“Why did everything begin here?” she murmured, though her voice sounded dazed.
It was then I realized how close our faces were to one another. For a brief, mad moment, I nearly succumbed to the desire to kiss her again. To feel those lips on mine, to have her soft sighs weaving down my throat, and her scent all around me.
“Why is…”
Mina trailed off, her breath hitching as she seemed to come to the same realization as I.
Quiet descended between us as she held perfectly still. My nostrils flared and, unable to stop myself, I dragged her scent deep into my lungs, nearly groaning at the rightness of it. My cock began to thicken and this time I didn’t think I could hide it from her.
“What spell are you weaving over me now?” I growled at her, my gaze on her lips. My tone was frustrated. She was doing it again and I knew I’d be helpless against her pull. Just like in the fog. “Tell me. Or kiss me. I don’t care anymore.”
Mina’s lips parted. Those wide eyes were flickering between mine and then…and then they dropped to my lips. Like she wanted it too.
Vok, but I wanted her to do it, I realized. Anticipation was rising within me. Desire was mingling with my frustration.
Her head lowered, ever so slightly. I swallowed hard, staring deep into those green eyes, daring her to kiss me,willingher to.
The door creaked open, shrill and grating.
Both of our heads snapped towards the sound.
Thesarkiadidn’t scramble away as I expected her to. Instead, I watched her spine straighten and her jaw set as if…as if she was bracing herself for whatever would come.
Only it wasn’t a male that ducked their head inside the room.
It was a female.
She had dark hair and dark eyes, the color of which I couldn’t make out in the dark. Unlike Mina’s dress, her own looked freshly washed. The female looked…strong. Stronger than Mina at least, whom I wondered if I would break if I allowed myself to touch her.
Mina rose. I saw thesarkiawas taller, however, than the dark-haired female who’d just stepped inside, whose fear I could almostsmellas her eyes went wide at the scene before her.
“Get away from him, Mina,” the female snapped. “Now.”
Chapter Fourteen
“You foolish girl,” Tess seethed when she’d pulled us out of earshot of Emmi. The male who’d been assigned the night watch over theVorakkar’sprison had only looked at me with a smug expression when we passed him.
Earlier, Emmi hadn’t said anything when I approached the room with a fresh water basin. His jaw had tightened and his glare had nearly frozen my heart but he said nothing as I slipped inside the room. Perhaps my threat had taken root and he knew he couldn’t reveal anything to Benn, since I knew Kaila was stealing food from the rations.
Tess took my shoulders and shook me, sloshing the remainder of the water from the basin I clasped to my chest. It wet my dress, freezing my belly.
“Stay away from him, Mina,” Tess breathed. “My god, what were you even thinking?”
“Did you fo-fo-fo...” I began, frustration beginning to eat at me when the word wouldn’t come. “Follow me?”
“I was worried about you,” Tess said, glaring at me though she released my shoulders. “You looked so tired today. And when I saw you were gone from the sleeping room, I went searching for you. But never would I have thought to find youthere.”
She must’ve asked Emmi if he’d seen me. And he’d only been too happy to let slip where I was.
Tess blew out a long breath, looking up towards the ceiling of the dark hallway we were in.
I knew what was coming.
“I love you, Mina,” Tess said, her voice considerably softer. Speaking to me like I was a child, like it was the only way I was going to understand. “You know I do. So why would you put your life in danger being so close to him? Do you know how terrible I’d feel if something happened to you?”
If she knew what I’dreallybeen about to do, she would’ve fallen over in shock.
Because gods…if she hadn’t walked in, I think I might’ve kissed him again. I’dwantedto. So badly it hadhurt.
