Page 116 of The Sins of Silas

“She's out of it too, I'd imagine, if Silas is. I haven't seen her yet, though.”

“How areyou?”

He snorted, reddened eyes finding mine. His smile fell. “High as a kite. Like a pathetic piece of shit.”

I pulled him into a hug, and he returned the gesture, holding me tight. Merrick didn't hug much, but he always hugged me. “Shut up. You aren't a piece of shit.”

He was silent for many moments. “I am, Lena. My sister is the one actually suffering, and I can't even handle it filtered through me. I had to numb it. I'm weak.”

I leaned back, eyeing the wrapped herb lying on the ground beside him. “If you're weak, then so am I,” I responded, picking his joint off the ground and lighting it with my index finger.

I didn't like using substances usually. I craved control—needed it. But honestly, after my interaction with Silas, I could use a bit of numbing, too. So, I inhaled the smoke and let its effects wash over me.

“What?” I hissed quietly two hours later. “I am not getting salt all in our tent.”

“Then put it on the outside,” Roland offered, leaning back on his elbows, shirtless, with his appealing physique tempting me. The little mage lights in our tent accentuatedevery ripple of muscle in Roland's body.

He told me he wanted to fuck me—hard—and urged that I soundproof our tent so he could do so.

“Right. I may as well put up a sign saying, ‘Do not disturb. Lena and Roland are screwing in this tent.’”

His sexy grin grew. “I'm sure they already assume that,” he purred, leaning up and kissing my neck softly.

My eyes fluttered closed, and I leaned my head back on his shoulder as he sucked on my skin.

“Mmm…that's true…”

Roland's dark chuckle spread goosebumps across my skin. “Come on, Ginger Snap,” he pleaded. “I'm desperate.”

Nearly an hour later, I was lying on Roland's sweaty chest, catching my breath after he made true to his promise.

“Hope that spell worked,” Roland teased. “I think that's the hardest I've made you scream.”

I pinched his side, and he slapped my ass.

I grinned, leaning up to look at him. “Tell me more about yourself, Roland.”

His eyes danced downward to me. “What do you want to know?”

I quirked my mouth to the side, tapping my lips as I thought about it. “You got any family?”

“I do. Mom and Dad, and four sisters.” His fingers drifted up and down my back.

“Four?!”

He laughed. “I know, I know.Our household was always full of drama.” He smiled to himself as he reminisced. “I'm the middle child. Two big sisters, two younger ones.”

I gently caressed his torso. “Do you miss them?”

His smile slipped, and his eyes returned to mine. “Terribly. It had already been a few months since I saw them by the time we got to Ames.” He sighed, sucking in his bottom lip. “I'm sure they've been notified of my betrayal by now. I can only hope they'll understand.” He rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “My mother is probably worried sick.”

“You seemed to join this cause easily…did you have any doubts?”

“No. I've never liked the King, and I believe in Silas. I believe he'll be a far better leader.”

Roland was looking up now, away from me, brows drawn together. The muscle in his jaw was ticking.

“I feel there's something you're not telling me, Roland.” I felt him tense slightly, which was proof enough that there was something he was hiding. I leaned up on my elbow. “What happened between you two?”

---