Page 117 of A Kingdom of Shadows

Steam billows out from the vast golden tub in my bath chambers. I watch Darius swirl his finger along the water, the tip of it igniting in bright light as he keeps the bath warm.

I roll my eyes and grin as I tip my head against his chest and look at him. Sunlight spills from the obscured windows to his left, shining on the right side of his face. "Must you always show off?"

His hand is draped across my middle. Humor laces his voice. "Does it impress you?"

I shoot him a superior smile. "Nothing does."

"You've come to be quite the liar."

"And you just won't ever keep your mouth shut."

He hums sensually, smiling with contentment as I sit up and turn. "If you like, I will keep my mouth shut and open it only when you find your designated seat, Goldie."

"How tempting." I grin, throwing my arms around his neck. I am so small compared to his muscular physique in this bathtub as I position myself atop him, and he releases a pleasured groan. His hands brace upon my waist, and he has the perfect eye view of my breasts. "Although I think I'm lost, care to help me find my seat?"

He laughs, and our noses touch. "I would say you are quite close to finding it." His lips skim mine as he whispers, "But I can always guide you, of course." He gives me a kiss, another on the corner of my lips and one on the side of my neck. I close my eyes, murmuring softly as I revel in every moment with him. His bottom lip skims along my skin, near my ear, then to my collarbone. Soft, wet, and satisfying.

Knock.

We still.

"Miss Nara!" Knock, knock, knock. "Darry is not in his room! Do you think he was taken!"

I lean back, forcing down the laughter bubbling in my throat. Darius grins as I shout, "Don't worry, Tibith, he is here with me."

Tibith's gasp makes me chuckle. "What are you doing there, Darry? Is your bath chamber too small?"

"Of course not, Tibith." Darius's gaze holds mine, shameless and full of playful mischief. "You know what Goldie is like. She just needs assistance with bathing."

I'm gaping, smacking his chest.

"Wait for me in the king's dining hall," he says, half laughing. "I'll be there shortly."

Tibith squeaks excitable words we can hardly understand before hearing his footsteps pad away.

I snort a laugh that ends up as a frightening sound. It makes Darius smile so wide, and my pulse flutters. I can feel it all the way in my stomach.

His hand emerges from the water as he pushes back a strand of damp hair behind my ear. I catch sight of that bare skin without a trace of a shifter's tattoo. My gaze lingers on that hand as he withdraws it and submerges beneath the water.

"Is there a way to get your markings back?" I ask, meeting his eyes.

Does he want his markings back? Is something else I wonder, or would it remind him too much of his mother and true heritage?

He looks toward the window, leans back, and rests an arm against the side. "If I ever encounter twin witches, they could return them."

I nod silently, making sense of it. "Do you want them back?"

He takes a moment to think about it. "No," he says, and when I cock my head, imploring him for more, he adds, "I am a Rivernorth, but I am also a Halen. I do not want something that tells me I am one thing when I would like to believe I am both."

His answer feels refreshing to hear, despite the yank in my heart.

He will always see himself as Lorcan's brother.

I question whether they would find a way to make peace again if Lorcan were still alive. After Lorcan killed Erion, I want to imagine so. "If Lorcan was too blinded by Erion's words, why did you not try to change that? Why not use your Merati powers to make him see?"

"It's not so simple, Goldie. Merati powers only go to a certain extent. Illusions, glamour... changing one's thoughts can mess with them in the long run."

"Erion did it without any power."

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