This time it wasn't the gentle nudge of a cold wet nose that woke Roark. He lay perfectly still in his bed and kept his breathing even. Didn't move despite the temptation. He listened. Not just with his ears. He cast out his senses and found nothing of any concern.
There was never just nothing. Hence why he showed patience and waited. It wouldn't be the first time someone tried to kill him in his sleep. He had the scars to prove it. However, it had been happening more often of late.
More annoying than the assassination attempts, he couldn't quite figure out who was behind them. For a long while, he'd been so sure it had to be the Emerald queen. She bristled at the upstart who demanded his kingdom receive recognition and respect. She'd balked when he took over the mountain pass and deman
