he was thinking about killing me just for daring talk to him.” Sicarius, whether curious about something he had seen outside or just aware he was crimping story hour, chose that moment to walk out of the room. Books lunged forward and startled Amaranthe by grabbing her arm. “What are you doing with him? Do you have a death wish?” The concern on the older man’s face surprised her, and she kept herself from pulling away. “We have an agreement,” she said. “He’s helping me to protect the emperor and maybe get Hollowcrest
