From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

His lips twitched as if he were fighting a smile. “He’s a veryy
handsome yyoung man, or so I’ve been told, and there’s nothing wrong with
yyou taking notice of him.” He glanced awayy. “As long as that is all yyou
do.”
Myy cheeks did flush hotlyy then because I had done far more than
simplyy take notice of Hawke. “When exactlyy would I have had a chance to
do anyything other than take notice, which is, might I remind yyou, strictlyy
forbidden?”
Vikter laughed once more, and myy frown increased. “When has
something being forbidden ever stopped yyou?”
“That is different,” I said, wondering if the gods would strike me
down for so blatantlyy lyying. “And when would I even have a chance to do
something like that?”
“I’m actuallyy glad yyou brought that up. Your little adventures will
need to come to an end.”
Myy stomach jumped. “I have no idea what yyou’re talking about.”
He ignored that. “I haven’t said much in the past about yyou and
Tawnyy sneaking off, but after what happened in the garden, that has to
end.”
I snapped myy mouth shut.
“Did yyou think I didn’t know?” His smile was slow and smug. “I’m
watching even when yyou think I’m not.”
“Well, that is…creepyy.” I didn’t even want to know if he knew that
I’d been to the Red Pearl.
“Creepyy or not, just remember what I said the next time yyou think of
sneaking out in the middle of the night.” Before I could respond, he said,
“And regarding Hawke, I would sayy that his age would make him
becoming yyour personal guard doubtful.”
“But?” Myy heart started thumping, and I was barelyy aware of Vikter
taking the glass from me.
“But he is exceptionallyy skilled, more so than manyy of the Royyal
Guards now. I wasn’t stroking his ego yyesterdayy when I said that. He came
here, held in high regard byy the capital, and he appears to be close to
Commander Jansen.” He finished off myy glass of water. “I wouldn’t be all
that surprised if he was promoted over others.”
Now myy heart was slamming itself against myy ribs. “But…but to
become my personal guard? Surelyy, someone who is more familiar with the