I… I think I love you,” Arwyn said, testing the waters.
My body warmed, my soul turning to a blaze of light. “IknowI love you, Arwyn.” My voice shook as I admitted the fact that had lingered inside of me, likely from the moment I met him. “Just never betray me again.”
“I’d rather face the end of a blade in your hands again, than ever do anything to betray you.”
“Swear it.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die.” Arwyn painted something across my skin, his deft finger moving swiftly. I didn’t bother to open my eyes to work out what the shape was; I was only glad his touch was still on me so clearly. “So mote it be.”
I was far too tired to fully notice the magic that coiled around Arwyn’s reply, or the implications of what he’d just spelled out between us. And when I woke, barely a couple of hours later, I didn’t remember to ask.
Especially not when Romy came bursting into the room, the dark smoke billowing behind her as black as obsidian.
No. Not smoke.
Shadows.
25
HECTOR
If anything was going to put me in a shitty mood, it was being chewed up and spat out of Bahmet’s shadows whilst being completely naked. I had just enough time to snatch the pile of discarded clothes as the wave roared over Romy, dragging us, and everything around us, under.
Somewhere within the shadows, Arwyn called my name. Panic laced his voice, thick and heavy. I wanted to shout back but my focus was on trying to pull my trousers up over my trembling legs.
A vacuous hiss built in my skull. It was so sudden it distracted me from the task at hand. I felt every minute part of my eardrum rumble like some great beast sat in my skull and bellowed its terror into my head.
Then, in the blink, it was over.
Bahmet discarded us in what could only be described as a grand banquet hall. I tripped over my half-dressed legs, stumbling into a firm body before I fell flat on my face. Familiar hands grasped for me, before settling me back to standing.
A shiver passed over my bare skin as I felt countless sets of eyes on me, boring holes through my flesh to my marred soul.
“Stay. Behind. Me,” Arwyn growled, his hands still not straying far as he placed his equally naked body in front of mine.
I gagged on my reply, heat rising to my cheeks.
“Hector Briar,” someone began, singing my name like a weapon to be used against me. “Has anyone ever told you it is inappropriate to come to a feast naked?”
My eyes met Tomin Hopkin who stood behind a chair opposite the long table between us. Large hands gripped the back of his seat, the knuckles white with tension, and torn. Whilst his body screamed of his discomfort, there was an enjoyment to his gaze that irked my very being.
“I think I missed that lesson too, Father,” Arwyn growled.
Tomin’s grin didn’t last. Clearly it was one thing to see me without most of my clothes, and another to witness his son in the same predicament.
“You must be enjoying the view, Tomin.” I took my time to finish getting changed, hyper-aware of every set of Hunter’s eyes pinned to me. Unfortunately, one of them stood behind a chair to my left, his eyes trailing to the neat curve of my ass as if he couldn’t help himself.
Tomin must’ve silently worked out why both me and his son had arrived naked to this strange banquet.
His face darkened, lip curling over his teeth. “Arwyn? Care to explain.”
Arwyn was enjoying every second of his father’s discomfort as he got changed too.
“I don’t think an explanation is going to help those dark thoughts swirling in your mind. But to entertain you, if I’d been given the choice to come here and feast, I would’vekindlydeclined.” Arwyn’s stomach muscles flexed as he pulled his crumpled shirt over his head. “I’ve found myself sexually sated this morning. Hector, can you say the same?”
My cheeks warmed. “Oh, I can.”
There was something exciting about the room of my enemies knowing about my sex life. It was a type of power I’d never experienced before, and I had to admit, I could get used to it. Especially when Tomin Hopkin looked close to crying or vomiting. Maybe both.
