Page 28 of Ecliptic

“Under any other circumstances, my mouth would be wrapped around your cock with talk like that,” I said as my inner walls clenched around nothing.

“Your mouth will be the death of me,” he groaned, adjusting himself in his pants. “How will we keep our hands and minds occupied today?”

I was forbidden from seeing the prisoner, but the mystery ofhis identity kept me up all night, and here I was, counting berries at breakfast. It was ridiculous! I had much bigger things to focus on.

“I have an idea,” I said, tucking my legs beneath me and facing Rowen.

“Uh-oh. You have that look in your eye,” he said, mirroring my excitement.

“Takoda and Nepta said I couldn’t visit the prisoner. Not that I couldn’t just happen to walk by and see who it is. They never said I couldn’tlookat him.”

“Remind me to be on my guard with my wording around you,” he said, pocketing the whetstone. “I love your cunning mind.”

I grinned. “I love your willingness to join me in my schemes.”

“Always,” Rowen replied as he holstered his ax. “I have been forbidden from speaking with the prisoner as well. I haven’t even tried. When Nepta took me in, I swore to abide by the laws of the land. But it seems you have found a loophole.”

“I’m going to enjoy corrupting you,” I replied, hiking up my skirt to stand.

Rowen eyed the slip of my leg and groaned, his eyes dancing with heat. “Spirits, I can’t wait to get my hands on you. I’d like to explore the full scope of your corruption.”

My soul flame led me to the prison, guiding me to the far back corner of the village. My pulse was in my ears, and my tongue was thick in my mouth. The suspense was agonizing.

I held my breath as we rounded the corner, but instead of coming face-to-face with the intruder, we were met by two armed warriors.

We halted in our tracks.

“What brings you?” asked the warrior with the long, tight braids.

Damn. I should have known there would be security. They stood beside a white stone wall, which I assumed was part of the cell.

“It’s a nice day for a walk,” Rowen said casually as if our presence was a mere coincidence.

“Well, keep walking,” said the warrior with a pixie cut. I immediately recognized her from when I’d seen her spare with Dyani. If she was close to Demil’s twin, then she most likely hated me.

“She is forbidden from seeing the prisoner,” the first guard said, his fist tightening on his spear. “As Minroe said, keep walking.”

“Best be going on your way now,” Minroe agreed as she motioned to the path with the tip of her blade. “And don’t get any ideas about night walks. The guards switch out at sunset.”

“Sorry to have bothered you,” I said, knowing I wouldn’t be able to return later tonight. Nepta had ordered twenty-four-hour surveillance on this guy.

Who was this prisoner? And why was Nepta so afraid of him?

I chewed on my thumbnail. Whoever this dangerous interloper was, he had stopped me from killing Rowen. But why? Why would he care about me and my soul flame?

He also wielded a power similar to mine and used it against me. The prisoner was able to catch me when I fell and held me until he was detained.

“What if he’s an ally?” I asked as we continued our walk. “Someone wanting to help us defeat Erovos.”

Rowen stroked his stubble in contemplation. “Why not just say that and share his intentions? By not doing so, he’s earnedthe ire of the whole village. Wouldn’t it be better to be honest?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Because he refused to communicate, I was forbidden from seeing him at all.

There was no way I could let this mystery persist. “We’ll just have to find another way.”

I was sprawled in the dirt of the Crystal Crypts, the mica twinkling above me like the night sky. I must have blacked out from another of Caeryn’s beatings. Blood streamed down my face and clouded my vision. I raised my pounding head, knowing who sat upon the throne, watching with glee. I shot the false queen a seething stare, but she wasn’t alone. Erovos stood beside her, his darkness thick and billowing around a pair of flaming orange eyes.

Indrasyl, the Sylvan Mother Tree, grew proud and strong behind me, magnificent in her healthy form. Her leaves shimmered in hues of gold, pink, and green, and reflected on my skin like an iridescent canopy.

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