Asinia firmed her mouth. “I don’t need you to keep an eye on me.”
He ignored her. I nodded my thanks, and she gave me a betrayed look. I didn’t know what exactly had happened between them, but obviously Asinia wasn’t pleased by her neighbor.
I froze time and opened the dungeon door.
The guards were standing, one of them gesturing to the spot on his belt where the keys should be hanging. The other was frowning at him from his place against the wall. I sucked in a sharp breath.
I dropped the keys on the floor behind the guard. Then I memorized the standing guard’s face. He was likely to keep a close eye on those keys now. I could no longer risk visiting Asinia when he was one of the guards on duty. I cursed myself as I walked back toward my rooms. I’d taken too long in the dungeon. And I couldn’t afford to make mistakes like that.
At the last moment, I headed left instead of right, moving toward Lorian’s rooms. Since he was already irritated with me, I knocked.
He opened the door, grabbed my arm, and hauled me into his room.
“Not sneaking in tonight, wildcat?”
Gods, this man annoyed me.
“I came to thank you. For what you did for Asinia. And, ah, sorry for leaving you last night.”
He slowly shook his head. “You’re not sorry.”
“You don’t know that,” I said sullenly. Of course I wasn’t sorry. But I was grateful he’d followed through on his promise.
He just smiled. My lower lip stuck out. “You deserved it.”
His smile widened. And then I was in his arms, pressed against the door. His mouth was so close to mine, tingles of anticipation swept through my body. I watched him, wide-eyed, enraptured, desperate to see what he would do next.
Lorian raised one hand, leaning close and tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear. His finger brushed the shell of my ear, and I shivered.
His eyes heated. And he did it again.
I sighed, and he captured the sound with his mouth, his tongue thrusting deep.
His growl was so low, it was more of a rumble, and my nipples hardened. My tongue twined with his until I was clawing at him, dragging him closer. He lifted me in his arms, and I wrapped my legs around him, holding him close. He was hard and thick as he settled between my thighs, rocking against me.
My mind went blank.
And I moaned.
He pulled away long enough to curse, and then his huge hand was cradling my head, his lips were pressed against my throat, and his warm breath danced along my skin. He nuzzled a spot on the side of my neck, and I arched.
“You taste so sweet. Will you taste this sweet everywhere?”
The thought of him tasting me there made me groan, and he cursed again, his mouth dragging up my neck until he found my lips once more.
I wanted him. No, I needed him. Now, now, now, now—
The door vibrated against my back. Lorian pulled away, and I buried my hand in his hair in an attempt to pull him back.
Amusement flickered through his eyes. Amusement, and something darker.
“The next time you’re in my arms like this, you’re mine,” he whispered.
More knocking thumped on the door behind me. That was what the sound had been.
I pulled my magic to me, and the knocking instantly cut off.
“Prepare yourself, Prisca,” Lorian said. “Because I’m out of patience.”
I wriggled in Lorian’s arms, ignoring the way my heart thundered at the thought. “Down,” I demanded.
He complied, and I peered up at him. “This was a mistake.”
If I’d thought he’d be annoyed by my declaration, I was wrong. He just gave me a faint smile, opened the door, and pushed me out. I slid past the messenger, who had a piece of parchment in one hand. Rising on tiptoes, I attempted to see just what that parchment said.
“Prisca.”
I sighed and stalked down the hall toward my rooms. And a cold bath.
The next morning, I woke to a valeo next to my bed. I had no idea how Tibris had smuggled the fruit in to me, but I appreciated it just the same.
I spent the morning by the queen’s side, boredom tugging at me as I counted down the hours until I could escape. Thankfully, breakfast was taken in her chambers, and the other ladies gossiped quietly while the queen looked on. Finally, she dismissed us.
Tibris met me outside, taking my arm. Just two siblings out for a stroll. He’d been granted permission for a single hour of freedom, and only because he was seen as such a hard worker. My stomach churned at the thought of the long hours he was working while I ate pastries with the queen.
We’d decided to take a roundabout route to Vicer’s, just in case anyone followed us. It was unlikely, but we were taking no chances.