Page 71 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

I blink at him in stunned disbelief. “Why did you bring me here?”

He stops halfway to his closet and instead turns to look at me again. After flicking a dismissive look up and down my body, he arches an eyebrow at me. “I didn’t do it because I care about you, if that’s what you’re wondering. I just saw a chance and took it.”

Heat flushes my cheeks, because for a moment there, I did wonder if he might actually have done it because he cares about me. About my safety, if nothing else. But apparently not.

Trying to block out that flash of embarrassment, I instead ask, “A chance for what?”

A truly villainous smile spreads across his lips as he holds my gaze. “A chance to keep you locked up in here so that you will miss the next trial.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

My frustration builds as the sun slips entirely beneath the horizon and darkness blankets the world while I still haven’t managed to find a way out of Draven’s room. No matter how much I search for miracles, there are only two ways out of the room.

The windows, which don’t even open. And even if they did, we’re four stories up. If I tried to jump out, I would die.

That only leaves the door. Which is fully and completely locked.

I scowl at the rows of black shirts in Draven’s closet after searching through it for what has to be the seventh time. The shirts just look back at me impassively, utterly disinterested in my infuriating problem. I slam the closet door shut.

Turning back towards the rest of the room, I scan it once more while I try to come up with some sort of plan.

Apart from the two times he came back to give me some food to eat, Draven has been elsewhere the entire day. At first, I was grateful for that because it gave me a chance to thoroughly search through his entire room. But once I realized that there is no key in here, his absence just became another point of frustration. He obviously has the only key to the door, whichmeans that he needs to actually be here for me to have a shot at stealing it.

The lock clicks from across the room.

Whirling around, I sprint towards the door.

Draven is faster.

He has managed to open the door, slip inside, and then close and lock the door behind him before I can reach him.

I stumble to a halt on the smooth wooden floorboards, spinning my arms in an effort to keep my balance and stop myself from slamming right into his chest.

He arches a dark eyebrow at me. “Going somewhere, little rebel?”

Scowling, I cross my arms and shoot him an annoyed look. “Yes, I was, actually. Since you have failed to provide me with what I need.”

“Oh really? You have water. And I’ve brought you food not once buttwicetoday. And tomorrow, you might actually get three meals, since I’m assuming that you will be conscious during breakfast this time.”

I give him a flat look while uncrossing my arms. Then I motion pointedly down at my body. “Clothes. I need clothes.”

His gaze slips down to my body.

I’m still only wearing that white silk nightgown that ends halfway down my thighs and the sheer lace robe over it. Neither piece of clothing offers much protection. The robe is practically see-through, and the nightgown is short, sleeveless with only thin straps over the shoulders, and has a plunging neckline.

Compared to the imposing black armor that he is wearing, I feel almost naked. It’s a very clear visual of how massive the power imbalance between us is right now.

“You have clothes,” he states when he slides his gaze back up to my face.

Annoyance flickers through me, and I motion down at my body again. “You call this clothes?”

“You’re the one who put them on in the first place. I didn’t make you wear them.”

“To sleep. Not to prance around in all day.”

Amusement tugs at his lips for a second. Closing the distance between us, he lifts his hand and slides it along my jaw. A small shiver of pleasure rolls down my spine at his featherlight touch.

“Oh trust me,” he says as a smirk spreads across his face. “You don’t need to worry about prancing around in your nightgown. Since you won’t be leaving this room.”

---