Page 194 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

My eyelids flutter closed. “I don’t know what that means.”

And I don’t care.

I lay my head on Leto’s chest and listen to the quick beat of his heart as we sway to the music.

His breath tickles my scalp as he murmurs, “Even those of us with the smallest drop of Fae blood would sense the scowling one’s power and his claim over you.”

My forehead furrows.

Scowling one?

I crack my eyelids open. A blurry glance toward the side of the dais confirms Leto’s observation.

Rian’s legs are spread in a wide stance. Muscular arms cross his chest, and a fierce, terrifying scowl mars his firm lips.

Fire blazes from his eyes.

I rip my gaze away and stare at the base of Leto’s throat. His pulse flickers in time with the music.

“No one has a claim on me.”

Not Lev. Not Rian.

I am my own woman. I will not be reduced to being viewed as property.

My subdued power begins to chip away some of the mind-numbing effects of the pink drink.

“What is life like for you?” I lift my chin to meet Leto’s gaze. “In Virendrell?”

The lusty curtain draws back from his eyes a bit. “Fine.”

He pivots on his heel, pulling me along with him. My back is to the dais.

“Just fine?” I slide my hand to rest on the space where his neck meets his shoulder.

The curtain pulls back even further, and his jaw works from side to side. “Contentment and safety can be found behind Virendrell’s sea wall, but I am not resigned to suffer a life not of my own choosing.”

I press my lips together.

The urge to tell him of Hali’s escape plan sits on the tip of my tongue. I want to invite him to join them.

But that is not my right.

“Don’t look so sad.” He places a soft kiss on my temple. “There are worse fates. Like growing up on the continent, ignorant of basic magical knowledge.”

He’s teasing me. Trying to comfort me.

But the words sting. My forced ignorance was one of the cruelest parts of living in Verdanthia.

Still, I swat his bicep with a playful scowl.

He huffs a deep laugh. The sound vibrates against my ear, and another shiver courses down my spine.

Tingling desire spreads through my core once more.

I draw back and bite my lip, searching Leto’s eyes.

“What?” he asks.