I shuddered, my pleasure cresting in a wave, until my breath caught and all I could do was gasp, trembling through my release. Lorian continued playing with me, continued that steady thrusting until I was boneless.
“You…” My voice was hoarse.
Did that just happen? While it was difficult to believe I was just that intimate with Lorian, at the same time, it felt strangely…inevitable.
Lorian met my gaze, his cheekbones flushed. Then his gaze swept over me, spread out for him, limp and satisfied, even as my body craved more.
“Yes,” he murmured. “Me.”
I reached for him, but he was already pulling my dress back down, my underwear disappearing into his pocket.
“What—”
“I need you healthy for the things I want to do to you,” he growled. “Now leave, before I can no longer control myself.”
I took a shaky breath. The idea of Lorian—the man who was always in control—now having to fight for restraint…
“I feel fine.”
“Out,” he grumbled. I was standing before I realized I’d moved, hauled to my feet by the mercenary who glowered at me.
I couldn’t help it. I grinned.
He shoved me out of his room, ignoring my delighted laugh.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Auria visited me the next morning, perching on the edge of my bed. “How are you feeling?” She smiled at me, her eyes alight with her usual good humor.
“Ready to get back to work.” I almost winced when I said it. Calling my days of following the queen around work was an insult when Auria practically broke her back in the laundry.
“I think the queen probably wants you rested. Especially because the Gods Day ball is so close.”
Just days away. Blood rushed into my ears at the thought.
“Setella?”
“Sorry, mind wandering.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks.” She was studying me, and I raised one brow. “What is it?”
“The entire castle is talking about you and the prince.”
I winced, and she just laughed.
“I’ll leave you to rest.” She scampered out the door before I could reply.
I spent the rest of the day in bed, visualizing leading over three hundred prisoners out of the king’s tunnel only days from now. The tunnel he’d created to put them to death. My body broke out in a cold sweat, and I shuddered beneath my blankets.
By the time it was dark enough to risk going down to the dungeon, I felt more like myself. A little shaky, but ready to help Tibris hand out food. Since Tibris wanted to check Asinia’s and Demos’s wounds first, I got to work slipping pieces of bread, hunks of meat, and stolen fruit between cage bars.
Laurel held out her hand for her share, angling her head as she watched me.
She was a couple of years younger than me and had told me she thought she’d been here for at least six months. “Why are you doing this? At least when I was iron-crazed, I didn’t know how bad this really was.”
“Would you rather I didn’t?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I want out. But…”
I understood. Now, she knew the reality of her situation. And it was grim. When she didn’t know what she was missing, she didn’t dare hope for more. The iron had kept her weak, dazed, easy for the guards to manage. Now, her eyes burned with retribution.
“Eat,” I murmured. “And walk as much as you can. We need you strong.”
She nodded, and I finished doling out the last of the food, making my way back toward Asinia.
“Finished sulking?” Tibris asked.
I winced, slowing my steps. That was the tone he most often used when speaking to either Lorian or Demos.
Shuffling sounded, as if someone was sitting down.
“My mental state is none of your business.” Demos’s voice was so cold, I almost shivered.
“What is your problem?”
Tibris had never been able to leave anything alone. When I was angry as a child, he would poke and prod at me until I exploded. Then he would laugh. Most of the time, his amusement would shake me from my fury. Or at least ensure I trained that fury on him instead.
“My problem?” Demos asked.
“You’ve found your sister. After all these years.”
“She doesn’t know me.”
“So, spend time with her.”
“Easy for you to say. You grew up with her. You got to see her turn from a child into a woman. You were able to be there for her. To protect her. To keep her safe.”