Page 67 of A Fate so Cruel

Pitiful.

They were on an assignment and everything she did was just part of an act.

But gods, she did it so damn well. That was the whole problem. He was clinging to every word, every brush of her body and hands.

Rion shoved his feelings down and pushed off from the wall before stripping out of his dirty clothes. At least his reactions added to their ruse. He’d let those stay genuine. Selina was right. Having her at his side was the perfect distraction.

He could play along, perhaps even let himself believe it. Just a bit.

Rion turned on the water and let it reach near scalding temperatures. He could do this. He could pretend just as well as she did.

Chapter Eight

Rion dried off, dressed quickly, and reentered their shared room to find Selina sitting cross-legged on the floor with a map and an assortment of documents spread out before her. She clutched a mug in one hand, an enticing earthy aroma curling up from the rising steam.

She glanced up once, then returned to her documents without a word. He wondered if she’d already met with her comrades downstairs. He’d heard her leave while he was in the shower.

She wore a new set of pale pink pajamas with a large floral pattern stretching across the middle that reminded Rion of Nàdair’s spring gardens. Thank the gods she’d buttoned the shirt all the way to the top of her throat. Maybe now he could focus.

“Seàn secured the layout of the area this afternoon.” She tapped a finger on the blueprint. “But it looks like there’s a single-floor basement that isn’t on the blueprint.”

“Do you plan on searching the basement?”

“I plan to search everything, but it’s not a priority. They’ll likely have their secrets stashed somewhere obvious. A safe hidden behind a picture frame or inside of a hollowed-out book.” She shook her head. “They think themselves clever, but it’s all been done before.”

Rion leaned against the bathroom doorframe. “And how do you plan on getting in?”

“You did that part with the invite.”

“Right, but it’s not like they’re going to just let you wander the place.”

She waved a hand. “Once they’re all drunk, I’ll sneak off to the bathroom. A female has to check her makeup and all.”

“That has to be the oldest trick in the book.”

“Yet it works every time.” She batted her eyelashes and clasped her hands. “No one bothers to look twice at a pretty female who feels the powder on her nose is misplaced.”

“And if you’re caught?”

She dropped her hands and picked up her mug again. “I’m drunk myself, of course. And lost because the manor is justsobig and there are so many rooms. Oh, and an interesting painting caught my eye.”

“You’ll be alone and they’ll be drunk, as you pointed out, what happens when a male decides to take advantage?”

She scoffed as if he were being ridiculous. “Do I look defenseless to you?”

“They could have iron.”

She crinkled her nose. “Doubtful, but if that happens then it’s a good thing my big bad boyfriend will come to the rescue.”

He raised a brow. “And you just . . . trust me to have your back?”

She leveled him with a look. “Are you planning to abandon me?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Of course not, I’m just trying to figure out why you’d trust me with this instead of one of the others.”

“They’re not the ones with an invite, for one. And two, it’s your job and last I checked, you have a flawless record. I doubt your pride would allow you to fail on my account.”

Rion stared at her. Her relaxed posture. The lack of weapons or magic. Night had fallen and shadows danced along the wall as the candle flames flickered. Voices trickled up from downstairs, but the second floor was silent. They were alone.

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