Page 82 of In The Dark

“Now’s… not the time,” he says quietly, so low it forces me to step forward with furrowed brows to hear him better.

“What?” I ask.

He takes in another sharp inhale, slowing his own breaths. Watching him makes me realize that it wasn’t regret I saw—he’s trying to maintain his control.Oh.

“You have no idea how badly I want to strip you of every article of clothing right here in this cave,” he says finally, and my lips part in surprise, heart thundering in my chest. “But if I’m going to fuck you, I’m going to be at full power so I can spread those legs myself without worrying about being in pain. And when I do, I fully expect my name on your lips when you come around my cock.”

Oh gods, I forgot how to breathe.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he growls.

A breath of air leaves me. “How am I looking at you?”

“Like you’d enjoy fucking me,” he says quietly, flicking his tongue over his bottom lip.

Tension hovers between us, frustration rolling over his rigid shoulders, bare chest flexing in the dim light, as if this entire situation has him flustered. I almost laugh at being the one to fluster the king of Aurelia until his next words leave his mouth, dropping my grin.

“Now do as I say and lie down before I make you,” he clips. “I can’t promise that if I do make you, it won’t escalate into… well, something else. My self-control is good, but not that good, and we need each other for warmth or you’ll freeze. Got it?”

My eyes narrow at the sudden switch that squashes any lingering arousal in my blood in a matter of seconds. “Fine, but I’m going outside first unless you want me to relieve myself on you for addedwarmth.”

I quickly snatch my cloak off the ground and pivot for the exit. His deep chuckle echoes across the cold walls just as my feet touch the hard ground outside, leaving my teeth to grind.

As soon as the cold air beyond the cave hits my cheeks, I realize very quickly how much I wanted our kiss to turn into something else. I find myself wondering when I began to care about his feelings toward me.

And how much I want him to like me. That perhaps I could allow someone to shatter the walls I’ve built around myself for the first time in my life.

29

Over the last several days,Ivy has taken the time to teach me how to hold myself in the Veil now that my magic has been consistently growing.

I’m thankful no nausea plagues me anymore when it comes to the Veil, but the more days that pass, the more I feel the power beneath my skin itching to escape.

The magic frequently shifts between the warmth of the sun and the icy temperatures of the mountain, and I often find myself in a whirl of confusion when it surfaces. It’s most likely due to not having magic for the last twenty years, so I’ve just slowly learned to embrace it, even if it feels odd.

“Where’s Rydian?”I ask finally, pushing the thought to Ivy and hoping my tone doesn’t sound too desperate for information.

She quietly walks beside me in the Veil as we inspect one of the castle’s hidden tunnels. Two tight braids cascade down her shoulders, resting on the cloak that barely brushes her ankles.

“King Rydian and Orin are meeting with an informant up north. They’ll be back in a few days,”she says, feeling the stone wall beside us before throwing me a sideways glance. My browsshoot up at the information she willingly gives me. A grin tugs at my lips. I want to test how much she’ll give me.

“Who’s the informant?”I ask, keeping my face forward.

Ivy only chuckles, the sound light and amusing.“I can’t tell you that. But King Rydian and Orin have been working with the same one for the last three years—the longest an informant has lived in Elderheim. It’s best if it stays that way.”She wipes her hands, and I let out a defeated huff—it was worth a shot.

It’s dim, leaving us to navigate the dark corridor with nothing but our instinct as our hands graze the cold, dingy walls. So far, we’ve only inspected a few, but she offered to come with me while Rydian and Orin were away. I just assumed it was to keep an eye on me.

I was annoyed at first, only because I had plans to sneak back into the king’s archives while Rydian was gone. Was it risky? Yes, but I know I can do it without getting caught, as I need to put the original map back before Elion notices.

Not to mention, what I saw sitting on Elion’s desk is something my mind—and curiosity—refuses to let go of. I just need to get back in to look at it.

“He seems to be… fond of you,”she says warily.

My eyes narrow on her tone, as if being fond of me isn’t a good thing, but maybe she’s curious. Or perhaps I’m reading into it, as I still don’t completely trust her yet, especially after wanting me to pull army information for them. For whatever reason, it felt wrong at the time.

“I’m sure I’m no different than any other female in Aurelia,”I say, recalling what he said in the stables about someone in Aurelia he liked. As if I have no control over my emotions, an unexpected stab of jealousy shoots through me, leaving my teeth grinding.

After what happened in the cave, he practically spends his time avoiding me. I assumed it was because of his injuries atfirst. Then two more days went by, leaving me to believe that it’s definitely me that he’s distancing himself from.