Page 58 of The King's Sword
“I can’t,” he whispered. “But if you want, I can remain out in the hallway as your guard.”
She couldn’t believe he’d be willing to do that for her. “That’s not necessary,” she said. “Go back to your room. You need to sleep.”
He nodded but didn’t move. “Do you still want that tea?”
“No.” She needed to let him sleep. He was still recovering from the injury she’d caused him.
“Goodnight, Sabine.” He tapped the door frame before turning and walking away.
She watched his retreating form until she could no longer see him. Then she closed her door and climbed back into bed, knowing sleep would not be coming anytime soon.
* * *
The next morning, Naya arrived with a tray of food for breakfast, surprising Sabine since she’d assumed she’d eat with Evander. After she dressed and ate, Naya led her to an empty room where she was asked to wait.
Alone, Sabine surveyed her surroundings, wondering when Evander would arrive and what they would work on. She wiped her sweaty palms on her pants, hoping he still planned to train her. To the right, a handful of floor to ceiling windows overlooked the lake. Thick clouds covered the sky, and a light rain fell outside. As she meandered around the room, she estimated it to be forty feet by thirty feet. While no furniture adorned the room, there were a few potted plants in each corner. No rugs covered the smooth, dark wood floor.
“Good morning,” Evander said.
Feeling a sense of relief, Sabine turned and found him standing just inside the room, leaning against the wall, watching her. “It’s about time you showed up,” she said, trying to keep the mood light. After last night, she had a surge of emotions raging through her that she didn’t want to acknowledge or even consider.
He pushed away from the wall and came farther into the room, his focus solely on her.
Warmth spread through Sabine, and she felt her face heat up. Ignoring her body’s reaction to Evander, she asked, “What’s on the agenda for today?”
“Same as last time,” he said, his voice sounding husky. “I want you to rely on and use your senses.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t look away from him. Something about the intensity of his gaze, the smooth way he walked, the confidence he gave off, pulled her in.
Evander placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m going to blindfold you.” He turned her so her back was to him. He let go and then reached in front of her, revealing a black silk scarf. He placed it over her eyes, tying it at the back of her head. With the fabric secure, he put his hands once again on her shoulders. “I want you to focus on your surroundings,” he whispered in her ear. “Take a deep breath, and let me know what you see and feel.”
She shivered from the warm caress of his breath and the nearness of him. “Obviously, I see nothing.” Her voice came out breathy, so she cleared her throat, not wanting him to know he had any effect on her.
Evander chuckled, making her toes curl.
She could feel the heat of his body behind her, hear the gentleness of his breathing, and imagine the grin on his face. It annoyed her that she could be so in tune to him. However, it had to be because they’d just spent so many days alone together—nothing more. It couldn’t possibly be anything else.
“I want you to see without looking,” Evander whispered next to her other ear. “Use all your senses because your eyes can deceive you. Being blindfolded will force you to focus on what you hear and smell. Trust your instincts.” He squeezed her shoulders.
She took a deep breath, clearing her mind and trying to focus. The first thing she noticed was Evander. “I smell you,” she admitted.
“How do you know it’s me?”
A good question and an answer she didn’t want to give. She’d recognize his scent anywhere. “I don’t know,” she lied.
“I think you do,” he whispered, his chest pressing against her back. “You need to learn how to identify various scents so you know who or what they belong to. I’m sure it’s nothing you’ve ever had to pinpoint before, so take your time.”
She breathed in Evander, trying to put into words what scents were uniquely his. “You smell like…” She hadn’t really thought about it before and found it difficult to formulate the right words. He didn’t have strong, distinguishing smells—probably on purpose—but there was something that was distinctly him. “I don’t know. Sweat maybe? It’s just the smell of you.”
His nose glided along her neck as he breathed her in. She held perfectly still, afraid to move.
“And you smell like a hint of rosemary. It’s hard since these clothes don’t belong to you, but I can smell it on your skin.”
She’d never considered how she smelled before. Or ever thought Evander would have smelled her like that. Being blindfolded only enhanced the feeling of his touch, making her skin tingle.
Evander released her shoulders and stepped away from her. “What else do you sense?” he asked.
Her back suddenly felt cold without him touching her. She stood there, listening, trying to figure out where Evander had gone or what was happening. Something shifted in the air in front of her; however, she was certain Evander was still standing behind her. She couldn’t say how she knew other than instinct. “Is someone else in the room?”
