“None,” Dommik insisted. The ice in his tone could have frozen the Southern Sea. “You’re dismissed. Return to the Hive and await sentencing.”
Vaspar bowed, leveling me with a glare before vanishing from the dining room.
Dommik dropped his blade and I gasped at the darkness leering at me.
Had I traded one assailant for another?
“What were you doing up here?” Dommik growled.
“I was just—” I gestured to the painting.
“You’re not even wearing shoes!”
He strode toward me, broken glass breaking into even smaller pieces beneath his riding boots as he approached.
“I needed some air,” I sputtered before he scooped me into an effortless cradle. Curses fell from my lips. For ignoring me. For his forcefulness.
“You truly have the most colorful language,” he grumbled as we descended the stairs.
My traitorous body burned as he carried me with ease, my muscles surrendering to his hold. Dommik was a terrifyingly handsome predator. A trained, natural killer. Maybe the danger was what made him alluring.
He set me down once we’d reached the cellar, safe from the sharp edges of destroyed place settings. I bit my cheek and took a steadying breath.
“You cannot—” my open palm met his chest “—handle me like that. Ask permission.”
I needed to be doused with a bucket of cold water. I didn’t hate the way his hands felt on me. And that was dangerous.
As if my inner turmoil was written on my face, he arched a playful brow. “Let’s make a deal. I won’t touch you without your explicit permissionunlessyour life is in immediate danger. Danger doesn’t pause to ask permission and neither will I if that’s the case.”
“Deal.” I put a hand out. He reached to shake it but I stalled and emphasized, “Onlyif my life is in danger.”
Dommik nodded. “Or, you explicitly tell me to.”
“I won’t.”
A smile that sent my middle into a knot spread across his stubble. He didn’t believe me. I wasn’t sure I believed myself.
“I suppose it is a notable improvement you can carry me, or stand at all for that matter.” I folded my arms. “You’re all healed then?”
Dommik’s pointed nose scrunched as he twisted to inspect his wound. “Not entirely. But I am feeling much better. I’ll be well enough to travel tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? I raised my brows. “Does that mean…”
He sighed dramatically. “One more day in the cellar. We’ll leave at sundown. It won’t be so bad. You can read to me some more.”
A rumble of thunder shook the earth. Even if we were well enough, I’d prefer not to travel in the rain. Ididwant to know what would happen to the ill-fated lovers inThe Forest and The Flame. Not that I would tell Dommik that when he smiled at me like that—like he knew I enjoyed reading to him.
“I’ll let you have the bed tonight. It’s only fair. But let’s get youcleaned up first.” He gestured to the chairs. I kneaded my hands together as I sat. Dommik knelt before me. His crooked smile lifted but faded as he pointed to my skirts. “May I?”
Once he laid eyes on the wound and smelled the opportunity for fresh blood, would he pick up where Vasper had left off?
“Aren’t you…hungry?” I asked, unsure if I could handle knowing an honest answer.
“Yes,” he admitted through a stern exhale. “But I would never do anything you didn’t want me to do.”
My eyes lingered on his mouth, searching for evidence of his fangs.
“We can conceal them,” he answered my unasked question. “Now, may I wrap the wound on your leg?”
