Page 18 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

“Would you like that?” I teased. I’d considered it. Briefly. If I could manage the act, it would certainly mean my death. Not to mention the steep tax and bloody reprisal that Ryszard would inflict upon my people. One captain’s life wouldn’t be worth that suffering. Nor was he worth my life. My forced smile stiffened with the effort to keep those thoughts from my face.

“No. I don’t think I would.” He crossed his arms, his head tilting to the side. “I expected anger. More indifference.”

“And you’re disappointed?”

“Confused. You’ve made your disgust of me well known, not to mention that look in your eyes when I brought you here.”

I shrugged, all easy limbs and casual airs that I aimed to project. A far cry from the racing of my heart. “What look?” I tilted my head and ran my fingers across my collarbone.

His stance broke as his fingers slid across the golden pommel once more. “And you wonder why I expected aggression.”

Then, he’d had me cowering in fear of what I’d thought inevitable. Now, he wouldn’t even approach me, as if I were some kind of wild animal that might snap its jaws upon his neck. How easily I’d turned the tables on him.

“Perhaps I can clear up that misunderstanding.” I leaned back, one leg sliding ever so slightly to the side. A tease I’d seen noblewomen practice on their would-be lovers when they thought no one else was watching. It wasn’t enough to reveal any of my body’s secrets, only give him a whisper of possibility.

Lucien coughed and looked away. “You’re a grown woman. You can entertain yourself.”

I nearly gaped as he turned and headed for his room once more.

“Wait!”

He paused, barely glancing over one shoulder.

Shit. Don’t look too desperate, Ilya.

“I thought it might be nice to talk? We spent so much time traveling together, and yet I know nothing about you. Now that we’re living in the same room…” I shrugged. “Usually, I’d talk with Elin or some of the others, as permissible, but here I’m alone. They didn’t even bring my books when they moved my trunks in here.” I rambled, but whatever, he’d stopped and turned my way. It was better than simply being dismissed.

His boot tapped on the ground, four gritty clicks before he responded. “This is a punishment.” His deep voice rang through the room, stripping the last bit of heat from my skin. “It’s not a change of scenery for your enjoyment.” He crossed the space to the door and flung it open with ease without using a key.

“I only wanted—” The door slammed on my words. “Bastard.” I smacked the cushion next to me before rising and rushing across the room, barefoot on cool stone. I grasped the handle to his room and pulled with all my might. Nothing. Not even a creak or a slide of wood.

Magic.

It had to be.

Someone gifted by Aurora, the Goddess of Dawn, must have enchanted his door. Only someone with Her blessings could imbue objects with magical properties.

Disappointment pulled me onto the balcony.

Lucien was known to wield the power of Erabus, God of Darkness. Possibly he could have the power of the Goddess of Dawn as well, which might allow him to enchant objects. The two were not opposites, like the God of Darkness and God of Light, though being blessed by more than one deity was exceptionally rare, even among the already limited number of the blessed.

Wagon wheels crunched over cobblestone far below. Darkness swallowed them as they departed the torch-lit gates and continued on the stone road leading down the hills and into the city. Zhine’s temples and judicial buildings soared high above the other structures. Farmlands stretched out to the east.

Though vast, these rich lands didn’t supply all the food needed for the bulk of Ryzsard’s armies. With what I’d seen, however, I’d begun to wonder how massive they truly were. He captured one city-state at a time, wielding the magic of his captains rather than ground troops whenever possible. We’d seen it ourselves and heard it from others. But he didn’t leave his forces in a city-state once it fell. A few, yes, to report on any mischief, but he kept the city-states in line by holding their heirs hostage.

One more thing to discover, if I could. If we knew more details on the scope of his forces, it certainly would help.

Even harder, though, would be getting that information out of the castle and into the hands of someone who could put it to good use.

An unexpected groan of wood and rattle of metal had me jumping against the railing. Hard stone bit into my side. I whipped around and froze at what I saw.

Lucien crossed the room to the seating area, a thick tome with worn navy-blue binding gripped in front of him. He gestured my way with the book before setting it on a wooden side table near the seat I’d formerly occupied.

My mind struggled to keep up with the scene playing out before me. He brought a book…for me.

“Thank you,” I managed to mumble in return.

He dipped his head, the only acknowledgment before he retreated to his room without a word.

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