Page 36 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

The cabin door creaks open.

I jolt and snap the diary shut.

My eyes narrow when they land on the broad form filling the doorway.

“You,” I hiss.

“Me.” Rian strides in, tossing a saddlebag onto the desk.

Shadows slink across the floor, coating the warped wood with their inky darkness.

“Don’t stop reading on my account.”

I press the diary into my skirts with my sweaty palms. “What are you doing here?”

“Unpacking.”

My stomach tightens. “Why?”

“Because I’m tired, and I need to clean up and sleep.”

“Great, so do that somewhere else.”

“Can’t. Every other cabin is taken.”

My stomach drops. “You aren’t staying here.”

“But I am.”

“Absolutely not.” I jump to my feet.

The diary thuds to the floor. I snatch it up before the shadows rolling off Rian’s boots reach it.

“Go bunk with one of your friends.”

“There’s no space. You’ve been given the largest sleeping quarters, so it is you who must share.” His gaze slides to mine, the silver threads in the dark irises pulsing. “Unless there’s another male you’d prefer to sleep beside? Darius, perhaps?”

The shadows crawling across the floor ripple toward my feet.

I stiffen. “I don’t want to sleep with any of you.”

“Liar.” The word rolls off his tongue, low and amused.

I sputter. “I’m not⁠—”

“Whatever you say, Sunshine.” He gathers his things and crosses the cabin. “I’m going to wash. Don’t wait up.”

He disappears into the adjoining washroom, the door closing behind him.

I stare at the scarred wood, noting that the marks look like someone threw a knife at the surface over and over. I wouldn’t mind having a knife right now.

How dare Rian believe he can sleep in here. Not only is he my enemy, but I’m a woman. A female. I deserve privacy.

By the time the door cracks open again, my jaw aches from clenching it. “You cannot sleep in here!”

Rian steps out, damp hair clinging to his temples, bare chest gleaming with water.

My breath catches.