Page 60 of Queen of Whispers and Mist

“The dancer removes them one at a time,” Calypso supplied helpfully, eyes sparkling with laughter.

“Oh.” Ronan’s expression was priceless when it finally sunk in. “Ohhh.” He cleared his throat. “That... erm...” He shifted in his seat, clearly flustered as he pictured what the dance entailed. A second round of throat clearing ensued before he gruffly managed, “Sounds like a very effective way to get close to your marks.”

“It is."

That was the entire reason she’d learned it. No one ever suspected their evening’s entertainment was actually their assassin.

“I’m with Bronn. I’d like to request Shadow give us all a demonstration,” Bast said.

Shadow dipped her chin, allowing her hair to fall forward and conceal her expression. The thought of performing for the group held little appeal, but performing for Ronan... that was very appealing indeed. If for no other reason than to watch his face as the veils were removed until none remained. She thought Caly had the right of it. Ronan wouldn’t make it past the second either.

“The hell she will,” Ronan snarled.

From the way Sebastian doubled over in a fit of laughter, he’d been waiting for such a reaction.

Realizing he’d overreacted, Ronan blushed all the way to the tips of his ears. “I mean, unless she wants to.”

He couldn’t meet her gaze, which only endeared him to her more. She’d discovered a lot of sides to the mercenary in only a matter of days, but this was the most unexpected. She wasn’t sure which was more attractive. The possessive instinct to keep her body to himself, or the admission that regardless of his personal feelings, it was her body to do with as she pleased.

The way this man constantly proved that he’d put her needs above his own, that he’d not only protect her physical well-being but her mental and emotional well-being as well... it was beyond anything she’d ever experienced before. And it made him far and away the most attractive man she’d ever known.

In the last twenty-four hours alone, he’d held her while she cried, asked her to share the burden of her nightmares so he could help carry their weight, and he’d tried to save her life. Even though her life hadn’t been in any danger at the time.

Unlike Erebos, Ronan didn’t want to control or use her. He just wanted to be hers. In any and every capacity she’d allow. And with him, for the first time, she wanted it all.

The revelation was startling. Not because of what it said about Ronan, but because of how acknowledging it lit her up from the inside out. The feeling was so foreign it took her a second to identify it.

This was happiness in its purest, rawest form.

It was joy.

No, this waslove.

She was in love.

These strange feelings and impulses she’d tried—and failed—to deny weren’t simply desire or attraction. This wasn’t just chemistry. She. Loved. Him.

Instead of questioning how she could possibly fall for a man who was still a stranger in so many ways, Shadow gave herself permission to bask in the truth.

Empyria’s most notorious blade had finally fallen in love.

Just as her heart took flight in her chest, an arrow called reality brought it crashing down.

The man who’d captured her heart happened to be the realm’s greatest threat, and she was duty-bound to destroy him.

CHAPTER20

RONAN

Something shifted in Shadow’s expression. A softening of her gaze and lips, a flush of color along her cheeks. It was a stark contrast to her usual mask of indifference, and he couldn’t help but apply meaning to it. Perhaps he was a fool of the highest order for doing so, but he didn’t care. He’d fight entire armies barehanded if it meant she was coming back to him.

Time away from Erebos had done her a world of good. With every passing hour, Ronan caught more glimpses of his Reyna and less of the cold-hearted Shadow. Though, the better he got to know this version of her, the fewer differences between the two he could find. The woman at the core of her was the same. Fearless. Alluring. Independent. Brilliant. Maddening.

His.

She was his. And if the hope nearly bursting from his chest was any indication, she might have just come to the realization too.

Finally.

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