Page 75 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

But I can’t quite find it in myself to act all submissive and apologize. So instead, I simply give him a knowing smile.

He stares me down for another few seconds, as if trying to convince both me and himself that he won that round. Then he blows out a forceful breath and spins on his heel.

“Troublesome, infuriating,” he mutters under his breath as he stalks into the bathroom, “insubordinate little?—”

The rest of his words are cut off as he shuts the door behind him.

But as I stand there and watch the now closed door, one question still remains.

If I didn’t climb into the bed on my own, how in Mabona’s name did I end up there?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I’m lying in a luxurious sunken bath, submerged in warm water and enveloped by the pleasant smell of scented soap. I should feel relaxed. Calm. At ease. But instead, all I can feel is an overwhelming sense of stress. It’s so intense that I can practically feel my soul vibrating with it.

Every second that passes is another second that brings me closer to my doom. Yet another day has passed without me being able to escape. I only have tomorrow left now. The day after that, the third trial is supposed to start.

I have tried everything I can think of, but I can’t find the key. Or another way to get out. I even used my magic to try to manipulate Draven’s sympathy so that he would release me. But he noticed the moment that I tried to channel my magic and threatened to handcuff me again. So my best bet is still the key. Which I still haven’t found. But tonight, I’m going to make another attempt.

Draven must be keeping the key somewhere on his person while he sleeps, so all I need to do is to wait for him to fall asleep, and then I can search him for it. Which is why I have spent almost two hours in his bathroom.

I glance towards the closed door. He must have fallen asleep by now. I went into the bathroom right when he announced that he was going to bed. And it can’t possibly take him longer than two hours to fall asleep.

Water sloshes down my body as I stand up and make my way out of the sunken bath. There are several fluffy white towels waiting in neat piles in one of the cabinets. So I pull one out and wrap it around myself. I kept my hair up in a bun, so I only need to dry off my body.

My mind churns with different strategies as I drift towards the door. I just need to check if he’s sleeping. If he is, I can quickly put my clothes on and get to work. But if he isn’t, I need to take my time getting dressed.

Still only wearing the towel, I push the door open a tiny bit and peer out. Only one faelight has been left on, leaving the room mostly in darkness. I open the door a little wider and squint towards the bed.

Surprise flits through my chest when I find it empty.

Standing there with my hand still on the handle, I stare at the empty bed. Did he leave?

I open the door wider and sneak out while glancing around the room.

The bathroom door is shoved shut behind me with a thud.

It startles me enough that I nearly jump out of my skin. Whirling around, I come face to face with Draven. He is standing by the wall, in a spot where he was hidden behind the door when I opened it. Just like last night, he’s only wearing a pair of black underwear and his black bracers. The rest of his perfect body is on full display as he stands there, leaning one shoulder against the wall with his arms crossed and one ankle crossed over the other.

A knowing smirk plays over his lips as he watches me. “Did I startle you, little rebel?”

“What? No. It’s just…” I ramble, my mind scrambling to compose itself again. “I imagined you in bed.”

That sly amusement on his face grows deeper. “Oh?”

“I mean I thought about you in bed.”

He raises his eyebrows, his eyes practically gleaming with satisfaction now.

I shake my head frantically. “No, I mean I thought youwerein bed. Sleeping. That’s it. Not… I didn’t think about you in bed. I wasn’t even in a bed. I was in the bath and…”

Goddess above, I really need to stop talking.

Draven pushes off from the wall. My heart stutters as he starts towards me. His eyes glint in the faint light as he backs me towards the wall. I draw in an unsteady breath, trying desperately to find my wits again. Goddess damn it, I’m supposed to be smart. And yet the things that have come out of my mouth this past minute could have made the village idiot envious.

My back hits the wall with a soft thud. I grab the top of my towel, trying to keep it in place, while Draven closes the final distance between us. My heart slams against my ribs.

Draven braces one hand on the wall next to me, and then cocks his head. “Tell me, Selena, were you really thinking about me while you were sitting there naked in the bath?”

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