“Lys,” he called to her. She glanced over at him and he signaled for her to follow him.

He led her back to the alcove where he’d spoken with Nerissa, only this time he went up the staircase. He found a vacant room on the second floor, and pulled Lysandra into it with him, closing the door behind them.

She eyed him with wariness. “What’s happened? Did Nerissa deliver bad news about the princess?”

“Yes, but I can’t deal with that right now. We have a more immediate problem.”

“What is it?”

“Nerissa doesn’t trust Felix.”

“That makes two of us,” she said, but then grimaced. “Sorry. I know you’ve come to consider him a true friend. I must learn to respect that. And, really, he isn’t nearly as smarmy as I first thought.”

He hissed out a breath. “He works for King Gaius.”

Lysandra stared at him with shock. “What?”

She looked as blindsided as he’d felt when Nerissa told him. “He said he was raised by a group of cutthroats who worked for a rich boss, right? Well, that rich boss was the king. He’s a hired assassin for the King of Blood.” Jonas’s anger had started slowly, as cold shock, but had built quickly into something practically tangible, something he could hold onto. “That’s how he found me. Five weeks ago he was at the palace to receive his most recent assignment—to track me down and bring my head to the king.”

“Wait. But—but he didn’t do that. You’ve been with him all this time and he hasn’t made a single move, right?” Lysandra gripped Jonas’s arms. “Maybe she’s wrong.”

He was furious with himself for being stupid enough to trust someone he barely knew.

Nerissa’s information had resonated with him. It finally filled in the blanks that Jonas had been trying to ignore about his new friend.

He believed Nerissa.

“He’s waiting for something.” Jonas shook his head. “Now that I have the crystals . . . Cleo told me the king was after the Kindred—after magic. That is his goal. Do you have any idea what the king would pay for even one of those crystals? And do you know what he’d do with that kind of power if he’s able figure out how to harness it?”

“Jonas, please calm down. Losing your head isn’t going to help.”

“Nice choice of words.” He groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. “You were right not to trust him. You sensed something, didn’t you? Something off.”

“I did. But—I mean, I’ll admit I don’t trust easily.”

“Neither do I. Not normally. Damn it, I don’t have time to deal with this. I need to start searching for the princess . . .”

“Forget the princess for a minute. What do we do now, with Felix? Confront him?”

Jonas began pacing the room. “I will confront him, but not right now.”

“Why? What are you waiting for?”

He met her gaze. “Because first I need you to leave.”

She looked at him with confusion. “Why would I do that?”

It would be great if once, just once, someone would do as he asked without arguing. “Because he’s dangerous.”

“I’m dangerous too, in case you’ve forgotten.”

She needed to see reason, but there wasn’t much time to convince her. “I’m going to just go ahead and say it. I’ve been worried about you ever since your escape from the palace. I don’t want to jeopardize your recovery. I know what happened. It—it was rough for you. And your brother . . .” His jaw tensed. “I know that you’ll need to take time to heal.”

She stared at him. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

Her face flushed and her eyes flashed with anger. “Yes, I am. I’m fine. Stop treating me like a delicate flower, because never, not once in my entire life, have I been one. You don’t need to protect me. I can confront Felix with you, by your side. And if he makes any move toward you, I’ll kill him.”

She was so beautiful when she got all riled up like this. “You never stop arguing, do you?”

She groaned with frustration. “I’m not going anywhere else and you can’t make—”

He grabbed her face between his hands, pushed her back against the wall, and pressed his mouth against hers. His emotions were running high tonight, and just then she’d looked so fierce, so gorgeous—

He couldn’t resist. He’d wanted to kiss her for ages, actually. And it was just as good as he’d imagined it would be.

She grabbed hold of his shirt as if ready to shove him away from her, but instead she slid her hands over his shoulders and pulled him closer, returning the kiss, and, for a moment, made him forget everything but the salty-sweet taste of her lips.

When they parted, he was panting, certain his face was as flushed as hers.

“Didn’t expect that,” she whispered.

“That makes two of us.”

“Well, it doesn’t change a thing. I’m not leaving you.”

“Fine.” He slid his fingers through her long dark hair, his mind spinning. “We’ll confront Felix together. Two against one, better odds.”

“Will you, now?”

The words cut through their shared moment like a knife. Lysandra stiffened against Jonas and they both looked toward the entrance. Leaning against the frame in the now open doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, was Felix.