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Instead of being wooed by it, Mareinastood in front of me, eyes warily narrowed, studying me as though I were a puzzle made up of entirely mismatching pieces.
If she only knew.
She seemed to be deliberating internally as she took a pretty sip of her drink with a daintiness that surprised me. The way she’d held my gaze and parted her lips to bring the glass to her mouth had my cock twitching and blessedly snuffing out the premonition, trying to thrust itself into my mind.
“And what, exactly, is bringing you to Vyssini?”
“Business.”
An unamused brow piqued with suspicion at my deliberately vague response.
“So… Will you allow us to accompany you?” I pressed.
She shrugged a bare shoulder. Her dress was long-sleeved but left her neck, shoulders, and the tops of her full breasts exposed. The sight was mouth-watering, and it took considerable effort not to lean in and bite, kiss, and lick every inch of her exposed flesh.
“I’m generally not inclined to go anywhere with strange males.”
I couldn’t help the devilish grin curling my lips and had to bite my undeniably lascivious retort.
“I’m relieved to hear it… But I would ask you to consider that it is truly for your safety… I’m actually surprised you made it all the way to the sea by yourself unscathed. As you know, not everyone you encounter on your way has your well-being in mind. ”
She merely hummed in amusement.
“And I suppose you do?”
“Actually, yes.”
Mostly.
She rolled her eyes, finally breaking my gaze, and took another sip of her drink. Something about her energy turned hard and bitter. My chest tightened in response with a bizarre mixture of compassion and rage against all those who had harmed her. It was becoming unsettling how strong my Knowingness with her was.
With her, I could feel the sensation of all the pain caused by her long-buried past sinking its talons into her, dulled only by time. It took everything within me not to pull her into my arms and swear to her in my blood that I would do everything in my power to protect her.
Before I could think better of it, I found myself leaning into her and slipping my hand over her wrist where it rested on the bar top. Electricity tingled, sending a delicious current through me that had my heart thumping. Her gaze snapped back to mine in a way that, all too briefly, had her looking like a startled doe.
“Would you like me to swear it in blood?”
She reared back slightly, brow furrowed in disbelief, as her eyes searched mine for the truth of my words. Her delicate throat worked on a swallow.
“That won’t be necessary…”
“Are you staying at the inn?”
“… No.”
Such opportunity…
Now, do I dare risk being stabbed?
“… Do you need a place to stay the night?”
Her brows lifted, something unreadable shuttering her gaze, but to my surprise… She didn’t seem entirely opposed to the idea.
Yes, yes, yes, little fox… Come fall into my trap.
Chapter
Twelve
