Forbidden Honor (Dragon Royals #1)(7)

He matched my pace easily, staying beside me. “We only have a half day of training today. Party tonight.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s always a party with you.” Listening to this guy’s cutting barbs seemed like endless entertainment.

He eyed me skeptically. I tried to side-eye him back, but I tripped on a step.

He grabbed my arm, saving me from face-planting on the stone steps, and jerked me up to my feet. I was stunned, and judging from the look on his face as he stared at me, he was too. He let go of me, a vaguely horrified look on his handsome face as if I was going to spread my peasant germs to him.

“Why are you trying to run when you’re so bad at it?”

“I’m late for work.” I jogged up the steps, trying to pretend that I hadn’t left my dignity a few stairs back. My cheeks burned. “Why are you talking to me when you’re so bad at it?”

“Really? And here I was enjoying our conversation. You still haven’t told me your name. You didn’t tell Jaik either.”

Oh lord, Prince Jaik had sent one of his fellow royals to do his dirty work. I was probably going to get fired today.

“And I’m not going to. I’m not encouraging you to stalk me.”

He started to grin, and oh my god, if I didn’t get my eyes off his stupidly handsome face I was going to trip again and roll all the way down those damn steps.

He was just beginning to say something when we reached the top of the stairs, but he broke off abruptly. Another of the royals, a dragon embroidered on the breast of his training tunic, grabbed his arm and swung him to the side.

“Why are you talking to the wench? We don’t need any distractions.” Lord Arren growled at Talisyn.

“The wench?” I demanded. Dragon royal or not, this asshole was about to roll all the way down the stairs himself.

But they ignored me.

“She’s not a distraction.” Talisyn’s voice was dismissive, as if the idea were ridiculous.

Dragons are dicks.

I ran past them into the academy, fighting my way through the throngs of tall, muscular shifters headed to class. Whether male or female, I was shorter than all of them, which seemed like another check in the column for my fate as a future squirrel shifter.

I was still breathing hard and blushing—mostly from the stairs, but possibly slightly from talking to Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Dickish—when I reached the nearly empty cleaning bay. June was the last one leaving, her cleaning bucket over her shoulder, and she shot me a sympathetic look.

The bay usually would’ve been full of maids preparing for their shift, but I’d missed the start of the day. Now the only occupants were a few left-behind mops and brooms and Head, who looked so dry and prickly she could’ve been hanging with the brooms and blended right in.

“I thought you were getting your life together, Honor,” she said crisply.

If my life were together, I wouldn’t be working here. “So sorry I’m late, Head. Got held up.”

“Mm.” She regarded me skeptically. “Is there any good reason I shouldn’t fire you?”

The floor dropped from under my feet abruptly. I couldn’t come up with anything, so it dropped a little further. Head wouldn’t care that I needed this job.

“I’ll do better,” I promised. “I’m trying. I’m just not…great at cleaning.”

“Or being on time. Or being teachable. Or being humble.”

That was fair, which just made it worse. I lied, “I want to be here. I need this job to take care of my sister.”

“You have someone depending on you?” Her eyes widened in mock-shock. “That poor unfortunate soul.”

I wanted to slap her. But I tried to look contrite and humble and not homicidal.

“You can make it up to me,” she said. “I need someone to work the party tonight.”

Oh great, a double shift of cleaning up after assholes. I plastered a smile on my face like I was delighted. “I’d be happy to.”

“Oh, I doubt that very much.” She smiled back in a way that told me she genuinely was delighted…to make me miserable.

As I shouldered my mop, I wondered idly if I’d see the royals tonight as I passed canapes or bussed empty champagne flutes.

A wise girl would stay clear of the royals.

I have many wonderful qualities, but wise might not make the list.





Honor



“Bad luck,” Calla told me as she folded her servants’ gown, while I prepared for my fun evening in the scullery.

“I wish it was bad luck. It’s my own fault.” I pursed my lips, leaning against the wall as I watched her pack up her things.

“At least you’ll get the chance to spy on those royals.”

The memory of this morning rose, accompanied by sudden heat in my cheeks. Talisyn had been pretty cute, even antagonizing me. “I’m staying away from dukes and princes.”

Calla gave me a knowing look. “You can stay away and still stalk.”

“Please. They have enough women falling over them—and they’re impressed enough with themselves. I don’t like arrogant—”

“Gorgeous, strong men who save the kingdom on the regular,” she sang to finish my thought.

I rolled my eyes. “They’re still in military training.”