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Xadrian’s lips quirked into a smirk and he took a sip from his goblet, not bothering to hide the amusement in his eyes.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Theron said, giving Xadrian an icy glare and tugging me away. The peculiar awareness that had been teasing at the edge of my senses dissipated as we moved toward the door, leaving me feeling both relieved and disappointed.
He grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together before briskly leading me across the room. We reached his chambers, and he shut the doors behind us, pushing me against them and making me gasp.
His hands were on either side of my face as he leaned closer to murmur against my ear.
“Stay away from Xadrian,” he demanded, his voice low and menacing.
I rolled my eyes. “We were just talking.”
“I don’t want you speaking to him,” he said, his body pressing against mine until all my awareness focused on where we touched. “He’s dangerous.”
I snorted. “And you’re not?”
He narrowed his eyes at me, not answering the question. “He can look all he wants, but if he puts his hands on you again. I’ll kill him. Understand?”
I glared up at him as he fixed the piece of hair that Xadrian had tried to tuck away.
“I’m not a bone for you sharp-eared dogs to fight over,” I growled.
“Of course not,Sia. Because you’re already mine.“ He murmured, running his nose over my cheek before pulling away. My heart pounded in my chest, wetness slicking between my thighs.
“I haven’t begged yet.” I reminded him.
“But you will.” He grinned at me, one side of his mouth tipping higher.
I swallowed, worry filling me. How much longer until my piercing proved him right? I shuddered at the thought and he stepped away, letting me go.
“Go to sleep. I’ll send someone to fetch you in the morning.”
Chapter 9
Theron
Iturnedoverinbed, stirring again and tangled in the sheet, unable to sleep long. A whimper drifted from the training room and I wiped the grit from my eyes, realizing what had woken me. I slid out of bed, pulling on a pair of loose breeches before padding over to the door. Another whine of distress came, and I yanked it open, ready to destroy whoever made Lily sound like that.
She lay in the furthest corner of the room as she had before, wrapped in the blankets she’d stolen from my bed. She whimpered again, the sound so at odds with her normal assertive demeanor that a pang hit my gut.
I hurried over, scooping her up out of the corner and into my arms. She was light in my arms; her fierce personality made her seem larger. Her long silver hair cascaded across my arm like liquid moonlight as I cradled her against me. She snuggled into me in her sleep, sighing contentedly and seeking my warmth even in her dreams.
I carried her back to my bedroom, the fire still burning low in the hearth, laying her down before crawling onto the mattress beside her and pulling her against me. I wrapped my arms around her, keeping her close as she nestled deeper into my embrace, her face tucked into my neck.
It felt... right having her in my bed. I’d never slept with a woman before, not wanting to be vulnerable at rest. But feeling the soft puffs of her breath against my skin lulled me back to my dreams.
When morning came, Lily still slept peacefully beside me. I brushed a kiss against her hair, not examining why I felt the compulsion to do so, before carefully untangling myself from our embrace and grabbing the clothes I’d need for today’s hunt. Hesitating in the doorway, I left the door cracked so she wouldn’t wake up in darkness. I didn’t want to leave her.
The door to my suite opened, and Herrath stepped inside. He didn’t appear as if he’d just woken up; his clothes were pressed, each hair in place as usual as he tugged on his armor.
“Zerek still hasn’t returned, but Raenisa is waiting for us with the vaniras.”
I nodded, expecting as much. Zerek would avoid his family as much as possible. “How hung over is she?”
A faint smile pulled at his lips. “Horribly.”
“I warned her.” He chuckled, and I had to remind myself that he wasn’t my friend or my soldier. He was a spy foisted on me by my mother and the empress. Herrath had betrayed me before and would do it again in an instant. I pulled on the rest of my clothes, spreading kohl around my eyes to protect against the sun’s glare. We would be out longer than usual on this hunt and would need to carry extra water.
“Go on ahead, I have to find my attendant and tell her to keep an eye on Lily today.”
