“I just wanted to see how you’re doing. I sent word to your father that we’ve… reconciled. I’m hoping his response will be positive.”
This makes me perk up. If he gets permission from my father to bring me home soon, that would be incredible. I just have to keep pretending a little longer…
“Thank you,” I say.
He dips his chin.
“What has kept you so busy over there these last few days?” I ask.
“Oh. A large batch of newer soldiers were sent here for training. It’s been a nightmare getting them all organized.” I hadn’t even noticed the influx of bodies over there.
“Why aren’t they training back in Ellyar?”
He hesitates, and then he tries to hide it.
“We’re growing a little, that’s all. Plus, being here puts them in a more focused environment, away from home.”
Interesting. He’s absolutely hiding things from me.
I stand, approaching him slowly. Knowing that I have to pretend to like him to get anything useful out of him is infuriating, but this is the unpleasant path I’ve chosen.
“Is that really all?” I ask innocently.
He grabs my wrists gently and pulls me the rest of the way to him, then looks down at me with an unreadable expression. “Yes.”
“Okay.”
He reaches out his hand, cupping my cheek as he stares into my eyes.
I’d rather face the complete darkness of a night in the wild than this. I hate him.
When I don’t pull away, he begins to lean in. He’s moving painstakingly slow as I breathe in his putrid tree scent, and suddenly Meela flashes through my mind. Not in the sad way. This feels as if I’ve channeled her ruthless spirit, giving me the gumption to trick this fucker. I lean into that feeling as his lips meet mine, as I grab his hair, and as my other arm folds around his shoulders.
He takes this as an invitation to kiss me harder, to pull my waist, pressing me flush against him. His breathing becomes heavier as his hand travels dangerously close to my ass, and I don’t stop it.
I’m not sure what my plan is here, but I’ll let him think I enjoy this for just a little longer. Once again thinking about how sweet it will be when I can reveal that I was faking it all along helps get me through it. I hope it crushes him.
Just as he spins us around, leans me against the bed, and I begin to worry how far he’ll try to take this, the sound of the door bursting open stops us both, and I whip my head toward it.
My heart drops and the whole room blurs out of focus as I stare at the doorway, focusing on the one person standing in the doorframe.
Chapter 51
Everyone in the room is frozen, as is my heart, my breathing, my mind, and my body.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Adrian says from somewhere beside me. He sounds so far away.
My eyes are still locked on the doorway in disbelief as he stares back at me. He finally shifts his gaze to Adrian, holding his sword higher in a very clear threat.
“We came to rescue her, obviously.” It’s not him that speaks, but Rhydra. I almost let out a sob as the red-haired warrior steps into view.
“She doesn’t need rescuing. Clearly,” Adrian retorts.
Daegan shifts his gaze to me.
Daegan Vaelor.
He’s here. It’s not some lucid dream. He’s really come to rescue me.
