ne's

nted, expecting, out of habit to be greeted by the same crac

ling adorned with swirling designs and delicate carvings, kissed with faint golds an

ed rapidly, my ga

p a cloud would be like. Sheer silk curtains, dyed a delicate blue, hung eleg

bedding, half-expecting it to disappear, like a

I

his h

.. dressed in b

tumbling blindly out into the coo

nstakingly, I pushed myself into a sitting position. I paused, stared at the

d the filth I'd worn like a second skin for year

m my throat like a garbled squ

a lifetime. It scared the sh*t out of even me. My hands

o my chest, feeling the rapid

ppening? Wa

ep soothing voice br

vely, snapping my ga

how to

strained slightly against a black fitted shirt. Our eyes met and I was struck by the contrast between his doe brown eyes and the lush, dark lashes framing them so long and thick they almost seem

s dipped in caramel and came out flawlessly. My gaze fell to his lips, thick

rls crowned his head, and some stubborn strands fell into his forehead in the most e

der, almost painfull

bout him pu

, to demand answers but my lungs refused t

e you f

mesmerizing. I could drown in it, willingly if it

dry throat to work, but

ly taken pity on me? Was this beautiful

to shield my face, squeezing my eyes shut so tightly it hurt, bracing myself f

t, closing it up, until the only thing I coul

want to h

t me harder

fr

yes open, peeking out

red now, and a small, almost sad smile played

ed. His words sounded foreign but the tenderness

gh every fiber of my being still s

e asked, tilting

ow the hell I ended up here, in this absurdly soft bed, with the most mesm

bled, running a hand through

introduced my

presence somehow gr

me rolled off his tongue li

ked ra

o, no

he Sargis? The ruthless,

ontinued, his tone was almost apologetic. "You're currently in The

most sheepishly, "I had my staff clea

i

ucked out of a tea party, not a g

king up at him, u