowed. “But I thought you were purely platonic? Just a dutiful captain and his charge.”

Heat crept up Ksenia’s neck. “Yes—yes, but—”

“Oh, by all means, Lady Senka.” Bohdan’s silken, dark voice cut through her stammer as he appeared beside the pair with a pleasant smile. “You, of course, have my blessing to familiarize yourself with the court as you wish.”

Ksenia’s gaze snapped to him. His clear green eyes held her with infuriating calm—and beneath it, the faintest glimmer of satisfaction.

That fucking bastard.

“There, you see?” Valdren’s grip tightened on her hand. “Our good captain has no objections. So will you join me?”

“Not tonight, but soon. Allow me to settle into court a while longer before we meet.” She pressed her lips into a smile. “I can’t wait to get to know you better.”

Her partial concession pleased him. Valdren bowed, his wet eyes never leaving her before departing.

The moment Valdren disappeared, Ksenia cornered Bohdan with a glare that could’ve melted glass.

His answering smirk was controlled and absolutely infuriating.

“You snake,” she seethed, stepping closer and lowering her voice. “You set me up for that vile commitment.”

“You made that choice without my interference. You could have declined him.” His tone was light and pleasant. “Unless, of course, you don’t have the social graces to know how.”

She clenched her fist, knuckles turning pale and bloodless.

“Get dressed and meet me at the spire; we have more training to do.” He smirked as she turned on her heel and walked away.

30

The exhaustion was hitting her in waves, each more insistent than the last. Her limbs were made of sand, useless and heavy as she was forced to climb the stairs of the spire.

“You need that conditioning regimen more than I expected.” Bohdan chuckled as he led the way, ascending the hundreds of stone stairs with ease.

Ksenia might have beaten him to the top by now if she hadn’t been completely spent after the punishing hours of sparring the night before and her late-night fight with Danika, which had left her unable to rest.

Her lungs burned with a sharp, acidic ache, but her mind traitorously trailed back to the feeling of his hand on her body, twined in her hair, forcing her to submit, and she found her face reddening for an entirely different reason.