Page 5 of Taken By the Storm King

“And if I refuse?”

His other hand cupped my cheek. I inhaled sharply at the contact. “Then you remain my prisoner, and I learn nothing of your true intentions.”

I should pull away. His touch sent heat spiraling through me. But I stayed still, caught in his dark gaze.

“Do we have an agreement, Lucy?” He stepped closer, until I had to tip my head back to maintain eye contact.

“Yes,” I whispered. “But I have conditions.”

His thumb stroked my cheek. “Name them.”

“I need to contact my team, let them know I’m alive. And I want to know more about your people. This isn’t just about you judging us.”

A smile curved his lips. “Bold demands from one in your position.”

“Take it or leave it.”

His laugh rumbled through me. “Very well. You may send a message to your team. And I will answer your questions - some of them, at least.” His hand slid to my neck. “But first, you should rest more. Heal.”

For a moment, the strength I’d been clinging to wavered. I looked up at him, unsure whether to trust his words. His gaze softened, and something flickered there---an emotion I couldn’t name, but it steadied me in a way I hadn’t expected.

He moved to a shelf carved into the wall, selecting something from among the collected curiosities there.

“For you,” he said simply.

The small crystal in his palm caught the light, splitting it into rainbow patterns across the wall.

I froze, my hand outstretched.

“What’s wrong?” Thalassar asked, noticing my sudden stillness.

“Sarah---my sister---she collected anything that shone.” My voice felt thick with unexpected emotion. “Our bedroom was filled with them. On sunny days, our walls looked like this.”

Thalassar placed the crystal in my palm, closing my fingers around it. “Then you should have this one. To remember her by.”

I clutched the crystal, feeling tears prick my eyes. “It’s strange. Sometimes I feel like she would have belonged here more than I do. She was always the adventurous one, the one who believed in magic and other worlds.”

“Tell me more,” Thalassar said, settling beside me.

“She was brilliant. Fearless. She believed problems had solutions if you were brave enough to find them.” I smiled sadly. “She would have loved you.”

“And what would she think of you becoming my...” He trailed off, expression shifting into something I only dared to guess at.

I laughed through my tears. “She’d tell me to be brave enough to follow my heart, even when it leads somewhere unexpected.”

His eyes held mine in silent communication. Then he nodded and stood.

I caught his wrist. “I’m fine.”

“You nearly died.” His grip tightened slightly. “Rest. We will talk more later.”

He released me and moved to the door. “Food will be brought soon. The bathroom is through there.” He indicated a smaller doorway. “If you need anything, simply speak. Someone will hear.”

“Thalassar.” I called as he reached the door. He paused. “Thank you. For saving my life.”

He looked back, expression unreadable. “Sleep well, Lucy.”

The door closed behind him with a soft click. I sank onto the bed, head spinning. What had I gotten myself into? And why did my skin still tingle where he’d touched me?

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