Page 85 of Lady of the Drowned Empire
“What?” I whispered.
“Wear my pants the rest of the night.” His voice was gruff. “Just the pants. No underwear.”
I flushed, still unable to breathe normally.
“Why?”
“I just like the idea. A lot.”
I licked my lips and reached for his pants, pushing my feet through the leg holes and sliding them back up my heated skin. I kicked my underwear and what remained of my blanket off the bed—I was still hot. I ran my hand over my center, now covered in his clothes. “They’re on. Exactly as requested.”
“Good girl.”
I was still blushing. “Did we really just do that?”
“The mess I made says yes.”
I laughed.
“But seriously, Lyr, are you okay? Was that…too much?”
“No. I needed this. Needed you. I love you,” I said.
“I love you, too,” he whispered. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“I needed this. More than you know.” He sighed. “And now I might actually get some sleep.”
“Will you fall asleep with me?” I asked. “I like knowing you’re there, hearing you breathe. Even if it’s just through a stone.”
“It’s taking all my willpower to stay in place, to not travel and wrap you up in my arms. I want to hold you.”
“Me, too. I wish you were here.”
“I will be soon. I swear. Me sha, me ka, Lyriana. Close your eyes and know I’m coming home to you. Tomorrow night, you’ll be falling asleep where you belong. In my arms.” His breathing deepened the way it did when he was trying to calm me, to pull me from a panic attack.
And for the first time in days, I wasn’t afraid to fall asleep.
Someone was pounding on my door. I rolled over in my bed. Sunlight I hadn’t seen in days was streaming through the window, blinding. The vadati was by my side, silent now.
Auriel’s bane. My cheeks were completely heated as I remembered what I’d done with the stone the night before. Gods…Rhyan and I had…and said….
The pounding grew more intense, pulling me back to reality. I slid the stone back onto its chain, tucked it into my pants—Rhyan’s pants—pulled my hair into a quick bun, and headed for the door, my pulse quickening as I swung it open.
Markan stood on the other side, and I prayed he didn’t look too closely at my clothes.
“Now they have me playing fucking messenger,” he snarled.
“It’s customary to begin a conversation at this hour with good morning.”
“Good morning. Here’s a message for you. My lady.” He shoved a scroll into my hand, a tiny piece of parchment sealed with the sigil of Ka Batavia. It was from my aunt.
Sweat beaded at the base of my neck as I broke the seal, the wax splitting between the full moon and the seraphim wings.
Dear Lyriana,
Please come to dinner tonight at Cresthaven. Imperator Hart of Glemaria arrived just this morning for the consecration. Formal attire as usual. A seraphim will be waiting at the Urtavian port to bring you at 6PM.
