“To the scourge of the Temple, Damia Rhymis,” he announces dramatically. I don’t suppress my smile in time, swigging the burning liquor and shaking my head.
When he lowers his glass, he wanders around to his desk, examining the papers on it, occasionally tutting at some mess the clerics have made. He looks completely at home—the lord of his manor. The sight fills me with a strange mixture of pride and sadness.
“You must be happy, now you’ve gotten what you wanted,” I say.
He meets my gaze. “Not everything I wanted.”
He doesn’t say it with a wink and a smile. There’s something more emotional on his face—vulnerable even. I can’t work out if I want to run far away from that vulnerability or headfirst toward it.
“Corrin…”
“You know, every time you say my name, a thrill runs through me?” he says, moving around the desk to step closer toward me. “Every time you look my way, I’m like an excited child, so pleased to get your attention.”
“I doubt that,” I say, my pulse quickening as he gets nearer. “Half the time I’m glaring at you.”
“I don’t mind. Because you’re being yourself. Unapologetically, perfectly,you. Except when you keep turning your back on this,”he gestures between us. “That’s when you’re not being true to yourself.”
I scoff, shaking my head. “You don’t know what’s in my heart.”
“And no one will, if you never let them in. But a few high walls aren’t going to put me off, Damia,” he grins. “I’m a good climber.”
I stare at him, not understanding why he keeps fighting for this—for me. Why does he care so much? Why doI, for that matter? Why, when I watched him fall in Qimorna and I thought he might be dead, did my whole world feel like it was tilting? What hold does this quick-witted, roguish human have on me?
Thewhys keep piling up, but all it takes is one, soft touch from Corrin—a hand cradling my face—and I shove them all aside.
I pull Corrin to me, kissing him so thoroughly we’re both left breathless, our foreheads resting together. My hand roams southward, pulling on his belt so that we’re pressed close, our bodies both responding. Corrin’s eyes briefly close, and he makes a low, delighted sound.
“Are we going to do this and then not talk about it again for two weeks?” he asks. “Just so I know how to plan my time.”
“No,” I say, flushing a little as his eyes open to look at me again. Does he always have to bring up how bad I am at this? Not the sex, obviously—I’m fantastic at that—but knowing how to navigate these inconvenient emotions I keep having.
“I’m…” I look for the words, but they don’t come. “I…ugh…just shut up and take off your clothes, will you?”
He laughs at that and kisses me again.
In the end, I take Corrin’s clothes off for him, which he enjoys immensely, after which he makes sure to return the favor. We explore each other for hours until, both exhausted by the day, we collapse together on one of the office couches, dozing as the afternoon stretches on.
When I wake, I see through the window that the sun is sitting low in the sky; it’s almost time to be at my post. I slip my clothes back on and head out into the corridor, scooping up Barb from the abandoned shoe she’s made herself cozy in.
Ssss…the nicccce human issss your mate now…yesss?
I sigh, shaking my head and wondering once again how Corrin’s managed to charm her. I suppose I should be asking myself the same thing. I want so badly for this to not have been a mistake, because I know it will cost me greatly to walk away from it. But I also understand what this city means to Corrin. He’s just clawed an important part of it back—can I really expect him to abandon it to focus on the bigger picture? I’m still not sure that’s who he is.
It’s complicated,I reply to the snake.
She hisses unhappily. She’s often frustrated by people and their strange ways.
I exit the gambling den and head toward Yard Road. My coded message to Sophos told him I would be there at sunset every evening until I received his response. Of course, I don’t just stand out on the corner like a sitting duck; I climb up onto the roofs of the street, settling down on top of the healer’s place I visited with the princess and the captain what feels like years ago.
I crouch there on my perch, watching the shadows lengthen as the hot sun starts to sink below the horizon. My muscles tense with interest when a black shape comes toward me, winging across the air currents with swift grace.
A large crow lands on the roof beside me, surveying me with its dark, shining eyes. There’s a tight scroll of parchment tied around its leg, and I move slowly forward so as not to startle the animal. It ruffles its black feathers a few times but permits me to remove the scrap of parchment.
Barb hisses unhappily, burying herself deeper into my shirt. She doesn’t like big birds. They make her nervous.
As the crow tilts its head and flaps its wings, taking off, I notice the shadows out of the corner of my eye shift. For once, I don’t grab for my blade or jump.
“What does it say?” Corrin asks, stepping out from the shadows. He obviously dressed in a hurry, wearing only a loose white shirt hanging untucked over black pants. His dark hair curls about his face in a slight wave. On balance he might just be the handsomest thing I’ve ever seen. It makes my chest ache.
