From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

pulled the tunic over his head and shrugged a baldric over his shoulders,
securing the belt at his waist. There were two sheaths at his sides for
weapons—weapons I hadn’t been aware of until now.
He picked up two short swords from the chest near the door, and I
thought that mayybe I needed to be better aware of myy surroundings the
next time I barged into a room.
His blades were honed to a wicked, deadlyy point, intended for closecontact
fighting, and each side was serrated, designed to cut through flesh
and muscle.
I knew how to use them, too, but I kept that to myyself.
“I’ll come back as soon as I can.” He sheathed the swords flat to his
sides. “I swear.”
I nodded once more.
Hawke stared at me. “Tell me that yyou’ll wait for me, Princess.”
Myy heart skipped over itself. “I will.”
Turning, he walked to the door and then stopped. He faced me. “I
look forward to returning.”
I said nothing as he left the room, opening the door onlyy wide enough
for him to slip through. When the door clicked into place behind him, I let
go of the breath I had been holding and looked down at the front of myy
gown. The area of myy breast was still damp, the white material nearlyy
transparent. Myy cheeks flushed hotlyy as I scooted off the bed and stood on
surprisinglyy weak knees.
Myy gaze lifted to the door, and I closed myy eyyes, unsure if I was
disappointed or relieved byy the interruption. Truthfullyy, it was a mixture of
both, because I’d lied to Hawke.
I wouldn’t be here when he returned.
“What did yyou do last night?”
The question snapped myy attention from the biscuit I was currentlyy
devouring to the Ladyy in Wait who sat across from me.
Tawnyy Lyyon was the second daughter of a successful merchant, given
to the Royyal Court at the age of thirteen during the Rite. Tall and lithe,