Page 79 of The Darkness Within Us

I want to scoff, but I don’t. I realize that he’s not saying it out of any sense of ownership. No, Eryx has tried very hard to get rid of me from day one. He means it because he has a sense of justice. He would step in for any woman he saw being treated that way.

So I don’t correct him or tell him to stop saying silly things like that.

Instead, I tease him. “And how will you make sure of that? Are you going to follow me everywhere I go? Are you going to kill every man who touches me in some untoward way? Would you like a list of the men who have done so in the past? There won’t be many courtiers left in Naxos then.”

He pulls me closer. “Who?”

“Gods, I was joking. Relax.”

“Who?” he demands again. “Are they in this room?”

“Please, you must calm down if we’re to get you out of here unseen. I was trying to lighten your mood with a joke, not stoke your temper.”

“Suddenly you care about my well-being?”

“After you just made a show of looking after mine, yes.”

That finally has his muscles unwinding. The music picks up, and Eryx has to concentrate very hard to follow my lead. His fingers splay against my back, and I wonder if he even realizes he’s done it. As though he’s trying to grip more of me.

So as not to step on my foot, of course.

“Look at me,” I say. “Don’t watch your feet.”

“If I don’t watch my feet, then I will injure you.”

I grin. “You won’t. You’ll get a better sense of my movements by watching me. Trust me.”

He looks up, and a tight, squirming feeling spreads through my chest.

I ignore it, instead enjoying the crinkle on Eryx’s forehead from his concentrating so hard. His eyes dip down to my mouth.

“Are you laughing at me?” he asks.

“No, I just think you’re adorable when you’re concentrating.”

“Adorable?” The word sounds ridiculous when it comes out in his deep voice.

“Yes.”

“Now I know you’re making fun of me.”

I roll my eyes. “Relax. It’s almost over.”

And for a moment, he does. His body loosens, and his limbs fluidly follow me. The amber glow leaves his eyes.

“Good.”

And then the music slows again, and he’s still looking at me. Because I’ve told him to.

Eryx pulls me closer, without even thinking about it. His thumb draws a soothing circle against my back as his gaze intensifies. A sheen of amber reenters his irises.

I squeeze the hand in mine, as though trying to snap him out of it, but Eryx squeezes back, mistaking the gesture.

“Your eyes,” I whisper.

He blinks, as though coming to, and they fade back to their usual brown. I do yet another carefree glance about us, just to make sure no one saw.

My eyes land on my sister and the king, who are dancing just two couples down from us. Kallias is staring at Eryx, and my sister is staring at me.

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