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A flicker of jealousy burned in her stomach, but before she could tell herself that she had no right to the emotion, he added, “I have an arrangement with one of the girls in order to give myself cover for my nocturnal wanderings, as I’ve no desire to be followed. Especially of late.”
“And you think you can trust her?”
“I don’t trust anyone. But she’s a clever girl who knows it’s in her best interest not to betray me, never mind that I pay her more for her silence than I would for her services.” His elbow brushed the bare skin of her arm as he turned to look at her, sending prickles of sensation through her body. “Does no one notice your absence?”
“There’s a rumor that I have a lover in the city.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t discourage it.”
“Do you?”
The question came out quickly, and Zarrah smiled at the darkness. “Jealous, Maridrina?”
He huffed out a breath. “I’m merely concerned for the longevity of your relationship with the poor sot, given you spend more nights than not here with me. He must seem very boring in comparison.”
“You’ve a high opinion of yourself.”
“I find false modesty tedious.”
A laugh pulled from her lips, and when Zarrah turned her head, she found him watching her, his face serious. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” His voice was soft. “Everything is far from wrong.” Then he coughed and looked away. “Except in the case of your rumored lover. How long will he hover by the door, awaiting your attention, before resigning himself to the comfort of his right hand? I’m starting to feel guilty, which is typically only a sensation I burden myself with when I’ve received something in return.”
Holding a hand to her mouth, Zarrah tried and failed to stifle another laugh. “Just what are you begging me for, Maridrina?”
“Release.”
As her eyes widened, he laughed, teeth white in the darkness. “From the burden of guilt, Valcotta. Curb your filthy thoughts and tell me that I’m not keeping you from anyone so that I might sleep easy.”
This was dangerous ground, and if she were smart, she’d stop things now before they went any further. Because already, she felt like she was standing at the end of precipice, knees bent and ready to leap. Yet she found herself saying, “Sleep easy, then. My nights are yours and yours alone.”
He leaned closer, and her heart leapt with anticipation even as her skin flushed. But he only murmured into her ear, “And they say Valcottans are merciless.”
A slight shudder ran through her, an ache building in her core. “Don’t get used to it.”
He chuckled, then rose in a smooth motion before reaching down to pull her up, his gloved hand strong and warm against her naked palm. “My fellows are currently licking both wounds and pride, but the latter will drive them to move against Valcotta. Their plans are not fixed, but when they are, I need to be able to get word to you.”
“Can you meet me again tomorrow night? At midnight?”
“Midnight.” Lifting her hand, he brushed his lips against her knuckles, and then he turned away.
She didn’t want him to go.
Didn’t want this conversation to end.
“Maridrina?”
He looked over his shoulder. “Yes?”
This is insane,logic screamed at her.Utterly and entirely foolish.
But her heart said otherwise. “I don’t suppose you’d like to get something to eat?”
25
KERIS
You have lost your bloody mind,Keris thought to himself as he followed Valcotta down from the dam and into the enemy side of Nerastis.If you get caught, a quick death is the best you can hope for.
And a fool’s hope, at that.
