I wasn’t sure what I expected to find in Pharis’ chambers, but whatever it was, I simply had to see it.
Pushing the door inward, I stepped fully inside then quietly closed it behind me. I was standing in a short hallway. To my right was a small sitting room that contained a lifeless fireplace and a single chair with a round lamp table beside it.
Stacked on the table were several books. One of them had a page marker protruding from the middle.
Unable to resist, I walked over to it and opened it to the marked page, curious about what Pharis had been reading.
Within a paragraph, my face was flaming, and my heart thudded in my chest. Hurriedly I closed the book and placed it back atop the stack on the table.
Then I turned and moved from the sitting room into Pharis’ bedroom.
The size and beauty of it stole my breath. Though the walls were painted black, it wasn’t dark because one entire side of the room was made of windows, stretching floor to ceiling.
I crossed the expanse of the large space to them, standing and looking out on the ocean for a few minutes. Then I turned back to face the room.
A huge bed anchored one wall, framed by luxurious dark bed curtains that were pulled back at the moment to reveal what looked like miles of silky black bed coverings.
On either side of the bed were nightstands that held candle lamps and various nicknacks. I went to one of them, hungry for a glimpse into Pharis’ private life.
There was another book—which I didn’t dare to open—and a stack of clean handkerchiefs.
There was also a small jar made of opaque black glass.
I lifted it and removed the top, peeking inside. It contained some sort of herb or other plant. Reaching in, I extracted one of the flowering stems.
And almost dropped it.
Fireweed.
Though it would do no harm to me, I was shocked Pharis would keep such a toxic substance so near—or anywhere in his house really.
I knew he wasn’t immune to it. Like all Elven people, he was deathly allergic to fireweed. In fact, he’d literally almost died in front of me after encountering it in a meadow where we’d camped.
Maybe he kept it on hand for use as a weapon against other Elves for some reason?
“What. The shaded stars. Are youdoingin here?”
The menacing low voice served up more malice than any shout could have done.
I jumped and whirled around to face Pharis, nearly dropping the fireweed stem on his bed.
Thankfully I didn’t—I hurriedly stuffed it back into the jar and put the lid back on while answering him in a high, shaky voice.
“Nothing. Just exploring. You told me I had free run of the house.”
His brows lowered even further, along with his tone. “Itoldyou everywhereexceptfor my rooms.”
“I… forgot.”
Care to repeat that mind-to-mind, little liar?Pharis dared me.
I pretended not to hear his silent question, babbling while I fought to restore my shattered nerves.
“I’m sorry, although I’m not sure what you were so worried about. It’s just a room. No dastardly plans for world domination tacked on the wall. Not even a single pair of dirty underdrawers on the floor. Although, I did discover your ‘dirty books.’”
That last part had been a tease meant to lighten his mood. I’d purposely overstated it. The passage I’d read hadn’t been graphic, but ithadbeen stirring.
And surprising considering where I’d found the book, here in his suite.
