Seda shook her head at both of them. “Tahti said she couldn’t help locate the stones. And I’d prefer not to ask Elco to do that again.”
“Well, sounds like we know how to find one of them, at least,” Benny said.
Ojore groaned loudly and slapped his knees as he stood. “Another fucking monster. It’s late, and I’d like to shower and rest. I’m glad to see you’re safe, Seda. What’s our plan for tomorrow?”
“We’ll meet for breakfast and figure out our next steps,” Ael responded.
“I’d like to go with the others for the trade route if possible,” Ojore said. Ael looked at him for a moment before nodding his head.
The group rose and said their goodbyes, with Ojore leaving first. Roya and Ael remained behind with Seda.
“Thank you, Roya, for coming and continuing to help with this. I’m very thankful for your friendship,” Seda said to her with a beautiful smile that lit up her face.
Roya blushed at the compliment and bowed her head. “It’s in our nature.” She left the room, and Ael remained behind. The two of them stared at each other, feeling like it was a silent battle of who would speak first.
“Is there something I can help you with, Cahir?” she asked, giving in.
“Yes, there is,” he replied, a smile forming on his lips. “Dinner was great. The buns were so soft.”
She nervously fiddled with a strand of her hair, and he noticed a blush creep across her cheeks. His gaze caught on that freckle he loved so much on her chin.
He desperately wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t know if she was ready yet. “I’ll leave you to it, then. Good night, Seda.” He winked at her.
Her face fell slightly, but she quickly masked it with a polite smile. Ael approached her and gave her a small hug, pressing his nose into her hair and softly breathing in her clean, fresh scent. She faintly reciprocated the hug.
“Good night, Cahir,” she said as he began to walk out of the room. He exited and closed the doors, nodding to the guards before walking to his own room. As Ael closed the door behind him, he leaned against it. He shouldn’t have left. Maybe she would have wanted him to stay? Should he go back?
No, he wanted to kiss her when the moment was right, and right now he wasn’t sure if she wanted him that way yet. He also shouldn’t have touched her the way he did at dinner without doing things the right way first. When she opened her thighs for him earlier, he fought with all of his strength not to slip a finger higher and brush it against her. He wanted to feel her soft, intimate skin so bad it was like fighting a Jotnar alone. What was more important to him, though, was that he wanted her to know he was serious about her.
He wanted all of her. Her mind, her body,andher soul. He needed her like he needed air, but he had to control himself and stop letting his fucking dick take charge when she was around. She needed to know she was his and he washers,and he would burn the fucking world to the ground for her if she asked him to.
He would do anything for her.Anything.
And even after all of that reasoning he just gave himself, it didn’t stop him from remembering her smell for him or the feel of her soft thighs.
He walked to the bathroom and turned on the hot water. Showers were becoming his new favorite thing.
Chapter 11
Seda
“It’s time to get up!” Suza thundered to Seda as she looked down at her sleeping on the bed. Seda had slept terribly, staying up all night thinking about how to find the stones, fighting tears for how horribly people were treated at the Camp, and how much she wished she could help quickly. She needed to do more. She needed to find these stones as soon as possible.
She stared up at Suza and noticed her hair looked freshly washed and that she appeared refreshed.
Seda groaned and threw the blanket over her head. “I need more time to sleep.”
“Not gonna happen, Seda. I have been instructed?—”
“To get me ready, yes, yes,” Seda finished for her. She pulled the blanket down just below her nose and looked up at the blue sky through the glass above.
“Yes, um… exactly.”
Seda climbed out of bed as Suza walked to the closet. Shereturned carrying a cotton dress that looked shockingly comfortable. “No corset today?” Seda asked.
Suza smirked. “If you want one, there are plenty of them in there.”
Seda quickly shook her head and waited for Suza to turn around before putting the dress on. The dress was a light lavender, airy and not constricting at all. A much better choice than the last one.
