Page 90 of The Royal Throne
“I came to see you.”
She surveyed the stairwell.
“Your guards are busy,” Evander assured her. “We’re alone.”
At the word alone, her face warmed. She suddenly realized Evander didn’t have a shirt on. Not only that, but her wet dress was practically see-through. She’d have to keep her body under the water. Feeling overly exposed, she swam to the other side of the pool, the part that was covered by the roof. Evander silently followed her.
“Why did you come to see me?” she asked, wondering if it had something to do with the letter Rainer had received tonight. Maybe he had something to tell her.
“What sort of a silly question is that?” He splashed water at her. “I like spending time with you.”
“How’d you find me?”
“It wasn’t hard. I just had to follow the trail of guards in your wake.” His head bobbed above the water. “Why all the questions?”
Instead of answering him, she decided to float on her back as Axel had done. The moon didn’t shine on the water in this part of the pool, so she was fairly concealed by the darkness. Closing her eyes, she floated, reveling in the quietness of everything.
One of Evander’s hands slid under her back, suspending her body in the water while his other hand came and traced a line from her forehead to her lips, down her neck, between her breasts, and to her belly button. She shivered.
She finally looked into his eyes. “What are you thinking about?”
His focus was on her body. He shook his head.
“Tell me,” she prodded.
His hand traced from her naval to her neck. “I’m thinking that I want to kill Rainer with my bare hands for doing this to you.” His fingers traced over the bruise around her neck. “I’m thinking I hate myself for not stopping him from hurting you.” His fingers went to her lips. “I’m wishing you had run away with me.” He moved his body so he stood above her head, his hand no longer supporting her. “I’m thinking how beautiful you are.” His hands came to either side of her face, resting on her cheeks. “And I’m thinking about kissing you.”
Her breath caught. He moved into her line of sight, staring down at her as she floated in the water. He pinched his eyes shut.
She bent her body, going under the water. When she surfaced, she faced him. He stood there, his chest and head above the water. “Being here with you is dangerous,” she whispered. “I should go.”
“I’m not dangerous to you.”
A small laugh escaped her lips. “You are.” She neared him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Just as he’d done, she traced a line along his skin. Only, she traced a finger from one shoulder to the other. She went behind him, tracing a line across his back. When she came to his front again, her finger went up to his lips. “You’re the most dangerous person I know. I’ve never met anyone who tempts me like you do.”
He closed his eyes. “Sabine,” he whispered.
“I need to go before I do something stupid.”
He reached out, clutching her wrist. “Don’t go back to your room.”
She peered into his eyes. “Why?” Was this because of what Rainer had said at supper? About coming to her bed tonight?
His hands went to her waist, pulling her to him. He leaned his forehead against hers. “It’s not safe for you in your room at night.”
Terror slid through her. “Because of the assassin?” she asked.
He didn’t say anything.
Frustration filled her. “Do you know who the assassin in the dungeon is?” She knew he did. The real question was if he’d share that information with her.
“I do,” he answered carefully. “Why?” His grip tightened on her ever so slightly. His fingers felt like fire, making her want to melt into him.
She forced herself to focus because she needed to know if the man in the dungeon was responsible for the deaths that had taken place in the palace.
“When I went to the dungeon to speak with the prisoner, I saw he had the tattoo of your assassin guild.” Hopefully, Evander would explain things so she wouldn’t have to prod him for more information. If he felt anything for her, he needed to be truthful.
He released her and let out a breath. “You went into the dungeon?”
