He gifted her a dazzling smile, crooking a finger. “Come to bed, beautiful.”
She crawled up the mattress as he turned down the oil lamps. The moon shining off the water bathed the room in silver-limned darkness.
He shifted her onto her side, then pushed an arm beneath her head before wrapping the other around her waist and tugging her back against him.
He sucked in a long breath, his nose poking through her hair. “Mmm, I could get used to sleeping like this.”
“Goodnight, Birdman.” She closed her eyes and nestled in closer.
“Goodnight, Daredevil.” He squeezed her briefly.
And for the second night in a row, she swiftly tumbled into sleep wrapped in Tristan’s arms.
She could indeed get used to this.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Xenia’s knees nearly buckled as she struggled to keep Cael’s massive body upright. Thank the High Gods for the Sisters’ mandatory training sessions, or she probably would’ve collapsed trying to help him down the narrow stone stairs that led to the dungeon.
Alexei clanged open her cell. “Get inside.”
“Who?”
“Both of you.”
Xenia’s eyebrows flew to her hairline, but she didn’t dare question it. Then her heart sank. Maksym would only let her and Cael stay together if he was confident they couldn’t escape.
She dragged Cael into the small cell, then sat him against the wall.
Alexei slammed the door shut with a resounding clank, then pocketed the iron key, shifting Cass’s dagger aside in the process. He must’ve grown quite attached to the weapon; he was keeping it on him at all times. A precaution against the hulking, muscled warrior wheezing in pain behind her?
Xenia approached the bars. “Dinner’s over. Am I expected to wear this ridiculous dress all night? I’ll freeze to death down here and your boss’s plans for me will be ruined.”
Alexei’s impassive, serpentine eyes traveled up her body before he pivoted and strode out of the dungeon, his onyx hair glistening in the flickering torchlight.
Xenia snarled and threw her hands up then crouched next to Cael.
“Are you ok?” she whispered.
Despite the oozing cuts and purpling welts, his cynical expression was easily readable.
“Right, stupid question.” She tucked her knees underneath her and flinched at the floor’s cold, hard bite. “It seemed like the healing suppressant wore off there for a bit. Do you remember how long it had been since they last dosed you?”
He closed his eyes and inched his tongue out to worry at his split lip. “Few hours.”
The wooden door creaked open, and clipped footsteps approached the cell.
Xenia jumped up and pressed herself against the bars. Before she could say a word, Alexei passed her a folded pile of midnight blue fabric topped with a round metal tin. “Dress robes for you and a salve for his wounds.”
Xenia eyed the tin suspiciously as she lowered the pile to the floor. “Why would Maksym offer this?”
“You behave, the Windrider gets rewarded. You misbehave, he gets punished,” Alexei said, his sinister smile curdling her relief.
She curled her fingers around the rough iron and lowered her voice. “What would I have to do to convince Maksym to stop administering the healing suppressant altogether?”
Cael grunted in protest. Damn his sensitive Fae hearing.
Alexei leaned in, darting his forked tongue in and out of his mouth and nearly brushing her lips. It took all her willpower not to recoil in disgust.
