Page 132 of Reign of Light
The soft click of the door sounds behind me as I shove my hair deep into the hood of my cloak and pull it low over my eyes. I don’t have to guess who entered the room without knocking. There’s only one person who is comfortable enough with me to do that.
“Did anyone question you?” I ask as Weston crosses the room, his figure coming to a halt beside me in the mirror.
He scoffs. “Of course not. Now that the traitors have been rooted out, the guards we have left are good and loyal men. They respect the crown, and care about the kingdom and their role here. They understand the command structure.”
My eyes graze over his reflection, taking in the thick tunic and pants that have replaced his guard’s uniform and armor. The fabric pulls across his chest and leaves nothing to the imagination regarding his strength as it curves over the muscles in his shoulders and arms. His cloak hangs from his clenched fist, ready to conceal him better as soon as he deems my disguise enough.
“Has anyone pushed back against your authority? Or questioned why you, you know, haven’t changed?”
It has been one of my biggest worries since being back in Blackwood, now without my father and his to protect us from any questioning. The guards he knew from before saved our lives, but the concern that they want answers as to why he hasn’t aged has been heavy on my mind.
“The ones who know me haven’t. I can tell they’re confused, but no one has said a word. Maybe one day they’ll ask, but we both know I can’t tell them the truth.”
“Maybe we need to come up with a story then.” I straighten the uniform skirt and turn toward him.
“I will come up with something. You don’t have to worry about it. Are you ready for the next part?”
I nod and check myself in the mirror one more time. I didn’t bother disguising myself as much as before, foregoing coloring my hair and instead making sure none of it was visible under the cloak. The staff uniform shouldn’t draw any unwanted attention, because it isn’t abnormal for those who work here to leave the castle and come back the next day. Our plan is to make it look like Weston is taking his eveningoff with a woman who works in the castle, and I feel an odd twinge of jealousy at the thought, despite the woman being me.
Weston pulls the cloak tighter around my shoulders and fastens the next clasp, hiding a little more of my frame. He scans his work and mine until he seems satisfied I’m adequately disguised, but his hands stay clasped around the edges of the cloak.
“You have your dagger?” he grumbles.
“Yes.”
“I don’t expect there to be any problems, but you know what to do if there are.”
I roll my eyes. “Weston. Dane is gone. Brynne and Storm are exiled. You’ve questioned every other person in this castle personally. My people may know what I look like now, but there’s no other reason to think there will be a threat. The only reason we are hiding is that we don’t want anyone following us and finding out about Dawnlin. You know I don’t want to spend my life locked away behind the castle walls anymore. I won’t be afraid to be around my people. You don’t need to worry.”
Releasing the cloak, his hand slides around my waist. “When it comes to you and your safety, I will always worry.”
Even though it can be so frustrating, I know his protectiveness is part of how he shows he cares. Nothing I can say will ever stop it. I’ve already tried. But maybe tonight I don’t have to stop it, and instead distract it.
“I know we have to make sure everything looks real to the guards, but maybe we could pretend like it actually is. For one night, we can just be two people without titles and duty and expectations, and just enjoy our life. Even if it is a ruse.”
My mind drifts back to the night Dane took me to the tavern for the first time, and I watched the patrons living happily without inhibitions. The longing I felt that night hits me square in the chest. How I wanted so badly to be as carefree as the other patrons, not having anyone take asecond glance if I wanted to have more than one drink or sit in a man’s lap. Stupidly, I thought I wanted all of that with Dane, but now, I can’t see any of it with anyone but Weston.
He thinks we need to hide the love between us for the sake of the kingdom’s future, and I wish with every part of my being that I can convince him otherwise. But for now, I have tonight, and this plan we’ve concocted to go unnoticed, and I can hold on to the thrill from the show we are about to put on.
The corner of his mouth turns up slightly. “Just because we’re tricking the guards doesn’t mean it isn’t real, Lennox.” He tugs me closer and slides both his hands around my waist to settle low on my back. Desire burns in his eyes as his voice drops impossibly low. “It is very real how much I want everyone to see that you’re mine, how I want all the other men to see my hands on your body, and know they can never touch what I have. It is very real how much I struggle to push away the thoughts that run though my mind every moment you’re around me, distracting me from what I should be doing because all I can think about are ways to make you moan my name like I am so fond of you doing.”
My breath hitches as his hands slide down the curve of my ass, gripping me firmly and pulling me flush against him. His smirk deepens as he takes in my heaving chest before his eyes meet mine. “None of what we’re about to do is fake for me, sweetheart.”
Rising onto my toes, I fist the tunic at his chest for balance and lift my chin. The hood falls back, and he tracks the movement before his gaze trails over every inch of my face. He knows exactly what I want, and thank the gods, doesn’t make me wait for it. He presses a slow, luxurious kiss to my lips before straightening again, and tugging my hood back in place.
I fold my fingers through his and follow as he leads me to the door. Peeking his head out of a small opening, he looks back and forth, checking the corridor to make sure there are no lingering guards or late-night staff. I sent Addy home hours ago, using the same excuse that I needed time alone for a few days and could take care of myself.
When Weston decides we’re safe to start the first step of the plan, he pulls me through the door, latching it closed behind us, and briskly walks straight for the staff staircase. The route we planned is the same as the one I used to leave, the one with the shortest and most direct path to the city, as well as the most shadow-filled corners once we’re outside.
Wrapping his arm firmly around my shoulder, he tugs me into his side, angling my body so I can easily hide my face in his clothes. He walks casually, trying to look as inconspicuous as the newly returned First Guard can, but the tension in his body is unmistakable. Head turning constantly, he scans the area, taking in everything to ensure we aren’t discovered.
“Ready?” he murmurs as we approach the door that leads to the courtyard and gate.
“For you to ravish me in front of the guards?” I joke, keeping my voice barely above a whisper. “Stass would wholeheartedly approve of this plan.”
My chest warms at his low chuckle, just before a burst of cold air chills me again when he opens the door in front of us. I barely have time to react to the cold as he tugs me outside, flinging the door shut behind us, and spinning my body into the dark alcove.
A flicker of excitement stirs in my belly as my back slams into the stone wall, and my eyes lift to Weston’s smirking face. Shadows caress his features as his body surrounds mine, both working to block the view of the guards stationed on the other side of his broad frame. The pads of his fingers gently tilt my chin until my lips touch his waiting mouth. He parts my lips, and my whole body quivers when his tongue barely brushes against mine. When he steps even closer and his body crushes me against the stone, I let out a sigh and tilt my head even farther back to meet every motion.
