Page 59 of Deadly Maiden

I place my forefinger over his mouth. “Let me. I can guess. I think?” If I have this wrong, it will besoembarrassing. My forehead wrinkles, my own struggles obvious.

“You think you can?” Languidly, Rorsyd takes my hair and gathers it with his fist at my nape, tight enough to send delicious prickles of heat all the way to my nipples. He sneaks a hand into my shirt, after unbuttoning to gain access, slips under the bandeau top and cups my breast. “Keep going,” he murmurs.

My toes bunch as he caresses me. My voice is husky. “You say it?”

“Now you’re quiet?” A decadent smile spreads, and he pretends to weigh my breast then makes me sigh with another brush of his thumb.

“Mmm.” Bemused, with desire stirring, I’m looking at where his hand vanishes in my shirt.

“My eyes have changed for the first time, ever, because Wyntre, my gorgeous necromancer, you are my soulmate.” He loosens and strokes my hair, his voice steady and warm.

I lean closer, snuggling, entranced by him, by his hand, by the movement of his jaw when he talks. I kiss his jawline. I am right.

“It is a shifter thing,” he says. “You must know of how wolfshifters find their soulmates? We, too, display signs. For us,it is in the eyes. I have never done so before. For it to be you…” He breathes long, moves his fingers in my hair then gathers it even tighter. “It’s perfect. You are perfect.”

I close my eyes, feelsomethingmove under my butt. “I guessed right.”

He groans out a curse. “Before I go and spread you wide and fuck you…”

Now he has my attention. I blink up at him. “Umm, yes?”

Rorsyd chuckles. “I want to read that letter, see this weapon.” He taps my nose. “If I take you, I’m going to find it hard to concentrate on such things. Get up.” He shoos me off him and smacks my rear then is bold enough to say, “Please?”

“This is the ultimate tease.” I pout, but after a lingering run of my fingers through his thick red hair that holds in crests like waves on a shore, I saunter to my rucksack. My hips sway, even as I find the box. I hear a grunt as I bend over and secretly smile.Got you.It’s simpler to bring the box. I return with it and deliberately perch beside him and not on his lap.

“The letters first.” I open the lid, stare at the pages, holding both my parents’ intensely personal letter and Landos’ more instructional note. “Two of them. One is from Landos, the other is to me from my parents.” I raise my head. “I thought to let you see them…to read them as if you were me. Maybe this is stupid?” I wind down.

“I like this idea. Here.” He puts out his hand. “May I?”

I deliver them to him, remembering the words as he reads both letters. He’s so beautiful when he’s gentle like this, leaning back on the couch, his heavy thigh nudging against mine. And so heart-stoppingly desirable when he gets wicked.

Below pulses with heat, and I must resist squeezing my thighs together.Serious stuff, remember.

“They loved you, Wyntre, greatly. I can see that. You were a baby when this was written too. Their advice sounds good.Especially thekeep your lover close.” He flashes me a grin. “Thank you for allowing me to see these. As for what to do with that advice, anytime you wish to talk about it, just say?”

He doesn’t mention anything about the sadness I must have felt when I read, but I understand how it might be a step too far for him. We talked on the way to Venin about the future, and I thought I had decided, but how does one make such a decision and know it is right?

“I may need to talk. Slaedorth is a no, for now. What I said before, about Saphora in Vancourter, you can see that came from Landos. And that he thought I should learn about necromancy.” I tilt my head. “I’m still unsure if that is wise.”

“Because you don’t want revenge.”

“Exactly.”

“Oddly, I’m more unsure now.” He holds up the pages. “I’m leaning in the other direction. Why? Because now I know you and love you.”

He pauses, and I bump my shoulder into him, smiling shyly. He loves me. I’m a bit shocked hearing that out loud, but I shouldn’t be.

“If anyone can study how to control and raise the undead, and still be a good person…” He taps Landos’ letter. “That is you. I worry we don’t know why the king ordered you captured and not simply executed.”

What?

“I was an enforcer. They are free to do whatever they need to. That includes killing. So why did they not do that to you, when you are potentially a very dangerous person? Why capture you and transport you across the kingdom? Madlin wanted to see you? It makes little sense. And so, my change of mind. Learning equals power, and sometimes we need that power to defend ourselves.”

“Okay. That’s scarier than ever. I think?” Did the king want to pull me apart, dissect me? “Me, studying necro. It led my parents to their deaths.”

“It did, yes, but with the king seeking you, we need to choose a path that is safest. And also, new issue, there is this Kyvin mentioned?” His brow creases. “Do you know who that is?”

“I don’t. I have met no one with that name.”

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