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The likelihood of him remembering me without the antidote is slim but cracking the veil clouding his mind will help clear it faster once we find it. He gives me a small nod, but by the crease in his forehead, I know he is still pondering my words.Please remember, Theo.
“Would you like to pick out a book or two to take back to your cell?” I ask, wanting to break the somber feeling in the air.
“That would be great. Thanks,” Theo says, relaxing his features. “Can I take the end bringer one you read tonight? It, too, sounded familiar, so I want to read it for myself.”
I can’t fight back the smile as it spreads across my face. Our mothers once told us a similar story when we were children, but with less death and devastation. Their version felt more uplifting about love and the power that it holds.
Sliding the crimson bound book forward on the table, I pat the top a few times. “Let me know if you need me to read this to you, Captain. I’d be happy to read you a little bedtime story,” I say with a wink. His jaw snaps shut as his eyes blaze into me.
My gaze gets stuck on his plump lips, remembering how they felt on mine. I bite my bottom lip at the thought before dragging my eyes back to his. Theo stares at me with an intensity threatening to burn me alive.
“Anything else I can get for you, Theo?” I ask, leaning back in my chair and crossing my legs. His jaw ticks as he watches me. A few rapid blinks seem to clear his mind.
“Do you have anything on the creatures of Umbra? The nobu and ...” his eyes dart side to side, trying to remember the name of the beasts in the haunted forest. “The Cypres. I would like to learn more about them,” he recalls.
“You want to learn more about your friend the hare? You don’t have to be shy about wanting to know more about her,” I reply, standing from my chair and scanning the library for the book.
“Yes, I would like to learn more about my new friend,” Theo says, and his words fill my heart.
I get lost in him for a long moment. Dreaming about a different life. One where we could spend afternoons in our library reading through all the books of the realm. Because this is where Theo should be. Walking the rows of a library dedicated to his curious mind.
“The book is in the lore section,” I say, nearly breathless. I walk toward the shelves, trying to compose myself.
As we walk down the row, I run my finger along the spines, their leather bindings soft on my fingertips. The scent of cedar and old parchment swirl together. I slow as we near the spot where the book should be located, and I study the shelf.
Searching the bookcase for the distinguishable purple etching of the Cypres book, I spot its worn edges a few shelves up and out of both of our reach.
“Give me a boost,” I say with a tap to Theo’s chest and point up toward the book. His eyes follow my finger, squinting.
“No, that’s a bad idea,” Theo replies, looking down at me. I shrug and place a foot on the edge of one shelf. Grasping a ledge, I pull and find another foothold before pushing upward, scaling the shelves.
Strong hands grab at my waist, yanking me back down to the ground.
“Excuse me! I was climbing that!” I exclaim as I pivot to face Theo. His hands are still tight on my hips. My shadows hum under my skin at his touch.They only respond to him.
I spin, and we are nearly nose to nose. My breath hitches in my chest. I’m close enough to see the varying flecks of amber in his eyes.
“Did you not hear me? That’s a bad idea, Your Highness,” Theo says curtly.
“If you don’t want to help me, how else do you suggest we get the book you asked for?” I huff, annoyed, and point at the shelf.
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe a gods damn ladder? You have those here, right?” he groans the words as his eyes flare in frustration. “You don’t need to hurt yourself trying to climb these old bookcases.” His fingers dig into my hips before he releases me.
There’s a tug on the threads around my heart as he pulls away, always taking a piece of me with him.
“You know how hard it will be to find one here. They are never where they are supposed to be. It will take too long. My plan is much easier and faster. I’ll be fine,” I say, patting his chest and turning back to the shelf.
Theo grabs my wrist, but I jerk away before he can tighten his grip. I slam my forearm into his chest, causing his balance to falter. I spin to the right, snatching his wrist. With my other hand, I push him into the bookcase and pin his arm behind his back. I lean my hip into his ass, keeping him in place.
He huffs as he turns his head to look at me over his shoulder.
“I said I would be fine, Captain. No need to worry your pretty little head over me,” I tease.
A sinister smile tugs at the corner of his lips as I loosen my grip and step back.
That is as far as I make it before Theo snatches my wrist again, but this time with a decidedly firm grip.Fast learner. He tosses me into the shelf, using his arm to cushion my impact. I grasp his shirt tightly as he pins my other wrist to the shelf. His arm slowly slides out from behind me, only for his hand to find a familiar spot along my hip, pushing me more into the bookcase.
His eyes blaze with a dangerous mixture of victory and desire. The memory of him between my legs in the alley flashes in my mind. Theo, on his knees, devouring my pussy as he watched me with a similar heat. I choke on a moan as it tries to escape.
