Page 127 of Taken By Shadows

Being alone with him wasn’t the issue.

But being alone with anyone who wanted something from me was an unnerving place to find myself in.

Eryk was tall, handsome, charming and well-spoken. And he cared about the Four Corners. Even if he thought Kaed and the Crown didn’t. I couldn’t believe that. I couldn’t.

There were so many endearing qualities about Eryk.

But something held me back from thinking of him as anything but Eryk.

Which, of course, was ridiculous. I wasn’t actually engaged to be married to Kaed. There was no substance to our charade we’d played since arriving in Viverna.

But everything Eryk knew about me was built on that lie.

“Well, that was something.” Eryk swaggered out of the booth at my side. The theatre had emptied, and we were in the swarm.

“Something,” I agreed.

He laughed and took my hand to pull me along.

A jolt went through me at the unexpected contact. The wound was healed, but my skin itched regardless. I didn’t pull away. Would that be rude? It was crowded after all, and he was taller and maybe could see beyond the mass of people around us.

“I said … was a pro-uction … I didn’t … sa … a good … oduction.” His voice was lost to the crowd around us.

“Eryk?”

The pull on my hand to his was drawn and stretched to its fullest. With a strong yank on my arm, he had me through the throng.

“I’ve got you,” he said, as I tumbled into his arms until they were wrapped entirely around me.

I’d have fidgeted, but my arms were pinned between Eryk’s chest and mine. My teeth worried the edge of my lip as I shifted in the cramped space.

“Hey? What’s wrong? Look at me.” His hand came to touch my chin, but he stopped before he made contact.

I couldn’t look up at him. “I should get back.”

“I’m sorry, Imogen. What did I do?” His voice was searching, gentle.

Space grew a little between us, and I could breathe again.

What had he done? Had he actually done anything, or was I just in my head again?

“Nothing.” I forced a smile. “Can you take me home?”

His face fell at my request. And then hardened. “I thought, perhaps, after the other night, what I did for Kaedian. For you.” His words were a javelin. “There might be a little bit of a thought spared for me. I was just trying to do something nice. For you. For both of us today.”

“Us?”

“Us. Yes. You and I. We enjoy each other’s company. I would wager you enjoy my company more than Kaedian’s.”

Dangerous. This was dangerous territory.

“That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” His retort was whip-fast, and it forced my focus back to him.

We were farther from the crowd now, and there were quiet streets around us.

The base of my neck beaded with cold sweat. I didn’t know this male who stood before me. Not really. The understanding of that drifted over me like misty rain, soaking deep into me.