A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(43)

“Oh. Well, I can do that,” she said, not willing to admit he had advantage over her. “Although…I may need a bit of paper.”

“Of course.” He found a quill and inkpot. He put them in front of her along with some scratch paper to help her tally the numbers. Then he pulled up a chair close to her and opened one of the other ledgers.

They tallied figures together for the better part of an hour. It was by far the most peaceful hour Sin had known for quite some time. Having her there put him at ease. It felt good to not be overwhelmed with this desperation to have her. She was there. She was his and she was there, in his world. Granted, he had trouble concentrating because he kept looking up at her. He loved the way she bit her lip as she thought and added. Her hair was still mussed from their outdoor play and it kept falling in her face. She would occasionally blow at a curl that drifted down over her nose.

She was perfect.

After another half hour, which he spent watching her more than he did his numbers, she leaned back and stretched.

“I’m starving,” she said.

“Dinner should be ready soon,” he said, closing his ledger.

“Aren’t you worried that the ink will smear?”

He wasn’t. He hadn’t written a figure for the last fifteen minutes. As it was he was going to have to go over his own work later.

“It’s fine. Let’s go see about dinner.”

“Will we be eating in my room?” she asked quietly.

“Yes,” he said, knowing that she’d rather not. “But I tell you what…tomorrow night you’ll eat with my family.”

She brightened at that. “Really? I would like that.”

“You haven’t met my family. You might change your mind.”

“Well they can’t be any worse than you,” she said cheekily.

“You’d be surprised. Come, let’s eat.”

He guided her back to her room, noticing she took in every detail of where everything was as they passed. He wondered briefly if she was trying to remember her way as a matter of fact or if she was planning some type of escape route. He would have to make certain they were careful with how much time Mariah spent with her. She would not attempt to escape without Mariah.

The thought made him frown. The idea of her trying to escape him made him angry. Why couldn’t she just find it in herself to consider a life with him? Had he been someone else he would have been able to court her properly according to her own customs, but he wasn't someone else. He was the man she hated. He’d had no choice but to take her for himself. And maybe that was selfish, but damn it, he needed to be selfish for a change. He spent so much time looking out for everyone else. Whenever did he get to look out for himself?

He passed the guard at her door, noting that it was someone else now, Mordol having been relieved. He walked her into the room and she took in a deep breath. Dinner was waiting for them and it smelled delicious. He had worked up quite an appetite himself.

He seated her then began to serve her as he had each night they’d dined together. He was learning her likes and dislikes by watching what she did and did not eat when he put it on her plate. She didn’t care for purple vegetables…she liked potatoes. Once he had served himself he sat down and they ate heartily. She chatted about the ledger she had been working on, her agile mind having quickly grasped some of the finer nuances of the tariffs. But of course she would. She no doubt had similar taxations implemented in her government.

No. It was no longer her government, he told himself firmly. She would find her place here with him and that would be the end of it.

The thought did serve to darken his mood though. He began to toy with his food.

“Did you have a nice day today?” he asked suddenly.

She looked at him, stopping mid-sentence. He had no idea what she had been saying. His attention had drifted too far away.

“Why I—“ He saw her dilemma instantly. She had had a good time, but she didn’t want to admit it. She didn’t want to admit that she could find time with her brutish captor fun. But then she surprised him. “Yes. It was a lovely day. But…it doesn’t change things. I still don’t belong here.”

“You belong here,” he countered stubbornly. “There is a place for you here with me if you but open yourself to the idea.”

“My place is back in Saren, leading my people,” she said stubbornly.

“They can be led without you.”

“What do you know about it?” she demanded. “Do you have any idea the events you have set in motion by taking me? My country could be on the brink of civil war right now for all we know!”

“Civil war?” He was surprised.

Ariana bit her tongue. She had not meant to give that detail away. If he thought the Sarens would be too busy fighting amongst themselves, then it solidified the idea that they wouldn’t go to war over her.

“It’s nothing,” she said, getting to her feet and moving away from the table. He followed her, catching her wrist in his hand and tugging her back around to face him.

“It’s not nothing. Tell me what you meant.”

She sighed, rubbing at a spot that ached on her forehead.

“As you know the Sarens are ruled by a triumvirate. Each triumvir holds power over their own army…men who come from the large amounts of land they have inherited. It won’t be long before I am declared gone for good and my heir will take command of my army. She will want to have her rightful seat in the triumvirate. Only it won’t be rightful because she is not suited to the job. She is vain and selfish…conniving and power hungry. She is my sister and I love her, but she is not suited to become triumvir.”