She fled.Not walked… ran.Her heels skidded on the polished floor, dignity abandoned to get away from him as quickly as possible.
He watched her go and felt nothing.No satisfaction.Just cold clarity.
He turned to the door.Emily was behind it.Alone.
She wasn't alone.She had him.Whether she wanted him or not.
Protocol dictated that he remain at his post.Protocol was the only thing keeping him in check.
It wasn't enough.Not tonight.
Reaching out, he hit the door chime override.The lock disengaged with a soft click, and the door slid open in front of him.
The suite was dim, the lights low, casting long shadows across the plush furniture and the silk hangings.He took a deep breath.Even the air carried her scent—vanilla and something sweeter underneath, the same warmth that had been tormenting him since the alley.It cut through his defenses like a blade.
He barely saw the outer rooms, but they didn’t matter.All that mattered was her.He found her in the bedroom and stopped dead at the door.
She wasn't sleeping.She sat on the edge of the massive bed, her arms wrapped around her knees as she rocked back and forth.Ugly, raw, gasping sobs that shook her small frame filled the air.
The sound tore something loose in his chest.
Draanththe Emperor.Draanth, the fact that he was committing treason.
He didn't care about either.All he cared about was her.
"Emily," he murmured.
She jerked her head up.Her eyes were red-rimmed, swollen, wide with shock.She stared at him, and for a second, he thought she might order him out.
Her shoulders slumped as the fight went out of her, and the look she gave him was naked.Unguarded.
"Raaevik," she whispered.
He wasn't aware of crossing the room.Kneeling before her, he brought himself down to her level.
"Tell me," he rasped, his voice rough."Tell me what you need."
"I need..."She choked on a sob and reached out, her hand hovering near his face, trembling.She didn't touch him."I need it to stop.I need the noise to stop."
He took her hand and pressed it flat against his chest, right over the thunder of his heart.
"Then I will make it stop," he swore."Name it, kelarris.Name the enemy and the price.I will burn it down.I will burn it all down."
She stared at him, her fingers flat against the heated skin of his chest, and fresh tears spilled over, tracking through the ruin of her makeup.
"Even you?"she whispered."If the enemy is you?"
He closed his eyes.He turned his face into her palm, inhaling the scent of her skin as he surrendered the last scrap of his soul.
"Especially me."
* * *
Emily hadn't slept.
She'd tried.She'd lain in the ridiculous bed in the ridiculous suite, staring at the ceiling while her brain replayed the same loop over and over.Raaevik kneeling.His hand on hers.The rough gravel of his voice saying, ‘Especially me.’
What the hell was she supposed to do with that?
