Page 42 of Shadows of the Crown

I expect a fight, but she only nods and chews on her lip. Not even a bratty rebuttal? Why does it bother me so much to see her look so…sad? I suspect she’s not aware of how vulnerable she appears.

“I need to know what happened,” I blurt, my disloyal mind too desperate for an answer. Her eyes meet mine, lacking their usual hardness. She mercifully decides to explain the events and—by the Angel—I didn’t think it was possible to be more attracted to someone.

I cringe at my internal distractions.

“Wait—” She pauses with her mouth open. “Seven men?” Her lip curls, and she blinks at me as if I just said the most daft thing she’s ever heard. “How in the Aether did you best seven men…amidst being poisoned, no less?”

There she is.

Her features sharpen and she appears as though she’s contemplating my death, unable to decide which method would be most efficient. I smile as I lean on a hand and wait.

“Okay,” she states, shaking her head—I may be a little disappointed that she doesn’t follow through. “It was your father’s men that attacked me. Sentries.” I wish I could claim that information surprised me…

“I suspected.”

“And I don’t fucking care if—” she halts, her eyes snapping to me as her brows furrow deeply. “You believe me?” Why wouldn’t I? She has no reason to lie.

“Of course I do,” I echo my thoughts, warring with my need to ensure he cannot attack her again, and upholding the duty I have to this family—regardless of their transgressions. “I will make sense of this.”

“Fabulous,” she mutters, swinging her legs off the bed to stand. Her hand darts to the mattress to steady herself when she rises, and I tense, prepared to aid her. Her face scrunches before she straightens and taps a finger on her barely exposed thigh. I’ll need to obtain smaller shirts…that is far too long on her. “I’m leaving.”

She spins and saunters to the door, looking exactly how I imagined she would leaving my bed. I manage to swallow the groan that appears in my throat.

“Wait—” She pauses, peering over her shoulder. “Wearing just that?” Her eyes trail down until she focuses on the minimally buttoned shirt.

Perhaps it’s not long enough…

“Would you like it back before I leave?” Her tone is tantalizing as she reaches a hand up to playfully unlatch the highest button. I clear my throat, rubbing a hand over my heated neck.

“No,” I blurt too quickly. Fuck, I really am pathetic… “I have bottoms you can wear—if you’d like.”

She smirks, humming as she takes agonizingly slow, deliberate steps toward me. “I’m fine. Though I wouldn’t wish to be caught stealing from the prince…” she trails off, another button popping open. If she undoes the final two, the Angel will have an unexpected visitor today.

“You can keep it.” Please give it back.

“Are you sure?” she taunts lightly. One button left…the sound of my thudding heart nearly vibrates my entire body. She reaches the bed, lifting a knee to it.

This annoyingly irresistible woman holds my gaze, a mischievous glimmer filling her eyes. She pushes forward until she’s sitting on her bent leg, while the other remains to the floor…just a fucking breath from my reach. The dryness in my mouth assaults my senses as I struggle to speak—or move.

“I’m sure.” An utter lie.

Her answering smile confirms that she caught that slip of truth. I jolt when her heated fingers graze my cheek, my eyes flitting to hers. “You don’t sound so sure…” I’m certain the evidence of her effect on me is filling the space between us, though I do not dare look away from her scrutinizing gaze. She barely leans forward, her lips a moment from mine.

This must be what it feels like to meet the Angel.

“Do I make you nervous, Caspian?” Her alluring whisper coils around my dick—it’s too difficult to breathe.

“Yes, though not because of any reason you’re used to.” A shadow passes through her eyes before her head tilts.

“Why? I could snap your neck before your next breath.”

“That’s exactly why…youcould, but you haven’t. Yet. And why isthat, angel?” My fingers reach to twirl a piece of hair that hangs between us. “I think I make you just as nervous. You’re unsure of how to handle the truth that I wish tobathein every depraved part of you—or the extent in which I seek out your blade as I do my next breath.

“I’m an anomaly to you…but I think you like that, Ariella—don’t you? You secretly relish how I’ve seeneverypart of you, and instead of deterring me, it makes me want you more.”

Her breath no longer warms my skin as we examine each other. The anticipation between our bodies nearly breaks me, but she sits back before I have the courage to push this further.

She peers down at the one button still holding the shirt together and smiles playfully. “Actually, I think I’ll keep this.” She makes for the door again, grabbing her boots and torn clothes from a chair before turning the handle.

---