“If the other women notice my absence, and especially if they see me slipping off into his office, surely there’ll be questions. So the night is as good a time as any.” I narrow my eyes.
Devin holds my glare, to the point that I drop my hand from the doorknob.
My lips turn up slyly as I dip my head. “Fine, you know what? I’ll just try again in the morning, as you say,” I head for the hall leading back to my room, “and I’ll be sure to let him know that I’ve been refused when I have very important matters to discuss with him?—”
“Stop,” Devin hisses from behind me.
I can’t help smiling wider as I turn to look at him over my shoulder. Raising an eyebrow.
Devin rolls his eyes, mumbling under his breath as he walks toward the northern part of the castle. “Fine, come with me, you stubborn weasel.”
I snicker as he leads me down the hallway. Then through the throne room, to the door beyond. We weave through a labyrinth of hallways and corridors, until we’re ascending a grand, golden staircase, and arrive at a set of the most ornate double doors I’ve ever seen.
“Oh, and by the way…he’s in a mood tonight. So try not to mention Johanna,” Devin commands.
I squint at him as he raises a fist. “Johanna…?”
He knocks on it five times as I scan the landing around us. A sort of balcony is on either side, looking down the several flights of stairs we took to get up here.
The door swings open.
Cyrus stands on the other side, light hair falling in tight, dripping waves. His torso is completely bare—wide-set shoulders framing a carved set of pecs and sculpted abdomen. Still glistening with water. He’s pulling a towel over himself, and I don’t miss the elegant, naked muscle stretching from his knee up to his hip bone. My mouth drops open before I snap it shut and look away. In the corner of my eye, I see he shuffles partway behind the door.
“Mar-Marcella.” His voiceis flustered.
Devin, without missing a beat, says, “She stated she had information that couldn’t wait until morning. Shall I escort her to your office?”
I try and fixate on some blank part of the wall to my left.
“No—just…One moment,” Cyrus mutters and closes the door.
When I turn my face back again, Devin snickers beside me. I give him a quick look, and when he doesn’t stop, I shove him.
As he swings in retaliation, the door opens again. This time Cyrus at least has pants on.
“Come in.” He swings the door open.
Devin ushers me forward, and I step into the room. My eyes unable to stop scanning around us.
We’re in Cyrus’ bedroom.
It’s immaculate. A golden hearth is set off in one wall, with embers glowing in its center. Windows stretch from the ground up to the rounded ceiling. The walls are decorated in the same floral patterns with dragons as our rooms are. Unlit golden sconces mark the wall panels, and an ornate chandelier hangs above the grand bed, which overflows with luxurious silk fabrics and thick pillows. Below my feet is a gorgeous crimson rug stretching out across the entire room. And facing the set of windowed doors leading out to some sort of balcony is a ruby-red tufted loveseat.
“Take a seat, if you’d like.” Cyrus motions to the loveseat.
I turn to face him, pointing my chin towards Devin.
“You may return to your room, Devin,” Cyrus says.
Devin’s jaw flexes, and he bows his head, but isn’t afraid to slip me one last glare as Cyrus walks him to the door. As soon as the bedroom door is shut, I take a seat.
“I’m sorry for intruding so late at night like this…” I start, leaning back on the couch to cross my legs.
He brushes his wet hair back as he stalks over to me. Muscles gliding across his frame like he was hand-carved by the Gods themselves. The soft flickering light from the fire behind him doesn’t help dull my admiration. Luckily for me, he grabs the nearest thing draped over the arm of the loveseat.
He slips it on quickly, without buttoning it—a dark coat that exposes the center of his torso. “You know that I don’t sleep much, so please, you aren’t a bother. And even if I were—there’ll never be a time I turn you away.”
I nod, playing with my gloved fingers just to give my eyes something else to look at. “I came to ask you questions.”
