One thread of black answered her, spilling from the ceiling like a fountain.
“Nicely done,” he praised. “Now make another.”
Her brows furrowed as she focused deep inside. The second band of shadow stretched from the ceiling and began mingling with its brother.
She finally looked at him. He was staring at the wisps of power, his face an illustration of pure wonder.
Her concentration faltered; the shadow faded.
Theodon turned to meet her gaze. Up close, his lips looked pillow soft, even with his now-stoic expression. She could feel the heat emanating off his bare chest. It was like being near a well-stoked hearth.
He was striking, she would give him that. She had caught her eyes gravitating toward that chiseled torso far too many times already. Wandering down to that thick waist where his belt buckle sat.
Stop it, she chided herself.
Every time she felt her thoughts getting lost in his dreamy appearance, she remembered the inner monster he could produce at the snap of his fingers. Sharp teeth, desolate eyes, claws capable of ripping flesh from bone.
The mental image alone was enough to have her shudder, breaking free from any fantasizing. She shuffled a safe distance away, placing the bracelet back on, craving the security it offered.
“What now?”
He cleared his throat and rose to his full height. “We’ll stop there for today with your magic. Your leg needs to heal, but we can train other parts of your body.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Other parts?”
There was that faint smirk again. “Your arms, your back... your chest.” He dipped his eyes a bit lower. She almost felt naked underneath that stare. “I’m open to suggestions, if you have other parts in mind.”
“No, those sound... good,” she replied awkwardly.
“How many pull-ups can you do?”
“I don’t know what that means.”
He closed his eyes, breathing out an elongated sigh. “We’ll start with those then.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
The girl could barely walk by the time they got back to her room. He had pushed her in that relentless way of his. Her injury was a hindrance—not a barrier. She had performed every physical exercise he asked of her until her hair dripped with sweat. It was far from perfect, but the effort was there. She didn’t even complain, although the glares she supplied him with let him know she was tempted.
Progress, today was progress.
He had in no way expected her to come knocking at his door so soon. After explaining his plan to her, he had thought she would turn back to a place of solitude. She had surprised him tonight. The persistent looks she gave his body were also a surprise. He was not naive to the thoughts of women, what he looked like to them. He just thought she hated him too much to succumb to ogling.
There was a tray of food waiting for her when they returned, just as Theo had ordered.
“Eat.”
She gave him an annoyed look, sitting down on the edge of the bed. But she began picking at the meal, starting with the bit of honey cake on the edge of the plate. He made a mental note that she liked sweet things.
He watched every muscle in her shake and tremble from the exercises.
She gulped down a cup of water next, then another. “You could have gone easy on me, you know, being my first day and all.”
He crossed his arms, observing her. “Ah, yes, that’s exactly what you need, more coddling. Did you not get enough of that in Oakmire?”
“It’s not coddling... it’s compassion, a quality you sorely lack.”
“Brahm didn’t put me here because I possess immeasurable mercy, Highness.”
