Page 49 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

“I’ll make sure they are alright and let you know.”

I swallowed my retort. His helmet slid on, hiding the man from view and transforming him into the monster who’d stalked into the halls of Sorrena to accept our defeat. How had I fallen into his arms so easily? Disgust, with myself as much as him, dampened the last of my desire.

“Come on,” he said, stalking past me.

“I…I can’t stay here?” I let a flush rise to my cheeks, pretending to be embarrassed by my request. There would be no better time to search his room. The cold sound of the bells reminded me of my purpose, each ring reinforcing my goal.

Lamplight caught his eyes beyond the helmet, revealing his indecision.

“I may be gone a while.” He beckoned me. “Come.”

Reluctantly, I followed him down the stairs.

Chapter22

Lucien

The night turned from a dream into a nightmare with the toll of a bell. The deep, eerie ring never stood for celebration or praise. Emperor Ryszard rang for only one reason: to summon his captains, urgently.

I’d never considered ignoring a summons. Not once in all my cycles, even when it pulled me from a bath or sleep. Tonight, I would have given much to pretend I didn’t hear them. I didn’t remember donning my armor, or the long walk to our emperor’s audience chamber. Only Ilya…spread out on the bed before me. The way she beckoned with her hooded eyes and parted lips would haunt me forever after.

But it wasn’t passion that fueled the speedy return to my quarters. What I’d learned in the emperor’s meeting sent my head spinning and my stomach dropping in a way little else had.

My hands fisted at my side as I traversed the quiet halls in the stillness before morning. By The Four, she played me well. I knew her gambit. She’d been so obvious trying to seduce me when she first came to my quarters.

Fool, thinking she could really want you.

I was a master of illusions, and yet it was me who’d been deceived.

Would she be mocking my weakness even now? Emperor Ryszard had been right in his command to avoid romantic attachment. She wasn’t even mine and yet she’d gotten under my skin and lulled me into a sense of trust. Minutes more and I would have been deep inside her—making her mine or falling further under her spell? I grunted, ignoring the desire surging to my cock despite the warning in my head.

“Captain.” One of the guards outside my room nodded my way as I approached. The other opened the door, letting it swing in on near-silent hinges to reveal my sitting room beyond.

The oil lamp burned low, casting barely a flicker of light into the shadowy gloom of the room. The glow it provided was dimmer than the remnants of burning fire of lust that raged within me only hours ago. The mounted buck head on the wall mocked me. Proud, regal, a king in his domain. I pulled my helm free and tossed it onto the sofa. His mantle was mine to wear, but I’d been tricked by a pretty face.

I cracked open the door to her room. Moonlight spilled across her sleeping form from the window, painting her in soft greys and blues. My chest tightened. A small sigh escaped her lips as she moved under the creamy fur draped across her body.

Fuck.

I still craved her. I toyed with the pommel of the dagger at my waist, unable to hold still.

It took all the little restraint I had left to close the door and go back into the sitting room. She’d been so ready to prove her trust, and I’d wanted it, more than I ever should. My desire was a weakness, one I’d let cloud my judgment. I paced back and forth in the room, unbuckling my armor one piece at a time. The rhythmic routine calmed me…a little. Removing the heavy breastplate should have lightened the load upon me, but the sting of betrayal still wore me down. I needed to talk to her.

Best to get this over with quickly.

Before I could change my mind again, I pulled open the door and entered her sleeping chamber.

“Wake up, Ilya.” My words echoed through the room, louder than the bells that drew us apart hours before.

She woke with a start, jerking under the coverings before she twisted toward my voice. Her hand flew to her mouth, then went limp as her shoulders relaxed. “Lucien.”

The furs fell away as she sat up in bed, revealing a pale, thin underdress. The one I’d slid up her legs. One I wanted to pull off her even now. I shut my desires in a box and shoved them into the recesses of my mind.

“Tell me, did you think you’d get away with it?”

Her brows drew together as she scooted on the sheets, away from me. “What are you talking about?”

“You should know.” My words were bitter like crimson leaf tea. Biting.

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