Page 24 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

Gods, did I ever. A muffled growl of desire rumbled in my chest as she trailed those bewitching fingers down my arm again. I couldn’t feel her with the armor between us, but watching the act, the thought of how her delicate fingers might feel sent my head spinning. How long had it been since anyone had attempted something similar?

Too long. Far too long.

And even longer since I’d given in to the temptation.

Her eyes hooded. White teeth bit down on her bottom lip, hard.

Who cares if she’s your enemy? If she’s just trying to use you?

“What do you want, Ilya?”

“Will you take this off?” Her hand shook as she traced the contours of my mask all the way to the tip of one antler.

The thought of those hands tracing another part of me almost had me spilling like an inexperienced lad.Focus, Lucien.One breath. Another. My racing pulse slowed as I drowned in her eyes. My hands flexed around her waist, savoring the curves hidden beneath her clothes. When had I grabbed her?

“We don’t remove our armor in front of others. Certainly not ourguests.” The thickness of my voice betrayed the controlled words.

“Well, according to the rumors, I’ve already seen some of you.” She glanced downward for emphasis. “It’s only fair.”

If only I could figure this woman out. “Why? Why do you want to see me?”

“Can I not be curious about the man whose quarters I share?” She leaned closer. “You want to know if you can trust me. Let me keep this secret. Let me prove myself to you.”

She offered one of my desires on a platter: to have this headstrong beauty on my side. Not my side—our side, my emperor’s. It would serve our greater good. We needed our guests to serve the emperor in truth. Their willful submission could bring their relatives in line and create a smoother transition for the empire. And if she turned, perhaps the others she influenced would as well.

Showing her my face would go against my emperor’s orders, and I always obeyed him. He’d saved me, raised me. I owed him my loyalty and my life for all that he’d given me.

“Well?” Ilya ran her hand down my chest.

But if it could aid his reign and help keep the peace within the empire, wasn’t it a service to him? I couldn’t trust her. Not yet. But I had leverage on my side.

“This would have to stay between us. If you tell anyone, I’d have to reconsider our agreement regarding your sister.” A cruel threat, but I needed to hold her to her word.

Her lips thinned, but she nodded.

“A test then.” She’d been honest about the letter. Perhaps she could be turned in truth. It was worth the gamble.

Ilya’s eyes flew wide as I reached for my helm.

Chapter12

Ilya

Be hideous. Awful. More monster than man.

Time slowed as he lifted the monstrosity of a helmet from his face.

My heart raced. The air grew thin.

Rich, dark brown hair, slightly mussed, fell away from his forehead to curl around his ears. Dark stubble coated a strong jaw, accenting even, balanced features. A faint old scar curved down from one cheek, sliding through the shadow of a beard. Mesmerizing, grey eyes asked a question he’d yet to speak.

He set the helmet to the side, his gaze never leaving my face.

I forgot to breathe, even when his hand slid down my thigh, a gentle whisper through fabric.

“As terrifying as you expected?”

It took a moment for the question to register. For it to slide past my shock and sink in. Impossible thoughts flitted through my mind as I searched for a response. At last—after silence stretched taut between us—I whispered the first truth that came to mind.

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