He searched her face, conflicted. At last gave her a wry smile. “He liked you. Even after he noticed you’d healed me.”
“He did?” she asked.
“Definitely,” Sebastian answered. “He’s not like that with people. He doesn’t give out respect easily. Or affection.”
“Well, good. Because I liked him too.”
Kara leaned into his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “I thought I was on shaky ground when he saw your arms.”
“Yeah.” Sebastian stretched out his free arm. “So did I. When you first healed them, I was... not pleased.”
Understatement. You were furious with me.
“I expected him to react the way I did, Thorne pride, tradition, dishonour to the House, all of it. But he didn’t–” he broke off, sounding almost wondering. “He just looked back to the map and moved on.”
“Does it still bother you?” Kara asked. “That they’re gone?”
Sebastian considered that. “No. Hard to care about something like scars after I almost lost you.”
Kara didn’t know what to say to that, so she nuzzled into his neck as he kissed her hair. “You know, when you were making the plan with your father... you were very impressive.”
Sebastian looked down at her, one brow lifting, a hint of mischief on his face. “Impressive?”
“Yes, all tactical and soldierly–” she stopped at the expression on his face.
“Soldierly?” he repeated, grinning.
Her cheeks flushed. “You know what I mean.”
“Should I start planning battle strategies for you more often?” he asked smugly.
She threw him a look, but couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Don’t push it.”
His eyes danced. “Not pushing. Just noting what gets your attention.”
Kara shook her head, laughing under her breath. “Unbelievable.” She sobered slightly. “The patrols inside the temple...”
“Yes?”
“How–”
“Non-lethally if I can.” Sebastian assured her. But as she nodded, he grew more serious. “But Kara, I need you to understand, if you’re in danger, I won’t hesitate. Even if it means–”
“I know.”
Because she did know. She’d known since the forest in Fatàn. Since her cell.
“But we’ll try, won’t we?” she asked. “Not to.”
His brow creased. “Of course we will. Sleep magic first.”
“I’m sorry,” Kara said quickly. “That was–”
“Fair,” he said. “You’re allowed to ask what you’re walking into, Kara.”
He met her gaze evenly. She searched his face for signs she’d upset him, or pushed too far, but found none.
“Okay,” she whispered.
