Training.
But I wasn’t sure, and it wasn’t like I’d had a chance to ask Nyktos this morning. He had been gone when I woke.
Using one of the final bands I could find in the bathing chamber, I made a mental note to ask about the ones Nyktos had been taking after undoing my braids. He’d put them around his wrist, but they were nowhere to be seen after that. What was he doing with them? Using them in his hair? I focused on that instead of the blood I had seen again earlier when I cleaned my teeth. I refused to think about that.
“You’re smiling,” Ector commented, glancing down at me. “I feel like I should be worried when you’re smiling.”
I snorted. “There’s nothing to be worried about.”
“Uh-huh.”
I felt my smile grow as we descended the stairs and Ithought about last night. Every moment had felt like some sort of wild dream. Nyktos had shared dinner with me again, and then we’d shared each other. As his large body trembled in release, he’d whispered that word against my lips once more.
Liessa.
Something beautiful.
Something powerful.
Queen.
I caught sight of Lailah heading down the hall to our right as we crossed the foyer, Reaver flying near her shoulder as we turned toward Nyktos’s office. The embers in my chest warmed and wiggled, and there was a swift, swelling motion that made me feel a little silly, then a littlerecklesswhen we entered the office and I saw Nyktos at his desk, writing in the Book of the Dead. He had his hair swept back from the sharp, stunning angles of his face.
My heart leapt as he lifted his head. Luminous, silver eyes connected with mine, and my skin immediately felt warmer than it should. Were hot flashes a symptom of the Culling? I’d ask Aios the next time I saw her. Definitely not Nektas.
“Perfect timing.” Nyktos closed the Book of the Dead and rose, twisting the twine around the book. He was dressed as he’d been in his chambers—no embellished tunic, only a loose, black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows and leathers. He turned to the credenza. “I just finished.”
“Is there anything else you need?” Ector asked.
“No, but I won’t be available this morning.” Nyktos put the tome away as anticipation stirred. “Unless there is an emergency.”
“Understood.” Ector slid a sly look in my direction.
“Thank you,” Nyktos said, coming around his desk.
Ector bowed and, with one quick look in my direction, exited the office, leaving me alone with the Primal.
Things still felt inexplicablydifferent.
And I needed to get control of my wildly beating heart. “How many souls oddly shared the same name today?”
He sent me a faint grin as he crossed the office, and it did little to calm my heart. “None this morning.”
“I suppose it’s because you weren’t so distracted.” I clasped my hands together.
“Considering how quiet it was,” he said, stopping before me, his gaze dipping to the swell of my chest pushed up by the vest, “and that there were no breasts inches from my face, I was quite focused.”
I bit back a grin. “Well, you should be pleased to see that there is no threat of my breasts being such a distraction today.”
“They are always a distraction,” he murmured, picking up my braid.
“Which is more of a failing on your part than my breasts’ fault.”
He ran his thumb down the length. “So I’ve been told.”
“So you should know,” I told him, enjoying the lighthearted banter. It reminded me of before my betrayal became known.
The quick grin returned as he drew the braid over my shoulder, letting it fall down my back. “Come,” he said, stepping back and starting for the office doors.