Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115347 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115347 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
On her feet, she marched to the desk, where a bowl of fresh water had been placed next to an array of toiletries. But, to her left, she noticed an extensive selection of pastries and jams waiting on the maps table. Her tongue thickened. Food. Hungry.
Viori stumbled over and dived in, gobbling up the treats. Even the crumbs. No more? She searched for even the smallest morsel. Alas. Far from appeased, she returned to the water, washed her face, cleaned her teeth and combed her hair, then donned the pink gown left by the servants. Not a color she’d ever worn before. Had Micah selected it for her, or chosen blindly?
Silly question. What did the answer matter? She’d made her decision and chosen her course. She had no interest in garnering his admiration. She wanted his war plans, not his heart.
Although, winning his heart might be a wise move. Beyond wise, actually. Possibly brilliant. Win his heart and earn his trust. A valuable commodity indeed. A male who trusted her would willingly share his war plans.
Yes, yes. She could do this. Perhaps the quickest path to victory, after all. Though she wasn’t the only female in the vicinity—she gnashed her molars—she had wiles. So many wiles! She’d learned from the best. Honestly, she had only to follow Laken’s example. Use her outward appearance to make her target stupid. Charm and flirt. Dangle the carrot and pretend to care. Boom. Micah would happily share his deepest secrets. Then she could destroy him the way Laken had destroyed her. Simple. Easy.
That series of internal twinges means nothing.
As if her musing had summoned him, Micah whooshed through the canvas flap, entering the shelter. “Are you—” he scanned the tent “—ready?” His voice broke when he spotted her. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.
Oh yes. She could win him.
Instantly drunk on feminine power, Viori scanned him from head to toe. Slowly. She lingered on his hardest parts. “I’m definitely ready.”
He swallowed, his throat bobbing. When she held his gaze, shock registered on his expression, then a reluctant, grudging admiration. The same transformation he’d undergone every time they’d locked eyes. It never failed to thrill her, and she suspected she might be a wee bit addicted.
“I should have offered you a proper greeting when I first awoke, Majesty. Allow me to remedy my mistake.” She wet her lips, and he groaned, the sound reverberating deep in her core. Using her sultriest voice, she said, “Good morning, Micah. I’m very glad to see you...”
* * *
MICAH WAS TAKEN ABACK. The way she looks at me.
The woman nigh devoured him with her glittering gaze, as if he were merely a slab of roasting meat but...he didn’t hate it. Or the changes in her scent. Mmm. Did he detect peaches now? And what of her smile? How did a simple twisting of cherry red lips ever appear so diabolical?
The freckled beauty before him would do anything to get what she wanted.
Sweat popped up on his brow, and he tugged at the neckline of his tunic. “Good, um, morning, Vee.” He forced himself to look anywhere but at his beautiful captive. To ignore the desire suddenly clawing at his insides.
“Enter,” he called when shadows crossed the door flap.
Servants pushed inside, one after the other, each carrying a tray of food to replace the pastries his new charge had consumed. More fruits, breads, meats and cheeses, pilfered from Kaysar and Cookie. After placing those trays on the table, the group swiftly exited.
Red bounded over as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks and dived into the meal before Micah had a chance to offer her a chair, much less the choicest pieces. A reverenced custom in the Dusklands. A show of honor between a warrior and his woman. Something he’d never experienced. Though Red wasn’t his woman—
The clawing worsened, blanking his thoughts.
“Mine,” Vee growled when he inadvertently shifted in her direction. She threw out her arms, protecting the food.
“Half the meal is for—” Oh, why bother? Appeasing her appetite would bring him more satisfaction than appeasing his own. Of that, he had no doubt. “Enjoy,” he said.
By the time she finished the last crumb half an hour later, he wanted to pat himself on the back—and punch himself in the face. Had he ever witnessed a more titillating or heartbreaking display? She licked and savored her favorite foods. Twittered and chirped at him, at ease and yet also on edge, as if on the lookout for trouble—but only as long as he sat statue still. Any sudden movements led to a spike of tension and all ease fled. To have such highly developed defenses, she must have endured worse treatment than he’d imagined.
“All right,” he croaked. “Time to visit the dungeon.”
She tensed up again. “Why?”
“Norok captured two traitors, and we’re going to check on them.” Micah received words mere minutes before he’d forced himself to awaken Vee. Before then, he’d foolishly, ashamedly basked in her softness. “I must touch you in order to flitter with you. May I?” he asked, shaking off a sense of dread and striding forward, extending his hand in her direction.