“Baldar,” he growls out. “Appeared you were perfectly content to—”
“That was a mistake.”Who knows what would happen if we were to continue… and what about Sorin? Sam? I know he said he would be content with sharing, but a man like him? There is no way he shares anything.
The room stills and he stares me down. “Tell yourself that all you want, little dove.” His eyes are filled with danger. “But I will tell you one thing, lying does not suit you nor does it serve you well with me. Run to your guards in the morning, but while we are in this room, you are mine to take care of and as such you will be sleeping here where I can keep an eye on you and away from whatever creation appeared to you outside this room.”
I swallow back a retort, my nose wrinkling at his tone. The prince holds my gaze steadily.
“Fine,” I grumble, my shoulders slumping.
“Good. Now, there is a nightdress in the bathroom. I am sure you would like to change.”
I nod. Sliding off the bed off, I walk into the bathroom.
There is a simple black nightdress in the bathroom with a ruby trim. I quickly relieve myself and shower, luxuriating in the warm water. Taking a couple minutes to clean my teeth and inspect my appearance in the mirror, I pause, tracing a finger over the bags under my eyes. I do look tired.I am tired.
Sighing to myself, I don the new nightdress and make my way back into the bedroom. The prince has already changed into some loose pants.No shirt though.My eyes track over the dark lines of ink on his back, an image resembling an elvisera mid-flight adorning him along with some writing underneath. He turns towards me ending my appraisal of his body. I avert my gaze. The temperature of the room seems to have plummeted as night has fallen. Quickly slipping into bed, being sure to face away from him, I try to snuggle underneath the covers for warmth. A couple moments later he slips in behind me.
The bed is just big enough we do not quite touch when we are both laying on it, but I can still feel the heat of his body radiating to me in the small space between us. I let out a breath and try to relax. Examining the walls through bleary eyes, I try to distract myself from both the cold of the room and the heat of his body.No plants.I note to myself.Maybe that means no spy ware?I blink heavily as I feel myself being pulled toward sleep, but a shiver jerks me awake. My thoughts resume.We are underground though, who knows what other devices these people might have down here. Or what other things might lurk in the shadows.I shiver for a different reason, pulling the blankets closer around me, as if they could protect me from the imaginary creatures lurking around the room. My hooded eyes gaze distrustfully at the dirt floor.Hopefully there are no spiders, though.My shivers continue, causing sleep to elude me.I let out a soft noise of frustration and curl into myself. A warm hand touches my shoulder.
“Are you cold, Little Dove?” The prince traces his palm over my arm gently. Goosebumps race over my flesh and I jump a little at the contact.I had not even realized he was facing me.
“Nn-no,” I say, another shiver trapped in my voice. I clench my teeth. A sigh is my only warning before I am yanked back into a warm embrace. I yelp. The prince tucks my toes between his legs in an effort to warm them...or restrain me?I am not quite sure which. I try to fight him albeit weakly. My weary body enjoying the warmth of him much too much for my sleepy brain to want to fight against it.
“Stop. Your body is freezing, and your wiggling is tortuous to my self-control.” He angles his hipsand the erection that is currently evidence of his supposed tortureaway from me.“Now, sleep,” he commands, smoothing a palm over my hair. And I do.
Chapter twenty-seven
Bleary Thoughts
Alaceandra
Iwake up feeling off balance. My heart stills in my chest as I register it is the prince holding me close to him and not Sorin.The prince who I kissed last night. My brain reminds me oh so helpfully. I look up to see he is watching me. He traces a finger over my face, and I steel myself against the rush going through me at his touch. He runs a finger over my lips, and I shudder. Sleep is still pulling at my senses, my waking thoughtsinterconnecting with my dreams which is why I do not stop him when his fingers skate their way into my hair, and he slowly pulls me into a gentle kiss.
The feel of his lips on mine zings through me, my bleary thoughts coalescing into consciousness and I jerk away from him.
“Um, good morning.” I rub my eyes.
He stays where he is. “How did you sleep?” His voice is husky.
I close my eyes for a moment. “Well, I think.”
“Good.”
We stare at each other. Memories flicker through my mind of last night’s events and an ache starts to form between my thighs. The prince raises his hand to smooth some of the hair from my face and my eyes dart back to his lips.What difference would it make if I kissed him one more time? Stop, Alaceandra, you cannot.I remind myself, even as I lean into his touch. Our faces are a breath apart when a shrill voice rings throughout the room.
“I am from Unduli, beast! How dare you think doors will stop me!”Baldar squeaks indignantly from the bottom of the bed. His form appears in a puff of smoke.
I jump at the noise, pulling away from the prince.
“Stop your squeaking, demoni,” the prince commands, irritated.
“Why you little—”Baldar sputters.
“Okay!” I run my hand over my face. An overwhelming urge to escape this small room overcomes me and I glance towards the bathroom door. “We, uh, better catch up with the others.” I mumble, before scooting off the bed and capturing the squirming Baldar. I start to walk towards the bathroom and change but the prince’s snort stops me in my tracks. I spin around.
“What now?”
A small smile graces his handsome face. “Please do not think you will get away with running from me again, Little Dove. I will catch you.”
