Page 89 of A Fate so Cruel

“Sure I can. What’s the point of money if I don’t spend it?”

“Do all these extras come from your personal funds or the crown’s?”

“Does it matter?”

He shrugged. “Just trying to figure out how to write up the reports when we get back. I can’t imagine the treasurer being happy with you listing bribery for fresh blankets as a necessary expense.” In fact, he was pretty sure the male would blow his top.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but my family is very well off. I’m more than capable of paying for my own things.”

“I thought the earrings were a gift from your uncle?”

“They are. He manages the family funds. My father owned a bunch of land before his passing and my mother didn’t want the headache of it all. We sold several properties and have enough finances for the next few generations to live in luxury.”

“Why sign up to be a warrior then?”

She gave him an incredulous look. “Can you imagine me playing the piano and attending fancy brunches with the other ladies of the court?” No, he couldn’t. Not unless she carried a hidden knife in her belt meant for sinister things.

“I imagine they’d have quite the time with you.”

She popped a piece of the tart into her mouth. “Don’t act as if you don’t enjoy the finery Mr. I’m-the-son-of-a-High-Lord.”

“Fair point.” Alec hadn’t banned him from using the family vault. He supposed he should be grateful for that at least.

Selina tore the sheets from the bed, doing her best to avoid the stains, remade it, then plopped down on the rickety mattress. She fluffed the pillows and sighed in relief. “So much better than the ground.”

Rion snorted, then fanned out his set of blankets close to the fireplace. She tilted her head to watch him. He tried to ignore her but caught her gaze and stilled.

She was reclined back on the bed, her legs dangling over the side. Her bronze hair had fallen so that part of it covered her throat while the rest splayed out above her head.

Selina’s throat bobbed and he thought he heard her heart skip when his heated gaze traveled down her body. Rion imagined touching her again. Imagined the feel of her soft curves against his hard body as he coaxed sensual sounds from her perfect mouth.

She cleared her throat and sat up. “You should probably rest first, with the injury and all.” He didn’t look away. Rion waited instead. For the invitation. For her to make a move. He just needed one indication. Just one and he’d be across the room faster than she could blink. “You can have the bed.”

His voice was husky as he said, “I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“There’s no reason for you to. We won’t be sleeping at the same time anyway.” She stood, made a show of brushing off her clothes even though there wasn’t anything on them, then walked around the bed toward the fire. “Best to take advantage while you can.”

Look at me.

She didn’t and after another moment, Rion crossed the room and fell onto the mattress, trying his best to wrestle his instincts into submission.

He failed miserably.

Sleep came faster than he expected, but he was plagued with shadows from his past. Demons that hunted in the recesses of his mind. Creatures and beasts and beings that prowled through the darkness, tugging at every vulnerable corner in his subconscious.

A presence hovered nearby. Too close. Too real. The monsters . . . A hand pressed against his chest and he gripped the slender wrist before twisting and flipping the individual over and pinning them with his hips.

His magic whipped out and danced around the Fae beneath him, grazing against their skin, daring them to move. His hand gripped their throat, but he didn’t remember putting it there. He held, but didn’t squeeze, as if he knew—

Wide amber eyes stared back. She didn’t move. Didn’t fight. His panicked gaze scanned her hands, searching for the weapon—

Nothing. He looked over the mattress. Nothing there either. No blade. No poison.

Rion met her gaze again then sat back on his knees and ran one hand over his face, trying to steady his ragged breathing. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t sit up right away, as if afraid the movement might set him off again. “You were having a nightmare.”

Rion didn’t meet her gaze. He blew out a breath instead. He’d almost snapped her neck. “It was nothing. I’m fine.” But his voice shook.

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