Page 105 of Prisoner of Darkness and Dreams
I leave the smuggler complaining as I abandon him to follow Damia.
She hears me, of course, glancing over her shoulder and shaking her head when I step out into the narrow corridor down to the ship’s kitchen. Again, I see the hint of a smile on her lips, inviting me closer.
“Can I help you?” she asks.
“I’m quite thirsty myself, as it happens.”
She tuts but doesn’t say anything else as I fall into step beside her. We naturally brush up against each other in the cramped space, and the heat dances from her skin to mine, calling to me.
“You know,” I say, “I think I’ve finally worked out the one thing you’re bad at,” I say.
She laughs. “You mean aside from assassinating would-be queens?”
“That was just badluck,” I say. “But no. You’re a terrible bluff.”
“I am not!” she protests.
“Oh, but you are. I could tell exactly how bad a hand you had the moment you picked it up.” I angle myself so she has to slow her steps too. “Just like I can tell that you enjoyed that kiss we shared far more than you expected to. And you still think about it.”
I lean toward her, and she takes a step closer, her lips parting slightly. Her scent fills the air, and I hold her gaze as I take in a deep breath, inhaling her.
She’s the one who closes the gap, crushing her lips against mine. It’s as delicious as the first time, only better, because this time there’s no farce, norole to play. It’s her real desire I feel as she presses her lean, taut body against mine.
My hand goes to her hair, tugging it down from the tight knot she’s twisted it into, so it cascades downward. I run my fingers through it, marveling at how soft it is, burying my hand deeper until I’m cradling the back of her head.
Our kiss is a fight for control, tongues clashing as we try to claim each other, but I know I’ll win. She might have more experience, but I have more tricks up my sleeve. With a deft movement, I spin her around and back her into a dark corner behind a post, pulling my shadows around us until we’re concealed in darkness together.
Now all she can do isfeel—my hand running up her thigh, the stroke of my fingers at the nape of her neck. I press the hardness of my arousal against her just as I lower my lips to the delicate spot of skin on her neck just below her ear.
She releases a moan so beautiful I think I might have died and gone to the Eternal Realm. I immediately make a mental note of that spot, vowing to worship it a thousand times more.
Except as soon as she makes the noise, her entire body goes stiff, and she draws back.
“Corrin, turn on the lights,” she says, her voice hard. I release my shadows. Once there’s enough light to show her expression, I see that she’s angry. Her mouth is swollen from my kisses—ourkisses—but it’s drawn into an unhappy line, and her eyes are cold.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, bewildered by the sudden change.
“Thisis wrong,” she says, straightening and sidestepping me.
I stare at her. Her cheeks are still flushed, her breathing not quite returned to normal, and yet she’s sweeping her hair back up into its tight knot, her eyes refusing to meet mine.
“I’m sorry if I misread—” I begin to say, but she interrupts me.
“Just leave it, Corrin,” she bites out. She sounds more angry with herself than me. “We shouldn’t be messing around like this. We should be focusing on the mission.”
I search her face for some clue, trying to comprehend the sudden shift in her attitude. And then it dawns on me. I know she took our unsuccessful trip to Elmere hard, but I hadn’t expected it to affect her this badly. Maybe I should have, though. She feels she failed her captain, and herself. She’s a soldier, and she doesn’t take these things lightly. Still…
“There’s no point beating yourself up about the past,” I say gently. “And there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy yourself in the present, whether there’s a mission ahead of us or not.Especiallywhen there’s a mission ahead of us. I mean?—”
“Stop it,” she snaps. “I don’t want to hear it, Wadestaff.” She pulls her tunic straight, squaring her shoulders. “It’s not something I expect a man like you to understand.” Then she turns and stalks away into the belly of the boat, leaving me alone with my shadows.
Chapter 34
Morgana
Ipeek between the sashes of the carriage window, watching the neat, too-clean streets of Qimorna slip by. I didn’t get to see much of the actual city the last time I was here, but viewing it now is not like I expected. I’d worried that being back here would frighten me, but instead it just feels strange, seeing people going about their business, oblivious to the horrors that lie up at the high temple.
I try to catch a glimpse of Leon, Alastor, and Esther riding up ahead with some of the rebels, but they’re too far away. Instead, I sit back, facing Damia and Corrin opposite me. I give the pair of them tense nods as Lafia pores over the map in her lap.
