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“My gut tells me never,” he says, turning and placing the book on his bed.
The white shirt he’s wearing stretches tight across his back, and I admire the view, longing to drag my nails along it.
When he turns back around, my gaze gets stuck on his perfectly shaped lips. His cupid’s bow looks as if the gods themselves etched it on his face. His jaw flexes as I drag my eyes up to his.
“If you came to continue our conversation from the library, you’ve wasted your time. We have nothing further to discuss,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest.
The fabric of his shirt strains, and I briefly debate if I want to get him new clothing.
He’s annoyed me, and I move toward him quickly, stopping inches away. He doesn’t move.
“That conversation is far from over. But until we can speak without others eavesdropping, it will have to wait,” I whisper.
“There’s nothing more for us to talk about, so if that was your plan, then you may leave.” He leans forward, narrowing his eyes.
“This,” I say as I grab his arm, immediately feeling the pinpricks erupting along my palm. Theo grits his teeth.
“And this,” I lay a hand directly over his heart, “says we have plenty more to discuss.”
Theo’s eyes widen as sparks flare between our skin.
“Do you think your husband would appreciate you touching his prisoner?” he asks as his breath hitches.
“My husband doesn’t tell me who I can touch, Captain. I do what and who I please when I want to. I may be bound to the shadow king, but it’s a marriage in name only. Nothing more,” I sneer at him.
I see a breath lodge in his chest before he lets it go.
“You can lie to yourself all you want, but you can’t hide from this,” I say as my power hums within me, increasing the sparks. His lips pinch into a thin line as he glares down at me.
“Are you ready to go?” Hiram’s deep voice beckons from the doorway.
Theo’s gaze darts up, and I drop my head at the interruption. I lower my hands from him, letting them fall to my sides.
“Where are you going?” Theo asks, eyes bouncing from Hiram to me.
“To the village. I need to order some clothes that fit all of this.” I gesture at his enormous frame and hear a small snicker from Hiram.
Theo looks at me with an arched eyebrow.
“Care to join, or would you rather run around naked?” I ask with a sultry smirk.
Theo’s answer is an eye roll before a small nod.
“Lead the way,” he says with an outstretched arm.
I turn and leave his cell to find Hiram wearing a smug smile.
We leave out the back entrance across the stepstones. I watch Theo navigate the path with more confidence than last time. We walk through the hidden archway into the warm sunshine. The crisp autumn breeze brings notes of the musky falling leaves. The fading colors paint Umbra in orange, red, and yellow as the leaves change. Winter will be upon us in a few weeks, stealing the color from the land, but right now it is a picturesque scene.
Hiram leads the way across the sprawling field toward our waiting horses. Midnight lets out a loud whinny as I approach, and he stomps at the ground.
“You have my horse?” Theo asks, eyebrows pinching in confusion.
“The little gray mare with Midnight?” I point at the horse, and he nods.
“Well, she’s not my horse, but she’s the one I arrived with from Lux.” The mare must know we are talking about her because she lets out a huff of annoyance.
“We have all the horses brought by the Lux guards, Theo. They live in our stable, on the outskirts of the village,” I answer honestly.
