Born of Shadows by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page B

three steps, then turned back to apologize for her rudeness.
    He was already gone.
    Weird. And fast, not to mention silent. She wouldn’t have thought he could move like that, especially while swathed in that much material.
    Part of her was bothered that she’d been so curt with him. He didn’t deserve it. She hated whenever she took her anger out on the wrong person—like her mother always did. She tried so hard not to do that to others. And here, she’d slapped at someone who was just trying to be nice.
    “This is not my day.” At this point, she really wanted to crawl under something and die.
    Die…
    She’d blurted out to her mother what she’d overheard. If whoever the killer was caught wind of that…
    Dying was a very real possibility. Drek… What had she done? Her actions might very well have facilitated things. I’ve got to find out who it is. Immediately .
    Because if she didn’t, both of them would die.

8
     
    Caillen sat with his father in the summit chamber, surrounded by nobles and officials, bored out of his mind. The room was round so that they could all see each other should someone give in to the need to yawn, the sadistic bastards, with dim lighting that seemed to suck all the energy out of the very marrow of his bones. Yeah, there was definitely something being emitted by the bulbs that was dimming his intellect. He could feel his IQ slipping at least one point per minute.
    Maybe more.
    At this rate, he’d be reduced to a vegetative state within the hour.
    It explained much about their current leadership… his father notwithstanding.
    In the center was a chair that was occupied by the officials and reps who’d come to beg council attention to certain matters regarding their worlds.
    Gods what I wouldn’t give for one of the senators to go mental and pull out a blaster and kill someone.
    Hell, at this point, they could kill him. Anything to get him out of this. But at least he’d helped his father get a treaty with the Krellins. That had pleased the man exponentially.
    “We’re a small system and the rights to our crops…”
    Caillen zoned out again so that he wouldn’t have to hear the sharp, nasal whine of a governor wanting more funding for his wardrobe. Oh wait, he wanted funding for his poor people. Yeah… that was what the man was pitching.
    He arched a brow at the two million credits’ worth of rocks sewn onto the governor’s jacket and adorning the man’s corpulent hand—wouldn’t those help his country’s finances just a bit?
    And he knew exactly what those stones were worth. Appraising them even at a distance was a talent he’d acquired from a friend of his who was a pirate and jewel thief. After spending years around Chayden and his pirate friends, he could price a stone faster and more accurately than most experienced appraisers.
    How bored am I that I’m trying to guess carat weight visually?
    Shoot me.
    The governor finished his plea, then left the senior officials to decide his fate. Unfortunately, the leader of those senior officials was his father, which meant Caillen was stuck in this room until hell froze over.
    I feel my life ticking away… C’mon, assassin. Please strike.
    Boggi cleared his throat. “Next are the Qillaqs who are here to inform the council of their intentions toward the Trimutians.”
    Well at least he’d have his hot babe Guard to stare at for this one. That should help a little even if she’d snapped his head off earlier. So much for his promise to get her into his bed. She’d effectively nipped his erection.
    At least for the moment. There was still dinner and if he played his cards right…
    Dessert.
    Yeah, he could just imagine her spoon-feeding him what he needed most to turn this shitty day around. And if what he suspected about her was right, she’d chisel a smile on his face not even the League could remove.
    His father sighed as an apprehensive tremor ran through the room. It was so thick, it was tangible.
    Leaning toward