“Certainly,” she said, irritated that he would ask in front of the other men at the table. Surely, the other demons saw this for what it was. A proposition.
“I’ll come fetch you soon, then.” His eyes slid up and down her frame, and Mammond gave Caspian a knowing look.
Summoned like a dog to its master.
Silently fuming, Elizabeth retired to the sitting room and was only reading for twenty minutes when Caspian came to call. He offered her his arm, and she rose from the sofa.
He guided her down the halls and towards the castle doors that led to the grounds. They took a turn about the garden, and he pulled her into an intimate nook. He put his arms around her and hugged her tightly, whispering into her hair, “Did you enjoy last night?”
She looked over his shoulder and turned her face away from his. She frowned, a pained expression coming across her face.
She was angry with him for leaving in the middle of the night, and making her feel like a fool. For all but declaring he was bedding her in front of everyone, with no regard for her privacy.
But his arms felt so good around her, and the feeling of his warm breath on her ear sent tingles down her spine, so she said, “I did.”
She shouldn’t want him, but her body craved his in a way she couldn’t put into words. She closed her eyes and loathed herself for wanting him.
He leaned down, and his lips were soft, gentle on hers. They kissed slowly and sweetly, and she slowly melted into his arms.
When they broke apart, he nuzzled her neck, his beard scratching her lightly. “I have been thinking about this all day.”
“Oh? Thinking about what?” she asked.
“Thinking about these lips.” His voice fell to a whisper. “The way you close your eyes when you’re about to come.”
Her breath caught.
“The way your body looks in dresses. The way it looks out of them. And I’ve been thinking about this.” He gripped her behind. “All damn day, I’ve been thinking about this.”
She arched into him, fisting her hand in his tunic.
He kissed and nibbled on her earlobe.
It was forbidden, and it would never end well.
But her body ached for his, and so, she gave in.
Chapter 33
Teas and Favours
Elizabeth woke in her own bed, content.
She had spent the night with Caspian. They had made love until her body was sated and heart was full. After a few moments of lying in his arms, she had gotten up and left him lying there. He had asked her where she was going with a raised eyebrow, and she had said nothing, only giving a small smile in answer.
She had no desire to wake up to a cold bed in the middle of the night ever again.
She wanted to pretend she didn’t care, that she had gone back to her room to sleep because she was mysterious and liked her space. In truth, she wanted to lie in the circle of his arms forever.
A few hours later, she walked around the streets of Veridas, her body enveloped in the new cloak Caspian had bought for her, feeling wrapped in a sign of his affections.
The envelope with the raven seal weighed heavily in her pocket.
She was in a dangerous position, however, because despite what Ambriel thought, she knew that his prophecy wasn’t about her. It was nice that he thought she might be someone of importance in their world, but she wasn’t—she only wished to learn enough about magic to understand what her gift was. To sate her curiosity. She was no saviour of witches and men.
On the threshold of the door, she paused. Learning about magic was dangerous, and if anyone found out, it was sure to put a target on her back. Was it worth the risk?
Biting her lip, she remembered the demon that had ensnared her with its eyes, and the monster in the field that had almost killed her.
