“That tiny little room is the king’s quarters?” I squeak, mind reeling.
He nods. “It is the best room under the mountain. He wanted you to be comfortable.”
A laugh bursts out of me. Here I’ve been thinking Nik stuck me in a dungeon cell because he wanted to get rid of me, and it was the best room he had. “And he’s been sleeping in the pods?”
And on the floor of the comm room, I remember.
“Yes. He is sharing mine. When I am guarding you, he uses it, and when he is with you, I sleep.”
Oh.This puts a whole new light on things. He hasn’t been giving me his worst. He’s been giving me the best.
Aqen carries the stewpot with his good arm, and I carry the bowls and spoons. Despite the fact that multiple medical transports have taken the worst of the injured to Olethia for treatment, every one of the capsule-like bedrooms is full, eventhe one Aqen and Nik are supposedly sharing. We run out of stew before we hit the end of the hallway. Cidro is there, his long green sleeves tied up out of the way as he checks on his patients.
“May Alioth smile on you,” he greets us.
“Her teeth are sharp,” Aqen returns.
“How’s it going?” I ask him. “You need any help?”
“There are some apprentices in need of massage,” he says, like he’s admitting a wrongdoing. “We have not had time to attend them due to all the injuries. We could also use assistance in preparing bandages and salves, too, as our supplies are running low.”
We opt to help replenish the supplies, and he shows us to a small lab, where he puts us to work cutting clean cloth into strips and cooking up ointment recipes. Aqen and I divide up the tasks, and the day flies by. Before I know it, it’s time for lastmeal.
Suddenly, I’m nervous to see Nik again. I feel my cheeks warm on the way back to my quarters, remembering how he kissed me to sleep. He’s probably not going to do that again. The kissing lesson is over. He definitely learned what he needed to learn. But that means he’s ready for Lesson Two. Fuck, what’s Lesson Two?
He’s already there waiting for me when I enter, and when he stands from his seat on the bed, I notice he’s already removed his weapons. I spot a tray of food on the bed. Looks like more sticks and leaves.
Nik looks as awkward as I feel, standing stiffly there the middle of my room.Hisroom. This is his personal space. I’ve been sleeping in his bed the whole time, wrapped in his furs. Bathing in his shower. The air feels charged with intimacy.
“You are dismissed,” he says to Aqen, never taking his eyes from me. “Go.”
Aqen bows deeply and hurries off, clearly eager to get back to the activities that he loves. I barely notice because I can’t look away from Nik’s swirling, gray eyes.
“Hi,” I say, trying to break some of the tension. “I hope you weren’t waiting for too long. We lost track of time.”
“Cidro said you were of great assistance today,” he says somberly. “I thank you for your service to Usuri.”
“Of course,” I say, unsettled by his formality. “I was happy to help.”
“I was wrong to keep you locked away,” he says, breaking eye contact. He looks miserable admitting it. I guess kings aren’t used to being wrong about things.
“Yeah. Glad we’re on the same page about that.”
“I still hate it,” he says, jerking his gaze back to meet mine, a scowl carving lines in his face as deep as his scar.
“Why’d you let me out, then? It wasn’t part of our deal. I mean, I’m glad you did, but you didn’t have to.”
His mouth twists into another shape, wry and guilty. “Maybe I needed a second lesson on trust.”
Chapter 15
Nik
Delphie is soft today. Open. I wonder if I did that. Last night was the most humiliating and rewarding experience of my life, but I knew it was my only chance to earn her. I poured everything into pleasing her mouth with my mouth. It took many attempts, but eventually I earned her approval.
She’ll be impressed, Nik.
My cock jolts and my claws extend involuntarily, pricking into my palms. She’s the only one I want to impress.
