Page 60 of Rise of the Gods: Vardor's Destiny
"I was wondering when you'd stop playing hard to get," she purred, resting her arm on the table so her fingers could brush mine. "But I suppose it makes sense. Roweena is... spirited. But a man like you"—her gaze flicked over my broad chest before snapping back to my face—"surely needs more than just fire. There's pleasure to be had in softness too."
She shifted closer, angling her body so her thigh grazed mine beneath the table. A calculated move. I didn't flinch, didn't acknowledge it at all.
"Is that what you think I need?" I said mildly, taking a slow sip from my cup of tea.
Cassandra's smile widened at the perceived encouragement. "Oh, I know it," she whispered. "A warrior like you deserves a woman who willyieldto him. Not one who fights him at every turn."
She tilted her head, her long, curling hair spilled over her shoulder as her fingers traced a deliberate path up my forearm. "I could make you forget all about her," she murmured. "I could make you?—"
A shadow fell over the table, and Cassandra froze.
Roweena stood a few paces behind her, her expression impassive but her eyes dark with warning. She looked pale, a little unsteady, but it did nothing to lessen the commanding presence she exuded. The moment she stepped forward, the weight of her gaze settled on Cassandra, and the tension in the room shifted.
Cassandra pulled her hand back from my arm as if she'd touched fire.
Roweena didn't speak right away. She didn't need to. She merely approached, slow and measured, the air around her charged with something primal, something divine. Even looking slightly green, Vaelora's power flickered through her, sharp and regal. Her gaze flicked down to the seat Cassandra occupied.
"You're in my chair," she said coolly.
Cassandra let out a short, breathy laugh, as if trying to act unbothered. "Oh, come now. No need to be territorial, Roweena. We were just talking."
Roweena arched a brow. "Were you?"
She turned her gaze to me. I inclined my head slightly—silent confirmation that I had not encouraged Cassandra in any way. The corner of Roweena's mouth twitched, pleased. With deliberate slowness, Roweena reached forward, around Cassandra, to pick up my untouched knife from the table. She held it between her fingers, tilting it in the dim light, watching the blade catch and reflect the glow of the lanterns.
"You look nervous, Cassandra," she mused.
Cassandra stiffened. "I'm not."
Despite her defiant words, she rose to her feet in a sharp, irritated motion. "You know," she said, her voice taking on a haughty edge, "for someone who calls herself alady, you certainly don't act like one."
"Oh," Roweena returned lightly, her gaze full of contempt for the other woman. "I'm sorry you misunderstood." Deliberately, she took the chair Cassandra had abandoned and placed the knife back on the table. Haughtily and dismissively, she finished, "I'm not a lady."
Cassandra paled and swallowed hard, forcing a tight-lipped smile before she turned on her heel and fled.
Roweena watched her go before shifting her gaze to me.
"You let her get too close," she murmured, her voice quiet but edged.
I studied her pale face. The tension still lingered at the corners of her mouth.
"You left me unsupervised," I replied, tilting my head. "What did you expect?"
She exhaled, shaking her head before reaching for my cup and taking a sip herself.
"Next time," she said, "try not to look so tempting when I'm not around."
"You know there never was and there never will be another." I took her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. I noticed a slight tremble. Knowing it wasn't from her encounter with Cassandra, worry spread through me. "Are you unwell?"
She lifted her hand and cupped the right side of my face. "All will be well," she said a little too cryptically for my taste, but her smile was as sweet and reassuring as always.
After breakfast, we took a stroll around the deck like we did every morning.
"Oh," Roweena exclaimed enthusiastically and dragged me to the railing. A school of dolphins followed the ship, jumping in and out of the water in high arcs. Roweena clapped her hands in happiness. The gleam on her face was breathtaking, and I found myself more enchanted with her than the dolphins, who dared to come closer.
"They're so adorable," she looked up at me, her eyes shining with happiness, and I wished I could have captured this moment for all eternity.
A shot rang out, and Roweena turned on her heel. "No!"
