How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced #1)

She drew a deep breath. “I could use more wine.”


“Of course.” He stood to grab the wine bottle from across the table, then sat again to refill their cups. “Ana, I need you to be extra careful until we catch the third assassin.”

“Do you have any idea who he is?”

“I’m having someone watched.” Leo suspected Father Rune, but it would be hard to prove at this point. They knew the assassin was wounded, but the young priest had a nasty habit of inflicting wounds on himself. “Whoever he is, he’s extremely dangerous. He broke into the dungeons and killed the first assassin and the two jailers there.”

She nodded, and he realized she wasn’t surprised by the news.

“You already knew?”

“I … heard.” Her gaze shifted toward the bed. “Were there any clues left behind? Can you do like before and use your dog to track down the killer?”

“You mean Brody? He-he’s on another mission right now.”

Her eyes widened. “You send your dog on missions?”

Leo winced inwardly and decided to change the subject. “Your father is arranging the funeral for this afternoon. It should be happening soon, but I would prefer that you not attend. It will be hard enough to keep your father safe. We’ll have to keep him surrounded and insist he wear a helmet.”

“I understand.”

“How do you conduct your funerals here at Vindemar?”

A look of alarm glinted in her eyes. “Oh, th-the usual way.” Her gaze darted toward the bed, and she quietly fiddled with the grapes before turning to him. “The dead are burned on pyres along the cliffs overlooking the sea, then the bones are interred in the catacombs.”

That wasn’t the usual way for the rest of Eberon. Leo had a strange feeling that she’d just repeated the answer word for word.

Her gaze shot toward the bed once more. “It’s a shame no one can talk to the ghosts of the dead jailers. The ghosts would know the identity of the man who killed them.”

“An interesting strategy,” Leo murmured. But for whom was she suggesting it?

Her jaw shifted as if she was annoyed by something, then she turned toward him. “I have a question for you.”

“Go ahead.”

Her eyes narrowed as she watched him closely. “Did you have Captain Bougaire killed?”

Leo sat back. “What? I banished him. That’s all.”

She continued to study him. “You didn’t order someone to kill him?”

“No. As far as I know he’s—” Leo leaned toward her. “Are you saying he’s dead?”

She nodded. “You seem genuinely surprised.”

“I am. I told you I wouldn’t kill him, and I kept my word.”

She sighed, a flicker of relief crossing her face. “I didn’t think you could have done it.”

Leo tensed. How could she know that the captain was dead? And if he was dead, did that mean someone had murdered him to keep him from talking? Had Captain Bastard told the truth, and the woman sitting with him now was an imposter?

She bit her lip. “Who would have killed him then?”

Leo swallowed hard. He’d told only the general and the duke what the captain had said. The general had laughed it off, but the duke had looked alarmed. Alarmed enough to kill? Dammit, no.

She tilted her head, watching Leo. “You know who did it?”

“I … suspect someone. I’ll check into it for you.” Although he doubted he could ever tell her that her father had done it. If he was her father. Leo shook his head. What the hell was going on here? He was losing patience with all these damned secrets. “Why do you want me to call you Ana?”

She shrugged and fiddled with the grapes. “It’s short for my name.”

What name would that be? “Tell me, Ana, how do you know the captain is dead?”

A touch of panic glimmered in her eyes before she shuttered her expression. “I told you. I have spies.”

“So do I. But I have yet to hear about the captain’s death.”

She plucked a grape off the tray. “I guess my spies are better than yours.”

“Apparently so.” Now it was his turn to watch her carefully. “Are your spies, by any chance, dead?”

She flinched, and the grape popped out of her hand. “Oh!” She reached for the grape as it fell, catching it just as it landed on his lap.

He hissed in a breath as his groin reacted.

“Oh!” With a gasp, she jerked her hand away, and the grape went flying. “I’m sorry!”

He grabbed her forearm, his gloved hand encircling her sleeve. “You gasped. Were you in pain?”

“No, I…”

“It didn’t hurt you?” When she shook her head no, he slapped her hand against his cock once more and held it there. “That doesn’t hurt you?”

She gasped again, her eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

“Do you feel a shock?”

“Of course!” Her cheeks flamed with heat as her gaze shifted downward with a look of horror. “There’s something hard in your breeches, and I think it’s moving!”

“Not that! Are you feeling a shock from lightning?”

She shook her head. “Am I supposed to?”

Only one layer of insulation, and she was all right.

A knock sounded, then the door cracked open. Leo released her, and they jumped apart so fast their chairs fell over.

“My lord?” Jensen’s eyes widened, and he quickly looked away as Leo righted his chair. “The funeral has begun, and His Grace has requested your presence.”

“Of course.” Leo bowed his head to Luciana. “I will see you later at the funeral feast.”

She nodded, her gaze riveted to the floor.

He softened his voice. “Will you be all right?” When she nodded again without looking at him, he groaned inwardly. He may not have shocked her physically, but he’d certainly given her an emotional shock. “Lock and bolt the door behind me.” He strode from the room.