Page 45 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Ellery

He tilted his head to the side as he studied me. “Did you have feelings for him?”

“What does it matter to you?”

“I’m curious about my competition.”

“There is no competition. I haven’t spoken to Ryker in months and don’t want to.”

“Good. That means you’ve moved on.”

“There was nothing to move on from.” And then I decided it was time to put him on the defensive. I was tired of being the one under attack. “What about your past relationships? Should I start asking you about all of them?”

“Feel free. I can assure you they all meant nothing to me.”

“Then why would you assume Ryker meant anything to me?”

“I didn’t, but a duke’s son is a far bigger prize than some tavern wench.”

“That’s an awful way to talk about any one.”

“It’s the truth.”

The more I talked with this man, the more I understood why Ivan had chosen him. Gaius and the nobles were all cut from the same repulsive cloth.

“I’m not looking for a prize,” I told him.

But it was clear he was, and for some reason, he believed I was it. I didn’t know why he’d set his sights on me instead of the daughter of an aristocrat or merchant, but he had.

He probably saw me as an easier target because my parents were gone and Ivan had me under his thumb. Gaius might assume that because of his new relationship with Ivan, he might be able to step in and rescue me. In doing so, he hoped to gain control of my land.

Ryker thought he desired me as much as my property, but I wasn’t sure I believed that. The man was a greedy climber who would take me down if it meant getting what he sought. And all I wanted was to get him out of here.

“I’m afraid it’s time for me to say goodbye.” Being so abrupt with the new captain of the king’s guard probably wasn’t the best way to not piss him off, but I was tired of all the intrigue, backstabbing, and cruelty that came from all those entangled with the aristocrats.

“I hope I didn’t upset you by bringing up the duke’s son.”

“Of course not, but I have plans.”

I almost told him I needed a shower, but I couldn’t have that image in his head.

“Good, because I plan to get to know you better, Ellery.”

I really wished he’d stop saying my name. “If you’ll excuse me.”

I almost said “Gaius” at the end, but he’d probably take it as encouragement instead of the aggravation it was. When I started toward my door, he stepped to the side, blocking me.

He placed his hand on my arm, and I jerked back a step as my eyes shot to his. “Please step aside.”

“You’re a beautiful woman, Ellery.”

“Thank you. Now, please, move.”

Instead of letting me go, he pulled me closer. “I may not be a duke’s son, but I have a respectable name and a high position in the king’s service. I can offer you protection.”

“I don’t care about position, and I don’t need protection.”

“Really? Samael came here and trashed your house; I know because he told me, and you have little left inside. Ivan is taking half the profit from your crops and three best foals; how will you survive the winter without that income?”

“We’ll find a way.”

“You’ll struggle before you fail. But I can help protect you and keep you safe. Do you think Samael would have destroyed your things if I was here? And I can help with Ivan.”

“And what would you take in return?”

“I want land.”

Of course he did, but he’d have it over my dead body… or whenever they forced me to flee. He sure wouldn’t be the one to take it from me.

I lifted my chin as I gave up all pretense of trying to hide my irritation. Fuck him and every other greedy asshole in this realm.

“This land has been in my family for generations, and one day I will hand it down to my children… should I ever have them.”

“All of this could be our children’s.”

The audacity of this man and the idea of such a thing had me torn between laughing and gagging, but I managed to quell both impulses. “I don’t even know you, and you’re talking about children.”

“But you will get to know me better.”

I didn’t consider that a promising start to something new but a threat. Before I could figure out how to respond, he pulled me forward and kissed me.

I hadn’t seen it coming. At first, I was too astounded by his audacity to respond, but when his lips touched mine and he shoved his too-hot, too-thick tongue into my mouth, everything inside me recoiled.

The wrongness of it screamed through my veins, hammered into my bones, and battered my system. When his tongue brushed mine, I tore myself away from him.

I twisted my head to the side as he grabbed my other arm and pulled me closer. “Let go!” I commanded.

“I take what I deserve,” he snarled.