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And me.
How could he continue convincing Kolis of his loyalty if he attempted to stop the false King from taking me? Hell, how was Nyktos successful this entire time? I knew Nektas said it was duty, but my gods…even I couldn’t have done that.
My gaze drifted to the silver-adorned door that adjoined our bedchambers, and I thought about that kiss.
He is how you wish him to be.
“I don’t even know him,” I whispered as the embers in my chest warmed—
I yelped, jerking upright as the door suddenly swung open. The book flopped onto the floor with a heavy thump as Nyktos strode in as if he had every right to do so.
“Did you even think about knocking first?” I exclaimed.
“No.”
“You should have.” I pressed my palm to my thundering heart. “I could’ve been busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Many things,” I muttered. “Use your imagination.”
Nyktos stopped, his jaw tightening. “Not sure if using my imagination would be wise.”
“I suppose not.” I bent, picking up the book. When I glanced over at him, I saw that he’d quietly moved closer and was checking out the plates. “I ate all my di
His cool, silver gaze flickered from the dining table to me.
“Did you need something?”
“I only need one thing at the moment. Sleep.”
“Okay.” I opened the book and pretended to read. “Thank you for sharing.”
“Arm’s reach, Sera.”
Slowly, I looked up at him. “Seriously?”
“Does it look like I’m joking?”
“Even with the lock on the balcony door? It worked just fine last night.”
“I’m sure, given enough time, you will have figured out how to pick that lock.”
“I’m sure that if I wanted to pick that lock, I would’ve already done so,” I snapped. “I’m not going to try to escape, Nyktos. What would be the point now?”
His features showed nothing, but his words…they said a lot. “You promised me you wouldn’t go after Kolis again. I want to believe that, but what I want ca
My heart lurched as I stared up at him. A messy knot of emotion worked its way out from that crack. Words bubbled up. “I don’t want to.”
“I know.” His eyes lightened to a softer shade of gray, even as his chest rose with a deep breath. “Come to bed, Sera.”
I wasn’t even sure why I was fighting him on this. I liked sleeping in his bed. With him. Even when he irritated me.
That should concern me.
And it did, but all I could do was add that to the absurdly long list of things that worried me.
Rising, I went into the bathing chamber first to prepare for bed. When I cleaned my teeth and spat paste into the basin, traces of pink swirled through the foam. My gums had bled a little. My stomach tumbled as I quickly wiped at my mouth and then left the bathing chamber, following Nyktos through the dark, narrow passageway. I stopped near the bed, my mind traveling to the deal I’d offered him before Attes arrived. Gods, I’d forgotten about that.
Nyktos brushed past me. “At least you don’t have breeches and boots that need to be taken off tonight,” he said.
“I think you would prefer that once you see what’s under the robe.” Inexplicably nervous, I reached for the sash.
He turned to me, the light of the sconces glancing off the slope of his cheekbones. “Please tell me you’re not nude under there.”
Well, I supposed that indicated he had no intention of making that deal with me. “Are you worried you’ll be unable to control your body’s reaction again?”
“I live in constant fear of that,” he murmured, his gaze locking on me.
A tiny part of me actually believed that. “I’m not nude. Not really.”
“Not really?”
I undid the robe, letting it slip down my arms. Nyktos was now the one to go utterly still at the sight of the thin, nearly transparent nightgown.
His lips parted, revealing a hint of fangs. “That’s what you normally wear to bed?” he asked roughly.
“Believe it or not, this is the most demure of the nightgowns Aios brought me.” My cheeks warmed as he watched me drape the robe over the foot of the bed.
“Good Fates,” he muttered, stiff for a moment, and then he came toward me, each step slow and measured. A sweet thrill of anticipation darted through me as I tipped my head back to look up at him.
Only a thin slit of glowing silver was visible behind his thick lashes as he slipped his fingers under the satiny strap. The backs of his cool knuckles dragged along my skin as he drew the strap up my arm. He lingered for several moments, barely touching me, but I felt the featherlight press of his skin in every part of my body. He slipped his fingers out from under the strap. “May I?”
I didn’t know at first what he was asking permission for, but I realized he was once more staring at my braid lying over my shoulder. “You…you can.”
Nyktos moved his hand then. He didn’t pick up the braid or tug on it. Just below my shoulder, he curled his forefinger and thumb around the braid. I held still as he drew his fingertip down its length, grazing the curve of my breast. I shivered.
“Did I tell you”—he continued ru
“Yes.”
“It’s beautiful,” he said, nearing the tie holding the strands together. He carefully tugged the band free as he had before. Slipping it onto his wrist, he gently unwound the braid, letting the mass of waves and curls fall over my shoulders. “I’ll be right back.”
I stood there, my heart thumping as he went into the bathing chamber, closing the door behind him. I didn’t move as I heard water splash, my skin still tingling with the imprint of his touch. Finally, I forced myself to move. I went to the side of the bed I’d slept on the other night and climbed in, pulling the soft blanket up my legs as I eased onto my side, facing my bedchamber. A citrus and fresh-air scent immediately surrounded me.
I heard the door open, but I didn’t turn as he went to the wardrobe. I wanted to because I knew that he was undressing, but I figured there was no point in torturing myself further.
The bed shifted as he joined me, and then darkness swallowed the chamber. “You know,” I said, “you could’ve just waited for me to go to sleep and then snuck into my bed again.”
“I could’ve,” he agreed. “But then what would I have found upon entering your chamber once you went to bed?”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like I do that every night.”
“Well, I find that news slightly disappointing.”
My brows lifted. I started to roll onto my back, but he spoke. He stopped me with two words. “I’m sorry.”
I stilled. “For what?”
“For earlier today,” he said after a moment. “When I suggested that your motivation for answering the summons was so you could get to Kolis. I should’ve known that wasn’t what drove you—at least not the main reason. You said that you wouldn’t go through with my plan if removing the embers resulted in others getting hurt.”
I wasn’t sure if he needed to apologize for that. If I were him, I would’ve assumed the same thing. But he had been wrong. Getting to Kolis hadn’t been the main reason, even though it should’ve been. “Thank you,” I murmured, returning my stare to the dark wall. “Does that mean you’re not going to try to leave me behind when he summons us?”
“I won’t. Not because it’s what I want, but because it’s what you want.”
I exhaled raggedly, wanting to thank him again but knowing that thanking him for this wouldn’t be appreciated.
Silence fell between us, and it went on for so long that I thought Nyktos had fallen asleep, but then he spoke again. “Why do you hold your breath so often?”
My eyes flew open. “What?”