“Oh, I don’ know,” she purred, grinning now. “The captain isn’t exactly hard to look at. You deserve a little pleasure too, girl.”
Jaw working on a mouthful of desert air, my cheeks burned. “I think you’re confusing pleasure and punishment.”
“And I think the lines can get a wee bit blurry from time t’time. Besides,” she continued, closing the distance between us, placing her hand on my shoulder, “the man isexpectin’you t’be difficult. He’s prepared for whatever mental thing you’re plannin’ to do next. Tell me, lassie, how’s that been workin’ out for you?”
I glanced at her hands, feeling nothing but a cool pressure. No hint of her life force through her skin on mine, and had to concede her point.
“Right,” she said, and lifting a brow. “Play the part, Mila. Let him believe he’s won. Bring him t’your side as I’ve done with Marco, and we’ll be free of this place in no time. Together, and with any luck, the High Priestess herself in tow.”
Together? Only hours ago, I’d been flying toward freedom, without a thought for Alicia’s safety. But without my Truth, I couldn’t differentiate between fact or fiction. Couldn’t decide if her words were honest or designed. “I…” I shook my head. “I can’t.”
“Sure you can.” She plucked a matted hank of hair off my shoulder, rubbing it between two fingers. “Just get you cleaned up a little, work to ease that temper, and he’ll be putty in your wee dirty hands.”
Face burning, I twisted away. “N-No—”
Shrugging, she pressed the letter opener into my branded hand, then moved to the head of the bed, pulling the blankets down. “Then stay the course if you seek oblivion, lass. Use that rusty blade. Won’t take him long to tire of fightin’ a losing battle. And when he does, I’m sure he can find somewhere to put you. Like a wee dark hole with no way out?”
I clutched the opener, watching the blood shift beneath the twisted skin of my right hand.
“Just make a decision an’ see it through. But first you’ll be wantin’ to get your narrow behind back in bed. Won’t be seducing any man lookin’ like you just crawled from your grave. And certainly not that furious, piss-drunk captain.”
Lip curled, I scowled at his bed. “I’mnotsleeping there.”
“On the couch then, lass.” She pulled the heavy blanket off the mattress.
My stomach growled.
Glancing over her shoulder, Alicia shook out the blanket, draping it over the couch. “Get some sleep, an’ then we can think about getting you something to—”
I waved her off. “I’m fine. It’s not the first time I’ve gone without food.” Though it was the first time I’d done so without the wild rush of ki restoring my energy and dulling my appetite. I cleared my throat, trying to soften the edge of my tongue. “Alicia… I… I’m…”
“No thanks or apology needed, Priestess,” she said, flashing a brilliant smile wreathed in bruises.
A raspy chuckle came from behind us, and he said, “Imustbe drunk if Mila is apologizing for something.”
I jumped, spinning to face him, and hid my blade with the length of my forearm.
The captain.
Chapter 2
“C-Captain Rawlings, sir,” Alicia stammered, pressing a delicate hand to the base of her throat. “You about stopped my heart.”
He grinned, swirling the contents of a crystal decanter as he lounged against the doorframe, inky gaze finding mine. Lazy, yet still sharp. And then, unbuttoning his shirt sleeves, he stalked toward us, dropping into his office chair with a huff.
“Ah,” Alicia hummed, green eyes flicking to my face. “Will you be needing anythin’ else, sir, or…”
He flicked the decanter in her direction, making the amber liquid slosh against the glass. “The night is yours, Alicia.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, then glanced at me, raising a single brow.
I didn’t react as she sashayed from the room, hips rolling, focusing instead on keeping myself upright as she abandoned me to one piss-drunk captain.
For a moment, the man was content to watch me, thumb tracing the lip of the decanter.
Shifting from foot to foot, I worried the scab marking the base of my throat, trying to draw his eyes away from my concealed weapon. “What?”
“You should be sleeping.”
