Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

“Years ago,” I explained, “when your father brought his
young bride here from South Africa, I’m told my father was
quite enamored of her. She reminded him of the beautiful
snow queen from the Nutcracker ballet.” I tipped my chin
down, casting her a knowing look. “And that’s what he called
her. His little snow queen.”
She growled and lunged, and I shot backward just as she
slammed the sword on the table. Leaping onto the table, she
forwent charging around it to chase me, and hopped off, going
straight for me.
Did she not like me insinuating my father got inside her
mother’s panties?
She swung for my legs, but I stomped my foot on the
sword, knocking it out of her hand, and threw her down on the
floor, pressing her shoulders into the wood.
Her face was red with fury.
“The queen is the most valuable player,” I told her, “but to
win, she’s not the last one standing. Her job…” I paused,
arching an eyebrow, “is to protect the king.”
She pulled out a knife from somewhere and pressed the
side of the blade into my neck.
Jesus. She must be fun in bed.
I grinned. “You won’t hurt me.”
“And why not?”
“Because we’re friends.”
“You don’t know the meaning of the word!” she snapped.
“You don’t care about me!”
“I would kill for you,” I shot back, getting in her face.
The incredulous look on her face, like she didn’t know if
she should be touched or laughing, mimicked exactly what
was happening in my head right now.
Yes.