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He walked her inside, helping her climb into bed and drawing the sheet up to her neck.
“Why do you have to be so insufferable?” she asked.
His laugh was low, stirring up that traitorous want low in her belly. “I’ve heard that a time or two before.”
She groaned. “Tell me this doesn’t last long. My head is swimming.”
“Denoden enjoys strong spirits, but they don’t like the effect to linger. You’ll feel better after some rest.”
He moved to leave, and Tenah’s hand latched onto his corded arm.
“Please. Don’t go.” She’d already lost the remains of her dignity letting him watch her barf.
Renton frowned down at her, and she was certain he would brush her off. What reason had she given him to stay?
Pushing out a defeated breath, he grabbed a chair from the corner of her room and dragged it over to her bedside. He flipped it around, plopping down on it backward and resting his arms over the top. “I’m not going anywhere, angel.”
What a miserable, leech-like creature she’d become, thinking he was hers to order around after striving to push him away mere hours ago.
“You called me that before. Why?” she asked quietly, worming deeper under the sheet. How could she be referred to anything that close to the gods?
His frown deepened, as if he hadn’t been aware of what he’d done. He caught her hand when she lifted it to rub at her foggy eye. “You’ve been doing that since the Boglands. What’s wrong with it?”
Panic bubbling up, she snapped back, “Nothing.”
But her anger didn’t deter him. Methodically, he worked the leather glove off her hand. His fingers brushed the inside of her forearm in a soothing pattern. Was her skin supposed to be that sensitive?
“Shall I keep a tally on your lies?” he asked. “I’m learning to read you, Tenah.”
She swallowed and dropped her gaze to his hand tracing patterns on her skin because she couldn’t hold his fervent eyes.
It wasn’t her fault. Shutting down questions came as second nature. Ames had constantly nagged her. Was she studying? Had she meditated enough? Why hadn’t she progressed with her magic? What did she think was holding her back?
And when her father spiraled into one of his moods, she mastered the art of avoiding conversation altogether.
Renton lifted his hand to stroke a thumb beneath her lower lip. “I’m here when you need to talk. Or when you don’t. Now sleep.”
Chapter23
Renton
Renton snuck out of Tenah’s room before dawn. Last night confirmed it—this was more than just a natural desire to protect. When she was near, his eyes were drawn to her alone.
He walked the quiet villa halls with purpose, gritting his teeth when he discovered Vesara’s suite locked up. He’d expected to retrieve the transportation orb. Now he was empty-handed moments before he’d requested Hass show up. Boedworth would soon receive word from sources Renton paid in the Abyss, enticing him with an offer of topaz at a safehouse outside of Cragnore, a diversion to lure him and a handful of his elite hunters out of their den while he retrieved the missing tome for Tenah.
Brother, Aeyis spoke into his mind.Care to explain why that archives assassin is arguing with Vesara outside the villa at this hour?
Renton let slip a low snarl.Handling it.
You were going to the Boglands without me. I thought we had an agreement.
My plan was to keep you here. Safe.
When Renton made it out onto the street, three heads snapped to him. Aeyis stood nonchalantly behind Vesara. Her hands were raised, teeth bared at Hass in some territorial animalistic dance.
“Why does Hass get to go with you and not the one who retrieved the orb?” Vesara laid into him. “Do you know what I had to promise in order to get this stupid thing back?”
Hass straightened, his nostrils flared. “What, did you agree to finally carry out your duty to this kingdom? It’s so hard for you, isn’t it, thinking about anything but yourself?”
