Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms 3)

“I would hope not.”

“That makes two of us. But back to the subject at hand.” His paused. “The night we met. Remember it?”

Jonas nodded. “Vividly.”

“I never told you, but I made a major decision in my life that night. A major shift in my goals. I thought to myself, I have the chance to help the infamous Jonas Agallon kick arse and change the world. Change the world, Jonas. But so far, what have we done other than rescue a couple of rebels and walk a great deal?”

“We’ve done much more than that.” Jonas took a gulp from his glass, trying to swallow down his annoyance along with the strong, bitter ale. What was Felix getting at, bringing up his past for the first time since they’d met?

“And now it seems that your big plan is to wait around for the king to stroll out of his palace and offer you his neck. Genius.”

Jonas’s eyes narrowed. “Thanks so much for reminding me of my shortcomings. You don’t think I already feel like a failure after everything that’s happened?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

“I have eyes and ears at the palace—three willing spies in place, all happy to tell me anything I need to know to ensure victory over that Limerian bastard and free my people from a future at the mercy of that monster. I will get to him, don’t ever doubt it. My plan to abduct Prince Magnus could still be a sound one—or perhaps Princess Lucia. The king would venture out of his safe little kingdom to save her neck if he thought it was at risk, don’t you think?”

“Kidnapping. Right. You’ve tried that before, haven’t you? Snagged Princess Cleo herself. How’d that work out?” Before Jonas could respond to his snide comment, possibly with a fist to his jaw, Felix’s gaze shifted away from him. “Well, well. The sleeping beauty awakens. Welcome, sweetheart.”

Jonas turned to see Lysandra standing behind him. He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up her hand to stop him.

“I couldn’t sleep,” she said.

“I don’t think you were trying very hard,” Jonas replied.

“Perhaps I thought it would be smarter to stay awake so I could come down here and listen in on what you two say behind my back.”

“The more the merrier, I say. Come join us.” Felix patted his knee. “Why don’t you sit right here?”

She regarded him with a bored look on her face. “Why don’t you kiss my arse?”

“Bring it over here and I’d be happy to consider it.”

“Over my dead body.”

“That can be arranged, too, if you ask real nice.” Luckily for Felix, he said this with a jovial grin rather than an edge of menace.

Jonas groaned inwardly. These two had been squabbling all week, and it was nearly impossible to be around them once they got going. He thought he knew the real reason Felix didn’t want Lysandra around; it had very little to do with the speed at which she was recovering from being the king’s prisoner, and a lot to do with him disliking being challenged by a girl.

Lysandra pulled up a chair and glared at Jonas. “Why do you put up with him?”

Yet again, he had to be the intermediary, a job he’d never asked for. “Felix is an arse, but, like you, he’s an asset and a friend.”

“I agree with you on the arse part.” She regarded Felix, scrutinizing him from head to toe. “But do you really know anything about him?”

“I know enough,” Jonas replied, although silently he had to be more honest. He knew next to nothing about the boy sitting across the table.

“What can I say? I’m a private guy. But if you have concerns, Lys,” Felix said, “I’m happy to answer any questions you have. Or you can continue to talk about me like I’m not even here.”

Lysandra pursed her lips, giving him a sour look. “Fine. To start, where do you come from?”

Felix smirked. “Everywhere and nowhere, sweetheart.”

“See?” She shot a glance at Jonas. “He’s cagey and dodgy. Smarmy, too.”

Felix’s smirk vanished. “Smarmy?”

“He saved my life,” Jonas countered. “And yours as well.”