“I see you got my sprite.” He devours me with an appraising look that coats my skin like a drizzle of honey. “Now I’m wondering if we should call it off. Keep this sight all to myself rather than waste it onhim …”
The silken compliment splats against my icy armor.
“I have a condition. For joining you at this …politicaldinner I have no interest in attending.”
He lifts a brow. “You’re holding me ransom?”
“Yes.”
He looks me over again, the corner of his mouth kicking up. “Smart girl. Have at it.”
I sweep my foot back and slip it into the strappy blue shoe with averyhigh heel—a shoe I want to toss in the fire with what’s left of that book. “I want to go to town. Tomorrow. I want to explore.”
In the daylight.
A frown chases away Cainon’s carefree demeanor. “That’s a tall order, petal. I’m needed on one of the islands again tomorrow.” He crosses his arms and leans against the doorframe. “Call me a blushing romantic, but I wanted to be the one to show you around the first time you visit the city.”
That ship’s already scorched.
I set my foot on the ground, kicking the other back and working the heel straps into place. “You’re not going to leave me locked in this palace the same way you accused Rhordyn of doing, are you?”
He watches me for a long, tense moment.
I set my other foot down and hold his eye contact, chin raised.
“Chaperoned,” he finally says. “You can see a lot from the safety of a carriage.”
“That’s not what I’m asking for.”
His eyes harden as he steps forward until all that’s separating us is a hair’s breadth of space. Until I’m marinating in citrus and salt and the prickling wrath of his brewing frustration. “AndIcertainly didn’t ask to have Rhordyn roaming around Parith like some rogue mutt pining after his lost bone.”
My breath snags.
That’s what this is about …
Him.
Seems ironic that Rhordyn spent so many breaths trying to coax me past my Safety Line, and now he’shere, keeping me trapped without even realizing it.
Or perhaps he does.
“Fine,” I blurt before Cainon uses his freshly flung weapon to slaughter the idea altogether.
“It’s settled, then?”
“Afemaleescort,” I tack on, carving around him and shoving through the door into the lobby, smoothing the strands of my dress as he follows me out. He snatches my free hand and threads it into the crook of his arm before Kolden opens the door for us both, and we make our way down the hall and then the sweeping staircase.
“You’re extra sharp tonight.” There’s a long pause, then his arm muscles clench under my hand when he says, “You’ve seen him already.”
Him.
“Yes.” I keep my chin high. Keep my steps steady. “An uneventful reunion.”
Silence ensues, only dented by the tapping of my heels. “Well, I need you to be on your best behavior.”
“I’ll try to oblige.”
He shifts, latching onto my upper arm and spinning me to a stop, walking me back. I thud against the cold, stone wall, his body hot against mine, his strong scenteverywhere.
