Page 27 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

In a heartbeat, the illusion disappeared. The breeze halted. The sweet floral notes vanished from the air. Nothing remained but the sparse, masculine room I’d grown familiar with.

I slipped the bangle off and the scene returned, complete with chirping birds and a doe that stalked through the other side of the room, peering at us curiously as her pointed ears twitched.

The scene flickered, there and gone, as I slid the bangle off and back on again, gaping at the change around me. In awe, I twisted to look at the man behind me. On or off, he looked the same. The gentle smile that tugged at his lips transformed his features more than any magic. He looked almost…

Don’t go there, Ilya.

I slid the bracelet off and held it out to him.

“You’re frowning.”

Was I?

“I thought you might have enjoyed that illusion.”

“I did, it’s just…so real.” His smile stirred that warm, melty feeling within me again, and I looked away, down to the bangle still in my hand. “How do I know this isn’t part of the illusion too? You watched me slide it on and off.”

A puff of laughter filled the space between us. “So doubtful.” He turned his back to me. “Try again, without me looking.”

I did. Once again, the illusion came and went with the bracelet.Okay, so maybe it does work.But that means his face…

I swallowed as he turned around. The illusion vanished all at once.

“You believe me now?” Lucien asked.

“I do.” I held the enchanted band away from me, offering it back to him.

He shook his head. “Keep it for now.”

My eyes flew wide. My heart leaped. “Why would you give me something so precious?”

“It’s for you to borrow, not keep. Think of it as another secret between us.”

Or another test.My heart sank.

He didn’t need to say it. Each action he took was to determine my innocence, or perhaps in a twisted way, my loyalty to him for the perceived favor of saving me from a cell. And Orson. Though it was hard to blame him when each of my actions were to serve my own goals as well.

“Wear it,” he added. “Though if anyone asks, say it’s a trinket from your city.”

I eyed it dubiously. Some people, including Mother, did prefer such large pieces, though I’d never been one of them. “I think it may fall off.”

“Here, let me.”

I passed him the magical object. My back stiffened as he closed the distance between us. I had to crane my neck to look him in the face. As my heart thundered, he clasped the bangle over my upper arm, lingering too long after the metal ends clicked shut around my skin. His gaze locked with mine. Grey. Deep and swirling as the seas.

“It looks nice with those sleeveless dresses you favor. Though I hope you have something warmer in your trunks come the resting season.”

I ignored the small spark of warmth that raced to my cheeks as I switched my attention to the temporary addition to my wardrobe. It was less obtrusive than I expected. One might almost think it fit my sense of fashion. It could work.

For now.

Chapter13

Ilya

Emperor Ryszard stood like a God behind the high table of the dining hall. He proclaimed the beginning of the fading season and gave a lengthy, droning speech about the glories of the empire.

The walls of the room, stuffed with boisterous bodies, closed in around me. Cramped. Claustrophobic. At home, we celebrated the change of seasons on the cliffs above the sea with plenty of wine for drinking and dedication to the Goddess. Did they do that now? The longing to join them ached down to my toes. I’d had the honor of presenting Vespera, Goddess of Twilight, with the first grapes of Her season for as long as I could remember. Who would perform the dedication in my place?

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