“Why didn’t you?” His voice was soft and sweet in the darkness, but I wouldn’t mistake his tone for vulnerability. This man had been forged into steel in the fires of his father’s dungeon, and nothing and no one could ever break through the tall barriers he’d erected.
I thought I had, but he’d rebuilt them again.
“Killing him would’ve murdered you,” I said.
“You should have done it.” A hint of disgust twisted through his voice.
“You’re wrong.” What we had was worth fighting for. I reminded myself of that once more. “Go to bed. Sleep. We have a long distance to travel over the next few days, and I need to rest.”
With a grunt, he started to turn away before he snapped back to face me. He scooped me up and carried me over to the bed, shoving aside the covers and laying me on the cold surface. “You will sleep in my bed.”
My eyes pinched with tears and damn, it was hard to hold them back.
He pivoted and strode across the room to sink down again in the chair.
15
TEMPEST
When I woke in the morning, Vexxion was gone, and for an instant, stark, raving terror jolted through me.
He’d been taken by the king.
He’d left Weldsbane.
He’d leftme.
But then I heard subtle sounds coming from the bathing area. After sliding off the bed, I moved silently in that direction. The door hadn’t quite shut. If I were wise, I’d back away and wait for him to finish. I could dress with magic. Flit to another bathing area to take care of my needs.
Instead, I peered through the narrow gap, watching as he dried his body with a big cloth, as he tossed it aside and lifted a pair of dark leather pants from a nearby chair.
He had the most amazing ass, defined with muscles that etched across his thighs. Strong calves. And a back I ached torun my fingers up and down. I’d press my face against his warm, damp skin and close my eyes while I sucked in a breath of pure Vexxion.
Until he shoved me away.
He thrust one leg and then the other into the pants and tugged them up to secure them around his waist. Taking a tunic from the chair, he shook it out and pulled it over his head.
The play of his skin across his broad shoulders was a melody I wanted to listen to forever. Droplets of water slid down his smooth skin, and I needed to trace the paths with my tongue. Lick the water from him and kiss my way around to his front. There, I’d—
He pivoted sharply and there was no missing the glare he stabbed through the narrow opening. “Does privacy mean nothing to you, woman?”
My face blazed. I jerked backward, my leg spasming from the motion. “Sorry. I . . .” I had no excuse, so I didn’t try to drum one up. “When you’re done, I need to use the bathing area.”
“I’m done now.” He pressed open the door and stepped out of the room, bringing with him the scent of warm water infused with a light spice. “The room is yours. I’ll see you downstairs.”
Before he could reach the door to the hallway, I pulled magic from my well and sent it at him with the spell I’d used to unlock creatures throughout the castle, the one that had freed Reyla and Brodine. It may have freed Vexxion, but it hadn’t brought back the man I loved. Could the spell do it for me now?
He came to a shuddering halt, but he didn’t turn around to face me. “Do not ever,” he snarled, “and I meanever, use your magic on me again.” His fists released at his sides, and heopened the door and stepped out into the hall, pulling the door closed with a bitter bang. His footsteps resounded on the landing, heavy, purposeful, and with a grim determination to take him away from me.
Unable to breathe, unable to gather my wits together enough to think, I remained where I was until I could no longer hear him.
I did not cry.
I did not wail.
And I did not run after him to beg him to love me.
Finally, my lungs gave way, air rushing from me in a sour wave. My heart shattered like fragile glass dropped on stone. Cold numbness spread from deep inside me, freezing every hopeful thought in its path.
