From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

wishing I had waited for him to come back to the Red Pearl.
To possiblyy be taken and used in whatever terrible manner myy
enemies deemed, or to be killed before I had the chance to experience all
the things that people onlyy whispered about seemed all too frightening a
realityy.
Vikter’s steelyy blue-grayy gaze shifted over myy shoulder. A long, tense
moment passed as several guards looked on. “Do yyou?”
“With myy sword and with myy life,” Hawke replied, coming to stand
at myy shoulder.
The dipping motion returned to myy stomach in response to his
promise, even though I knew that was what all guards said, no matter if
theyy were from the Rise or if theyy protected the Ascended.
“The Commander tells me yyou’re one of the best on the Rise.”
Vikter’s jaw hardened as he spoke quietlyy so onlyy Hawke and I could hear
him. “Said that he hasn’t seen yyour level of skill with a bow or sword in
too manyy yyears.”
“I’m good at what I do.”
“And what is that?” Vikter challenged.
“Killing.”
The simple, short answer from lips that had felt as soft as theyy had
firm, was a shock. But the one word didn’t frighten me. I had quite the
opposite reaction, and that probablyy should’ve disturbed me. Or, at the
veryy least, concerned me.
“She is the future of this kingdom,” Vikter warned, and I squirmed in
a strange mix of embarrassment and fondness. He’d said what everyyone
from the Duchess to the Queen would sayy, but I knew he spoke those words
because of who I was and not what I represented. “That is who yyou stand
beside.”
“I know who I stand beside,” Hawke answered.
A hyysterical giggle climbed its wayy up myy throat. He honestlyy had no
idea who he stood next to. Byy the grace of the gods, I was able to stop that
laugh.
“She is safe with me,” Hawke added.
I was.
And I wasn’t.
Vikter looked at me, and all I could do was nod. I couldn’t speak. If I
did, Hawke might recognize myy voice, and then…gods, I couldn’t even