“You wicked little thing,” he purred, heat pounding behind his eyes.
“I am just using every asset at my disposal. Men are so easily distracted.” I smirked.
“Do you kiss every man you spar then?” he asked, prowling closer.
“No.” My cheeks reddened as I held his gaze. “It worked well enough for you though.”
He was standing right in front of me now, his face a solid foot above mine.
Suddenly, he gripped my hair with his hand and ripped my head back, exposing my neck. He brought his face down and leisurely ran his lips along my neck as he whispered, “Yes, I guess it did.”
He paused at the connection between my neck and shoulder, biting it lightly. My breathing stopped, waiting. We stood there, locked in this embrace for a moment, my skin on fire wherever he touched me. His lips on my neck, his teeth. His hand in my hair. On my waist, pulling me into him.
He released me with a small shove.
“Don’t do it again.”
I stood there, catching my breath as he walked back to the castle and disappeared inside.
* * *
Irritation bit at me as I climbed the spiral staircase, exhausted and rubbing my sore thigh.
Rogue got under my skin in a way no one else ever had and that alone vexed me to no end. He frustrated me, infuriated me, perplexed me… Intrigued me. Something about him pulled me in, like a moth to a flame, and it felt as if I was just waiting for the inevitable burn that came with flying too close to the fire.
Thana stood as I crossed the top step, dragging me from my thoughts, and greeted me with a hesitant smile. Next to her was a large tub of steaming water that filled the room with the scent of lavender.
I sucked in a ragged breath, extremely grateful.
“Is this your doing?” I asked and she nodded sheepishly. “Oh, you are Goddess sent, Thana. Thank you.”
Crossing the room, I ripped the sweaty clothes off, stepped over the edge, and sank up to my neck, reclining my head. The warmth swallowed me, easing the ache in my tired muscles.
With my eyes closed, I hadn’t noticed Thana moving, so when she lifted my arm to scrub it with a sponge, I jumped, snatching my arm back out of instinct. She gasped, eyes wide with surprise.
“Sorry, I just… You don’t have to do that. I can wash myself,” I said, cheeks flushing, but she lightly grabbed my arm again, resuming.
Without lifting her eyes from her work, she spoke. “I have always been a lady’s maid, and as odd as it may seem, I enjoy the mundane tasks. It gives me a sense of… purpose, caring for someone else. I actually find it quite cathartic, and it has been a long time since I’ve had another female to care for.”
My mind snagged on her words, wondering who the last female may have been. Surely one of Rogue’s lovers. A small pit of jealousy formed in my gut and the irritation returned in full force.
“Edana was the last woman I was a lady’s maid for. She was incredibly sweet and kind to me, even as Adrastus held her against her will.”
Edana…
“Edana? Rogue’s mother?”
“Yes. You know, many refer to Adrastus as the Cruel King, but cruel is not a strong enough word to describe him. He was vicious, without a heart or soul. After he kidnapped her from her village, he thought she’d just bend to his will since they were fated mates, but when she didn’t, he locked her in her room.” Her hands stilled. “She never left it again. Not until she died.”
“How did she die?”
She glanced up at me as if deciding what she should say, if she should say anything at all.
“She died giving birth to Rogue.”
My heart broke. For her, for him. Without his mother, Rogue was left at the mercy of Adrastus. Just a child at the mercy of the man they deemed worse than cruel.
“Did he… Is he why Rogue has that scar?” I whispered, motioning to my neck.