Page 45 of Claimed By Stone
"I can deny you nothing, little flame," I said before pulling the tunic off over my head.
She moaned as she traced her hands up my stomach and over my pecs, then down my arms before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the center of my chest.
I was done. I would taste my sweet here and now. I claimed her mouth as my finger made gentle circles over her clit.
"Thavros," she said as she wrapped her long legs around me.
I would not fill her for the first time here on the table in my study, but my resolve was breaking. I needed to get her somewhere else soon.
Then a loud, low voice cleared his throat. “Thavros?” A low voice said that did not belong to Seraphina.
I jerked back, her dress rumpled, my shirt long gone, and both of us flushed like we’d run a damn sparring gauntlet. She scrambled to sit up straighter, smoothing her skirt back into place, while I turned toward the stairs with a low growl.
Khuldruk stood there, one brow raised and a hand still on the railing. Of course. Perfect timing.
“Really?” I snapped. “A knock would’ve been nice.”
He leaned against the doorframe like he had all the time in the world. “You are the one who decided to take her out in the open in your study.”
Seraphina ducked her head, hiding a laugh behind her hand. I glared at him, adjusting my pants as subtly as I could.
“I take it you’re not any closer to solving the mystery of her origins?” he said, pointedly eyeing the desk behind me.
“Not at the moment,” I muttered. “We were… taking a break.”
Khuldruk smirked. “So I see.”
Once Seraphina's clothes were righted, she hopped off the table and went to look at some books we'd set out on another table.
"I had some questions," Khuldruk continued. "While I do believe you were right to trust her, we still need to know how she came to be in our war room."
"I agree, we are trying."
"I've spoken with some elders to try and see if anyone remembers when the statue came to be. I sent Ragnor to check with Maluk."
I nodded. "That is wise." He was our oldest elder and a confidant of our father. If anyone would remember it, it would be him.
As we talked, I noticed Seraphina had slipped away from my side. She’d wandered to the far side of the room, where the pedestal that once held her statue still sat in the corner, half-shadowed by shelves of scrolls.
She stood perfectly still, staring down at it like it might speak to her.
“Seraphina?” I called softly.
She didn’t answer. Just ran her hand along the base of the stone. Her expression was troubled—like something inside her cracked open.
"Well, I'll leave you to it. Please send word if you know anything," Khuldruk said before clasping me on the shoulder and heading back down the stairs.
I observed Seraphina a moment longer. I didn't like the look on her face. I began to cross to her, but the moment I got close, she turned and gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Sorry,” she murmured. “Just… remembering things.”
I wanted to press. Gods, Ineededto understand what had changed. But the way her arms folded tightly across her body told me this wasn’t the moment.
We continued to work, but her heart wasn’t in it after that. As the sunset, I decided it was time to head back to our chambers, and she didn’t protest.
By the time we’d made it back to my quarters, the lightness from earlier had faded. She was quieter than usual. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, her smile didn’t reach her eyes, and she kept looking toward the window as if the shadows held answers I couldn’t give.
I fetched her tea—hibiscus and calming root, the same blend she liked. She accepted it with a quiet thank you, but even the way she sipped felt distracted.
