We traveled down a dimly lit hallway, the lack of lanterns indicating that the corridor did not get used often. She cracked open a steel door at the end of the hall and peered through it. Once she was sure that no one was on the other side, she swung it open with full force and waved me through.
“How do you know about this?” I inquired as we stepped into the corridor.
Her cheeks flushed. “I’ve lived in the castle for years. And theremaybe someone that I visit here regularly who just so happened to show me a secret way to his room.”
“Pia! Who?” I whisper-yelled.
Her eyelashes fluttered. “Kohen Sharpe.”
“Iknew it! For how long?”
“Since the gala.”
“What! That long and you didn't tell me?”
Pia blushed. “Sleeping with a head soldier isn't exactly something that would be approved by my uncle. But honestly, I don’t care anymore.”
The corridor was silent aside from our childish giggles over Pia’s fling. A few soldiers glanced at us skeptically, but no one stopped us as we walked down the hall and up a flight of stairs. She took my rucksack from me when we reached the top and fished around in it for Sebastian's book.
“Okay, here's the plan,” she murmured under her breath. “I'll give him back the book, and then when I walk off you stay and talk to him.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “That'syour plan? I would hardly call that a plan.”
“It doesn't matter, you just need an excuse to talk to him.”
“I wouldn't call that much of an excuse, either.”
Pia stared at me, not blinking.
“And what if he refuses to talk to me?” I questioned her.
“He won't.”
“You don't know that,” I argued.
“Gods, Maeve, shut up and let's go.”
We took a corner down the corridor, entering the portion of the floor that held the soldiers' bedchambers.
“Are we even allowed in here?” I asked her, biting my lower lip in doubt.
“Not exactly.” She shrugged then stopped abruptly in front of a door on our left. “But everyone brings guests in, so it's an unwritten rule for the soldiers to not squeal.” She flashed me a sly grin, and then without any warning, banged her fist on the door.
My body tensed with instant regret about letting her talk me into this. I considered racing away down the hall, but Sebastian would likely see me running, which would arguably be even more embarrassing than what we were doing.
His door was made of a metal so thick that I couldn't hear if he said anything from beyond it. For all I knew, he could already be on his way to my dorm. I kind of hoped that he was. But then the lock on his door clicked and swung open to reveal a very drowsy, and veryshirtlessSebastian.
I had to clench my teeth together to keep my mouth from falling to the floor at the sight of him.
His physique was even more impressive when it lacked clothing. His abdomen was rigid and well defined, making it obvious that he spent a lot of time training. My eyes fluttered to his arms—purely toned muscle that rippled as he moved his grip to the doorframe above him. I could fully make out the tattoo on his bicep now, which was in fact a dagger. I knew that he had a nice body, but seeing him like this left me speechless. Completelythoughtless.
My pulse quickened as our eyes locked. His eyebrows lowered at the sight of me, and my stomach twisted from the intensity of his stare. Then as if I wasn't even there, he turned his attention back to Pia. He was probably angry that I’d left my dorm without him, but he'd just have to get over it.
“What's up?” He dropped his hand from the doorframe to run it over his face and then through his unkempt hair.
“Just here to return your book. Maeve found it this morning lodged into her chair. We went and got breakfast together so I figured we'd drop it off.” She reached her hand out with the book in it.
He nodded as he took it, holding it up in a wave of gratitude. “Thanks,” he mumbled, then lifted an eyebrow. “How did you get in here?”
