Page 10

I stare at the closed door, when I see that he isn’t going to return, I relax slightly. Picking up the book on Fae history, I sit back on the bed and start reading. I can’t remember the last time I actually read a book. Being constantly on the move meant I didn’t get much time to read and with moving, books would mean more things to carry.

After a few hours of reading, my back aches from being slumped over. The book is pretty much the same as what my grandmother had already told me. How the war started after a Dragon killed one of the Royal Fae and our kind sought out revenge. If only they had known this world we currently live in would result from that war, maybe they wouldn’t have sought revenge. I noticed halfway through that there were pages torn from the middle.

Sitting up, I head to the bathroom, stripping down and placing my clothes at the end of the bed to keep them dry. Grabbing the towel from the back of the chair, I take it with me and shut the door.

I shower quickly, not wanting the hot water to run out like yesterday. The warmth soothes my chilled skin, a relief after struggling to stay warm for so long.

Halfway through washing my hair, a draft brushes against me. A presence.

I turn toward the door—and freeze.

Dragus stands in the doorway, watching me, his faded denim jeans and black singlet doing nothing to soften the devious smile on his lips. Behind him, Matitus sits at the edge of the bed, expression unreadable, yet his gaze is locked on me.

Heart pounding, I reach for the towel on the basin. It’s gone. Vanished.

Heat prickles down my spine as Dragus moves behind me, his arm brushing past to shut off the water. His breath ghosts over my neck, sending a shiver through me.

I go still. Turning around means revealing far more than just my back.

When he doesn’t move, I glance over my shoulder and see he has come even closer. I feel his fingertips brush my side and I flinch away from his touch.

“Dragus, give the towel to her. You’re scaring her,” Matitus growls. Dragus ignores him, moving closer, and I can feel his belt buckle press against my back. My heart hammers in my chest when I feel both his hands on my hips tugging me against him.

“If I wanted to hurt you, I would have by now,” he whispers, his hands trailing up and over my stomach to the sides of my breasts. His hands are warm, making me shiver as his body temperature runs a lot hotter than mine. His thumbs brushing the sides of my breasts.

“Dragus,” Matitus growls, louder this time.

Dragus huffs, clearly annoyed, but I’m grateful when he drapes the towel over my shoulders. Clutching it tightly, I wrap it around myself before turning, glaring up at him.

His lips curl into a slow, seductive smile, his gaze dragging down my body, stopping at my legs.

I shift uncomfortably as he licks his bottom lip.

Stepping to the side, I try to pass him—he moves with me, blocking my path.

“Dragus, you had your fun, leave her be. Silas will rip your head off if you touch her without him,” Matitus warns. My blood runs cold at his words. What did he mean touch me without him? Dragus growls. He steps aside, and I quickly dart past him and grab my clothes off the end of the bed. I go to turn back into the bathroom and Dragus’s huge body is blocking the door.

I wait for him to move. He doesn’t.

I look to Matitus to see if he is going to tell him to move, and I realize they want me to get changed in front of them. I pull my towel tighter, stepping away from them. I move to the other side of the room, and quickly pull my jeans underneath the towel, while glaring at them. They both look quite amused at my discomfort. I feel the denim sticking to me as I pull the pants up from not being able to dry myself. I then grab my shirt, pulling it over my head and removing the towel.

Matitus picks up the book on the nightstand scanning the last page I was reading. He chuckles and I raise an eyebrow.

“Fae are such proud creatures, I swear they believe their own lies,” he says when he reads the page. I bite my tongue knowing if I speak, I will say something I regret or will get me killed.

“Come, dinner is ready!” says Matitus, tossing the book on the bed and standing. He moves to the door with Dragus and they both step outside waiting for me.

“I don’t like repeating myself, Elora. I suggest you move,” he says, holding his hand out. I move closer ignoring his outstretched hand, following instead with my arms crossed. Matitus sighs and strolls ahead, leading me through a part of the castle I haven’t seen before.

A massive wooden table dominates the center of the room. Matitus takes a seat while Dragus pulls out a chair.

“Sit,” he says.

I hesitate, then finally step forward.

Dragus takes a seat beside me and turns his chair so he is half facing me.

A few minutes later, Abigail emerges and places three plates in front of us. I stared at the plate wishing I could be anywhere else. I would have preferred to sit in the room alone and eat instead of finding myself stuck between two intimidating men. Dragus touches my knee beneath the table. I just stare at the plate, uncomfortable. Dragus runs his hand up my leg, making me jump. I move his hand off me only for him to place it back on my thigh.