His fangs extend to press against his full lower lip. “Would it make you blush if it was?”
I hate how easily words alone can rile me up in his presence. It’s a power in and of itself, outside of magical abilities.
“If there’s any blush to my skin, it’s from the humidity," I mutter, folding my arms over my chest like that might hide the heat blooming in my face.
I cannot let him know how quickly he gets to me. I’ll never know peace if he realizes I can be swayed so easily.
His smile deepens, and before I can blink, I’m suddenly cradled in his arms with my hands around his neck.
“Sure, darling. Whatever you say,” he murmurs, letting me sit with my delusions that I’ve fooled him.
My hands instinctively fall to his shirt, feeling the tension in his muscled chest beneath as he turns with me nestled against him. I inhale his nearness, the scent of smoke, cloves, and cardamom dizzying up close.
I watch his red gaze flick back to the gathered vampires, who have only grown in number and proximity, watching us with that strange, patient intensity.
“If any of you touch her,” he says, voice quiet but lethal, “you won’t live long enough to explain yourselves. Spread the word to the other nests.”
No one answers or moves, and apparently that’s allhe feels he needs to say, because the next second, the world is a blur around us.
The wind whips past my face in a rush of cold air and shadowed stone as Riven moves, impossibly fast, the streets flashing by in fractured glimpses. I can’t catch more than vague shapes and shadows until he comes to a harsh stop inside a building.
It’s jarring and my body recoils against his abruptness, my hands clenching his shirt for dear life.
I force my hands to relax and let go as I take in the arched entryway flanked by crimson-draped columns. The ceilings are vaulted arches that disappear into shadow and the floor beneath his boots gleams like polished marble. Above us, iron chandeliers hold burning candles that cast the room in flickering warm light.
The beauty is grand and unapologetic. You either admire it, or you hate it–I’ve never seen anything like it.
None of the other courts had this–even the darkness in the wraith palace, shadowed and echoing, felt dull. This place feels like every inch of the home is alive and watching.
Riven finally begins to move again as I try to wiggle from his grip.
“We aren’t to our destination yet, darling,” he mutters as he carries me deeper into the home. “I needto carry you through the room’s door for the first time.”
I let out a breath and nod, unsure why he wants to do that, but not caring enough to argue it. This time I’m prepared as he speeds through the building, carrying me like I weigh nothing through the gothic hush, and into a room that steals what little breath I had left at the end.
Black silk hangs delicately, draped from the high canopy bed, pooling onto the floor at each corner. The sheets are the same soft, shining material and are illuminated by dozens of black candles burning in nearby candelabras.
Riven finally sets me down beside the bed, his hands slow to leave my waist as he takes a step back.
“I’ll run you a bath,” he says, already turning away.
I blink at him, still adjusting to the sudden stillness and being on my own two feet. “You don’t have to–”
He’s gone before I finish the sentence, a breeze stirred in his wake as he disappears into a conjoined room.
A moment later, I hear water running, the low sound of glass clinking, and the faint hiss of a flame lighting.
My hand runs along the silk of the bed absentmindedly as I glance around, waiting for him to return. For as intimate and luxurious the room is, I feelout of place or like I’m trespassing, causing me to resist the urge to walk around the large room.
Riven reappears, sleeves now rolled to the elbow, dark hair tousled like he ran a wet hand through it. He nods once toward the open door. “The bath is ready. I’ll have food and clothes ready for you by the time you’re finished.”
He turns to leave again without waiting for a single word from me, and I quickly reach out to stop him.
“You didn’t have to put me in such a nice room,” I say quietly as he glances down at my hand on him. “I don’t need all of this.”
His lips tilt into a smirk as he turns back to face me fully. He takes my raised hand into his own before pressing a kiss to the top, his eyes glancing over my knuckles to hold mine.
“You think I put you in a random room?” he murmurs. “Darling, this is my room.”
