Page 119 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

“No idea. I’ve never met another Ashara.” She ran a finger along the underside of his jaw. “Want me to try to control you so you can see what happens?”

“Absolutely not.”

She chuckled. “I didn’t think so.”

She shivered as a draft blew through the room. Vaara pulled the blanket up over her shoulders. She smiled at him. The look sent a jolt of heat straight between his legs. His cock was already half hard again. Her eyes and lips captured his gaze, and he couldn’t look away.

She didn’t even need empathy to control him, did she?

“Why didn’t you tell me you were bound?” he asked quietly.

He felt her stiffen. “Would it have made any difference?”

He had to admit that it wouldn’t have, when they’d first met. He’d still have wanted to go home more than he’d have wanted to help a stranger.

“You weren’t interested in helping me. I didn’t think telling you why I was so desperate for help would fix that. You would only have thought me a hypocrite.”

“I wish you’d told me anyway.”

“Well. Now you know.” She laid her head on his chest and scowled at the wall.

She was ashamed of having been a captive. The same way he was.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“For what?”

“For trying to leave you,” he said quietly. He wrapped his arms a little more securely around her, holding her against him. “I didn’t know.” He hadn’t known about her binding. He hadn’t knownher. He hadn’t known how important she was.

I thought you might be dead by the time I got here,he thought to her.

You know Patros wouldn’t kill me.

I do. But it didn’t keep me from worrying.

He got only a distinct feeling of warmth in response.

“What will you do now?” he asked.

She laughed uncertainly. “I… I have no idea. I hadn’t thought that far into the future. I didn’t really think I’d ever get this far. What about you?”

“Alexei.”

She lifted her head a little. “You want to kill him?”

“Yes.”

“And how do you intend to do that? You don’t know where he is. You have no way of getting past all his guards and his dogs.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

She propped herself up on her elbows, looking at him intensely. “Let me help you.”

“I don’t think you know what you’re saying.” Going after Alexei was likely a suicide mission. Vaara would do whatever it took to kill him, even if it meant making… sacrifices. But he was not willing to sacrifice Crow for his ends.

“I know exactly what I’m saying. If you’re going to do this, I’m not going to let you do it alone.”

“You’re drunk on victory.”

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