Page 115 of A Curse of Hope and Shadows: Part I
Adeline offered him a smile, tugging the empty goblet from his hands and holding it out to Thomas for a refill. Dimitri reached out to take it, but she necked it back herself instead, grinning as she did so.
“Wicked tease,” he said. “Look who’s acting like lady of the manor.”
Before Adeline could respond to that, Thomas dragged something across the floor, loud and heavy. “Chains or no chains?” he asked.
Dimitri glanced at Adeline. Ordinarily, he hated the things, and the additional risk they brought to himself.
But it would be safer for others.
“Chains,” he said.
“You’re sure?” Adeline asked him.
He nodded. “If I’m chained up, you can stay here with me a little longer.”
“I’ll stay all night if you wish.”
“No, don’t do that. There’s no point in staying after—”
“All right,” she said. “I’ll be right beside you when you wake up.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. You’d do the same for me.”
He would, because he wouldn’t be able to bear being somewhere else, but he knew whatever she felt for him—and she did feelsomething—it didn’t quite match the level of his affections. He wasn’t sure it could.
Thomas came forward, helping Dimitri undress and fastening the manacles around his wrists, ankles and throat. Adeline turned to give him a sense of privacy, even though the minute it was done and the chains fastened to the wall, she was summoned back to his side.
“Tighter,” Dimitri said, until he was all but pinned to the stone. He gave Adeline a weak smile, and she sat beside him on the floor. His eyes trembled as he looked at her. “Thomas, could you go a little further up the tunnel, please? Not too far. I don’t want Miss Adeline to be alone after…”
“Of course.” Thomas nodded diligently, and swept out of the cell.
Dimitri gritted his teeth, hands shaking. Adeline seized one and placed it in her lap, squeezing his knuckles. “You would have thought I would be used to this by now,” he whispered.
“Is it starting?”
He shook his head. “You’ll know when it starts. I just hate this awful waiting part.”
“I should have brought us a book…”
He laughed weakly. “I’m afraid,” he said. “Every single time, I’m afraid.”
Adeline swallowed, her jaw stiffening. “I’d be afraid, too.”
“Sorry for making you come down here with me.”
“You don’tmakeme do anything.” She squeezed his hand, harder, as if hoping to press her bones into his, fortify them against what was coming. “I can’t say I’m going to enjoy this, but it’s better than the alternative. Sitting up there and knowing. Leaving you alone. You wouldn’t wantmeto be alone, would you?”
“No,” he said slowly, “but that’s because I—” His words trailed off into a long, low moan, his body tensing, jerking. The muscles in his stomach spasmed, fingers coiling into fists. Dense pain spread across his body, and he fought the urge to be sick.
Adeline knelt in front of him, pressing her body against his.
“You… should… leave…” he hissed out.
She held him tighter. “When you’re dangerous, I’ll leave.”
“Won’t… won’t be… long…”
