Page 29 of An Empress of Fire & Steel

“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked.

“Anyone who is going to be an empress of a magic coven will be talked about,” he said. “Particularly when she is betrothed to one of the most talked about and fiercest hunters to have graced the kingdom in a long time. It’s a power pairing.” Artem shot a wink towards Torin, but his face had paled, not reciprocating the banter. He blinked and looked down. Emara’s full spine recoiled.

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have?” Artem’s voice trailed off. “Okay, I have absolutely talked enough.”' He put his hands up in surrender. “I think myself and Oxhound will leave you two to talk, but you should come tonight.”

Emara let her protruding scowl fully form.

“Or not,” Artem added with a grin. “We are leaving now.”

Artem and Magin bowed out quickly, leaving them alone. It had been the elephant in the room since he had declared it at the Uplift, since he had announced his ties with her as a bargaining tool to save her. But that didn’t change the fact that it was true. She was promised to him by some ridiculous, out of date treaty. Even if she was a little grateful that he had never broached the topic, that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to make how she felt about the situation clear. She had been avoiding it, but now, as he stood in front of her, she couldn't.

“Listen,—” Torin started.

“No, you listen to me,” Emara interrupted him, feeling fire in her stomach. “I am not going to discuss this with you right now, here.” She blinked as Torin bit back a response. No one ever really interrupted Torin when he spoke. “We haven’t discussed the alliance and I want to make myself clear. There is no marriage or wedding or discussion of it in the cards yet,” she said through her teeth. “I have agreed to nothing.”

“Did you just say yet?” Taunting amusement washed over his face.

She gritted her teeth. “I said I have agreed to nothing and I will not be discussing this with you now.”

“I didn’t bring it up.” He held his hands out innocently.

True.

She shook her head, flustered. “Well maybe it was a good thing that Artem did. Because…well…well, because now you know where I stand on it.”

Torin moved closer to her, his gaze not faltering. “And where do you stand?”

“Alone,” she reiterated. “I stand alone. Not betrothed, not engaged. Alone.”

Something smouldered in his eyes; it wasn’t amusement or wicked flirtations. It was something deeper, much deeper.

“We can talk this through another time.” He paused, a muscle in his jaw tightening. “But I agree, it won’t be now.”

She lifted one brow. “Good, I am glad we agree on something.”

“I would bet that we probably agree on more things than you think.” He leaned in closer. “But only time will tell.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” she sassed him.

He laughed, looking down at her through his dark lashes. “Anything I say, you disagree with.” He laughed again. “I have never had that before. I find it…thrilling.”

Her heart quickened. “Well, you better start getting used to that kind of thrill, because it’s the only one you will be getting from me.”

“Oh, I intend on getting many of those delicious little thrills from you.” His ocean-blue eyes pinned her where she stood, sparkling like polished sapphires, zoning out everything else in the world.

“You are the most infuriating person I have ever met.” Emara’s heartbeat pounded against her ribcage.

Why in the sweet kingdom of Caledorna did her heart react like this to him?

And then it dulled, an unwanted thought hitting home.

He would certainly be having thrills tonight, probably as many as he wanted, and the mere thought of him entertaining different thrills made her stomach swish in a way she didn’t understand.

She shouldn’t feel like that. Not when she had no right to, no ties. They didn’t mean anything to each other. He was just a guard and she, an empress. Eventually, maybe an alliance for each other. But that’s all it was.

This time, it was her heart that swished.

She couldn’t stand here much longer. She needed to see the view of the city from the calming windowsill of her new bedroom. The four safe walls of her room. A bath. She needed to breathe.

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