Page 75 of Shadowlands Omega

I smile, feeling my heart patter a little faster. She talks a mile a minute. I hope that means she might be forthcoming with information and what she knows about Trash City. But I can’t ask her now. I glance at Yaron, who’s standing in the shadows against the opposite wall while Zenobia and a team of helpers enter the room. His arms are crossed and he looks like he’s about to erupt in flames himself.

“Got your meal you requested, m’Lord. Specially prepared by cooks recently arrived from the North Island. They specialize in delicacies from The Guild. I’ve got hand-filled mole rat dumplings and jeweled carrots and tejmond spiced milk bread. A little Rookery gateau for you for dessert, though I imagine you’re excited for a different kind of dessert.” She winks at him this time and I snort, trying to stifle a laugh. I glance at Yaron, expecting to see him laughing, too, but if anything, his previous rage seems to be darkening.

Madame Zenobia doesn’t seem to notice or care and tosses back her rather scraggly-looking freeform locs and tugs down her deliriously low-cut blouse. She looks between the two of us as she orders the helpers around our room carrying a large bronze tub. “Don’t you both go getting in here together now. It’ll barely fit you alone, m’Lord — yes, just fill it up halfway, Starla,” she directs one of her women. “And my floors aren’t what they used to be. You bring the establishment down, you buy it!” She wags her finger at Yaron as the helpers fill the tub up with steaming pails of water. As rapidly as they all filed in, they all file out.

Madame Zenobia hangs on the doorknob. It looks a little warped under her long fingers. “Other’n that, have a great stay at the Sea Witch Inn. I hope to be able to report ten months from now, a little Lord or Lady was brewed up here.” She titters. “And don’t worry, you can be as loud as you want to be. Only three other occupied rooms on this floor, there are. Enjoy yourselves, m’Lord and Ladyship! You’ll find two extra bottles of wine in that basket there, if you’ll be needin’ ‘em…” She’s still prattling to herself as she departs and shuts the door behind her.

“Mara said you told her there were only two rooms left at the inn,” I say as soon as she’s gone.

Yaron looks like a feast for the eyes, dangerous — but not like he’ll hurt me. “Mara is correct. There are only two rooms available in the entire inn, I’m sure of it.”

His gaze shifts down from mine, raking over my mouth, my chin, my throat, my chest, my bodice, my corset…and then lower. Yaron inhales sharply, as if he’d forgotten to breathe. He returns his gaze to mine and I realize only then thatI’mthe one not breathing.

“Hm.” I feel my weight shift into my heels and I stumble half a step back. My hand searches for the bed post and, finding it, fumbles over the rough rounded edge. I wet my lips and his gaze snags on my mouth. I still haven’t taken a breath. I feel like I’m going to get lightheaded soon. Maybe, I already am. I’m focused entirely too much on the hard cut of Yaron’s shoulders in his patchwork leather armor. He seems like he’s emitting heat, or something. Whatever it is, it’s drawing me forward, making me feel like I’m standing at the top of a slope and he’s at the bottom. There’s nowhere to go.

“I know you said you don’t feel the same way about me that you did in the forest, but I fully intend to change your mind.” Wait. What? “I know that it will take time, that a single lashing won’t change your feelings irrevocably, but I thought,” he pauses. “I sensed, perhaps incorrectly, that you were receptive and I know that I’ve made my intentions clear. I would like to remain close to you while we are beyond the castle walls, but I can also be made to see reason. If you would like more space when we return to the castle, I will leave you our chambers and return to sleeping in the throne room. However long you’d like. However long it takes. For tonight, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“Oh.” I shake my head quickly and practically gasp in my breath. My lungs, full as they are, cause my breasts to push against my corset. Yaron’s gaze drops to it momentarily before jerking back up. “Are you…is this…you don’t want…”

“Of course I fucking want…”

“Don’t curse at me,” I snap and then I smile a little shakily and frown a little more shakily. “I just…I’m sorry. I think I haven’t made myself clear with you. You perceive me indifferent, but that’s not true. When you asked me earlier, out in the market, I didn’t mean to imply that I wasn’t attracted to you. What I meant was that I don’t feel like I did out in the woods — out of control. That was my first heat.

“I’d never had a heat before and it was intense. Good, but also scary. I couldn’t have stopped myself from presenting for anyone, I don’t think. Out in the market, I meant that I don’t feel a heat coming on. That’s all. What I told you yesterday in the carriage was what’s true. I…you…it’s whatever you want, Lord Yaron. I feel…stronglyfor you. That’s…”

Yaron’s expression has grown hooded and so severe as to be bloodcurdling, but other than that, he hasn’t reacted at all. The only change is that heat, that pulse, that scent that he carries with him always… It’s gotten stronger.

“But…”

“But?”

“I…you’ve been a little erratic today. First, jumped away from me on the horse when I even dared suggest we date.”

“Of course I did,” Yaron all but snaps, making me feel hot in the face. And then he drops his axe — his metaphorical one, anyway. “How could I have ever thought I, a humble lord, would be in a position to dateyou?The thought overwhelmed me.”

“O-overwhelmed, my Lord?”

“Overwhelmed,” he answers just as hesitantly. He doesn’t speak for a moment, then blurts all at once, “The thought of dating you did things to me here.” He touches the center of his chest. “Explosive, terrible, tremendous things. Because I want to devour you. And as I’ve already said, I’m not a male who gets to date. So, to go on a date with you, it…” His voice catches and I all but burst into flames. “Yes. It overwhelmed me.”

Oh my heart. My fluttering heart.My lips are slack and part lamely as I stare at him, stunned.

Yaron changes the subject, clearly uncomfortable. “What else?”

“Wh-what?”

“You said I was erratic and then mentioned the horse firstly. Was there another instance?”

The flame in my burning cheeks fans down my neck and over the top of my head. My jaw works. “I…I just…it’s nothing. Stupid.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“I just…when you disappeared with Zanele in her stall in the market…” I feel like an idiot as I say, “She’s…very beautiful.”

Yaron suddenly falls perilously still. His limbs all lock and his eyes widen before closing entirely. “You were jealous?”

“I’m sorry, Yaron.” My voice shakes. “Have I insulted you?”

He shakes his head once, more of a spasm than a real acknowledgement.

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