Page 119 of Thief of Hearts

And I tasted that sour and bitter disappointment until the moment when he stepped up behind me and said, “Soon.”

A wildfire burst to life inside me. “How soon? After they’re asleep? The washroom?”

His laugh was sultry and sensual. “Let’s not traumatize the children. I have a feeling you won’t be quiet.”

It was a good guess, as I hadn’t been so far.

“We’re about to spend nearly a week together, all alone,” he reminded me. “We have that to look forward to.”

Then he kissed a pulse point in my jaw and walked away to greet the girls.

While I tried to make my body stop shaking with anticipation.

Almost an entire week.

Just us.

I couldn’t wait.

Chapter Thirty-Five

We gave the girls the bed. Zain hung a linen over the eyeholes in case anyone decided to check in on us in the middle of the night. He insisted I take the couch and he slept on the floor next to me. I had my right hand hanging over the side and he slid his fingers through mine, holding on to me.

Somehow it was more intimate than anything else that had passed between us so far.

Staying the night turned out to mean that the girls were supposed to remain with us up until we left, thwarting my plans to send them off in the morning so that Zain and I could be alone.

“Patience,” he’d whispered in my ear, but I was finding that, where he was concerned, I had none.

After we were ready to go, Nesdahlia and Cotys walked with us to where our horses were waiting.

“If the king wants to send you to anyone else, tell him that you contracted a disease from us and that you will make others ill. I will be back to help you as soon as I can,” I told them.

I hated the thought of leaving them behind in the palace but didn’t have a choice. I would go and get the god-weapon, hand it over, and then leave Epirius with both the caduceus and the concubines.

The king came out to see us off and I again had to fight the urge to just end him then and there.

Especially once he said, “I hope you fare well on your journey. Please know that if you do not return, I will kill your playthings.”

That was why he had sent them to us. He had hoped to create some kind of bond between us so that we would be sure to return.

Zain headed out on his horse, and after a few moments of staring down Actos, imagining with great pleasure the many different ways I could kill him, I finally followed after Zain.

“How many guards do you think Actos will send to watch us?” I asked once I rode alongside him.

“I don’t know. He may think threatening the girls will be enough of an incentive that he will only send two or three to monitor us.”

When we cleared the city, I again reiterated that he did not have to come. I didn’t want him to feel obligated to assist me.

Nor did I want his pity.

“What kind of manservant would I be if I left you to travel alone?” he asked. “You seem to forget that you are the answer to my great plan. The plan you refuse to ask me about even though I would be willing to tell you more.”

I didn’t ask because I wouldn’t be participating. “You are not as charming as you think you are.”

“I am more charming than I think I am,” he shot back, grinning at me.

Which made a smile break out on my own face.