I pictured the way his black eyes had locked onto my mouth, the very first time he’d visited me here. Would they do the same, but much lower down, when he showed up to collect me? The possibility of it was enough to make me leave the shirt tucked in.
I peered over my shoulder to try and assess my ass. Caom had seemed to think it looked good. As vain as it made me, I had to agree. Itdidlook damn good in these trousers. I felt kind of ashamed of the anticipation of Lonan showing up and seeing me. I felt like a little kid with a crush. A pathetic, one-sided crush. Lonan would barely even look at me all evening, I was sure. Maybe I’d just made up that loaded look in the kitchen before. It wasn’t like anything remotely similar had happened since.
Once I was ready, I sipped water and paced the cottage, my stomach in knots. I jumped out of my skin when the knock came at the door, even though I’d been anticipating it.
Lonan looked exactly the same as always when I opened the door, and like every other time, he just stared at me in silence. But then his eyes quickly swept down my frame before they stopped dead—about halfway down. I sucked my lower lip into my mouth and sank my teeth into it, trying to use the pain to stop my cock from plumping up under his endless black gaze.
He didn’t react at all—his expression didn’t change except for a tiny, almost indiscernible tic in his cheek that pulsed for just a second before he looked away.
“Let’s go.”
I didn’t know whether to take that as a win or not as I closed the door and followed him in silence. He’d definitely noticed, but he’d barely reacted. Although, what had I expected him to do? Drop to his knees and yank out my cock, already salivating for it?
My trousers tightened as I pictured it, and I quickly glanced at the back of Lonan’s head as he walked a few steps in front of me.
“So… what can I expect?” I asked to distract myself, jogging to catch up to him.
He’d offered me advice before, so maybe he’d be willing to help me now.
He didn’t answer for a long moment, so long that I thought the entire walk to the Carlin’s court was going to be in total silence.
“Don’t address her until she addresses you,” he said in his husky voice. “Don’t eat or drink until she does. Don’t thank her. Not even for the money. Don’t bring up the money at all.”
He paused for a moment before adding quietly, “Don’t fall prey to my brothers.”
My gut clenched with foreboding. The Carlin’s other three sons. They’d be there too. And despite the fact that the one walking next to me was the assassin, the others sounded more terrifying. They’d be watching me closely. Listening to every word I said with conniving ears. Trying to trick me with honeyed words and half-truths.
As aloof and cold as Lonan was, he was forthright with me. He’d helped me, several times now.
I hoped I was seated next to him.
My breath caught when he glanced over at me, black eyes shadowed in the dying light.
“And do not think you can speak to any of them the way you speak to me.”
My cheeks flushed. “I don’t speak to you in… any way.”
“You are curt,” he said sharply, which made me snort with laughter before I could stop it. His eyes snapped back to me, narrowing.
“Sorry.” I sobered quickly, biting my lip.
I could have sworn his cheeks flushed faintly before he looked away, lapsing into silence as we passed the village and headed directly towards the looming steps of the Carlin’s court.
“Don’t try and trick her with lies,” he added softly, still not looking at me. “She’ll know. If you must say something false to appease her, be very careful with how you word it.”
I swallowed, any humour fleeing as I stared up at the approaching palace. “Okay.”
I wanted to thank him for all the advice—far more than I’d been expecting—but didn’t dare. My stomach clenched up into a tight knot as we ascended the giant steps, which gleamed like they were coated in ice.
“You’ll be fine,” he said stiffly, voice pitched low. “You’re not a complete idiot. You handled the Folk in the village well.”
My lips quirked as I shot him a look, a little bubble of amusement loosening my gut. “Tha—Okay.”
The same tall, striking guards with silver eyes as the last time I’d been here opened the massive front doors for us as we reached the top of the steps, heaving them open with little strain despite their immense weight.
The vast entrance hall was completely empty, our footsteps echoing as we made our way across the icy expanse. Cold unseelie fire lit the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling, making the gleaming white walls look like melting ice.
Lonan didn’t head for the throne room that I knew was through another set of giant, ornate doors directly opposite us. Instead, he turned right towards another set to the side. I followed him in silence, and my gut twisted again when he stopped before opening them, turning to look at me.
“Are you ready?”
I chewed on my lip and resisted the urge to fiddle with my shirt.
“Do I look okay?” I blurted before I could stop myself, almost wanting to smile when Lonan’s eyes flared at the question.
Lips flattening, he swept his gaze over me, clearly trying to make it look cursory but blinking when he got halfway down my frame. The muscle in his cheek twitched again, just once, but it made me want to grin.
“Yes,” he said in a stilted voice, then immediately turned and pushed open the doors.