To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(55)

“Well, that shall change as of now. I promise not to keep chasing you. After tonight, how could I continue flirting with you with a straight face?”

He chuckled at her innocent naiveté. “I’m not sure your lack of chasing and flirting will help much.”

“Of course it will. I’ll stay out of your way, and you can go back to focusing on running your country instead of being hounded by me. You can go back to the way you were before I arrived.”

He thought about that. About how lonely, cold, and bitter he felt before she arrived. His conscience told him to back away now, send her to her cot, and to try to get some sleep before dawn.

But his heart said to admit to himself that he was falling in love with her, to gather her into his arms and hold her tight, all night if need be, because he had a few demons of his own that needed dispelling tonight.

“Well, I should let you get some sleep.” She rose to her feet.

He stood as well and grasped her upper arms through the filstoc fur. “Graciella…”

She raised up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for forgiving me.”

He gazed down at her sweet, tear-stained face, reaching up to gently free some strands of hair that were stuck to her cheek by dried tears. “There’s nothing to forgive,” he murmured, caressing her soft cheek with the pad of his thumb. He leaned down, intent on closing the gap between his mouth and her lips, but she moved aside.

“Nope, I won’t be a temptation to you any more, Yavi, especially while you’re drugged with Tongkat.” She moved past him and stuck a hand out of her fur blanket to drag the cot back toward the fireplace.

He wanted to scoop her up and carry her to his bed. He wanted to do that badly. But something held him back. If he resisted now, he could still wake up tomorrow morning without loathing himself.

She lay on the cot, stuffed the pillow under her head, and pulled the white fur tightly around her body. “Good night,” she called over her shoulder.

He didn’t respond. He stood there staring at her, paralyzed by desire as well as conscience. Then he put out the large candle beside his bed, shed his robe, and crawled into his bed, alone.

§

Graciella awoke with a start and looked up at the clock. It was already almost six, and she was late for making the bread. She sat up on the cot and glanced across the room. Yavi’s muscular back was facing her, his blanket covering him up to his waist. She shoved her feet into her slippers, wrapped the filstoc fur around her, and quietly left his room.

She passed a tall, broad-shouldered guard in the hallway, who bowed his head to her. “Morning, milady.”

She blushed at having been caught leaving Yavi’s room. “Morning, Wolfan. It’s Wolfan, correct?”

“Yes, milady. At your service.”

She glanced back over her shoulder at Yavi’s door. “I—ah, was just…”

“No explanations necessary, milady. And by the way, all the guards are very grateful for your delicious meals. We’ve never had such delicious fare here.”

“Oh.” She smiled. “Good, good. Ah, Wolfan, would you…would you be willing to accompany me to my room and stand outside my door for a few moments? Last night I saw a ghost in that room, and I’m still a little shaken up.”

“Of course.” He placed his fist over his heart, bowing. “Shall we go?”

She nodded and hurried through the passageways with him until they reached her door. “I’ll only need a few minutes to get dressed. Just…stay out here if you don’t mind. It won’t keep the ghost from reappearing, but at least I won’t feel like I’m facing it alone.”

“I will be right here. Shout if you need me.”

She offered him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

Inside her room, she dressed in a plain work dress, pulled on her boots, brushed her hair, and re-braided it into a single braid down the back. She didn’t take the time to pin it up because she needed to get downstairs and start some dough rising as soon as possible.

Wolfan nodded to her when she opened the door. “All quiet in there this time? No ghosts?”

“No, it was fine. Thank you for standing guard.” She stepped into the hallway and closed her door. “Wolfan, have you ever seen a ghost of a young boy here in the palace? About this tall, large gray eyes, cries for his father?”

“No, milady. But I know the palace is haunted.”

“How do you know?”

“Windows open themselves, furniture changes position sometimes. Mostly in this northern wing. All the guards have seen strange things during night patrols that we can’t explain. It happens rarely, but it does happen.”

A chill ran up Graciella’s spine. “I’d like to discuss this further with you, Wolfan, but I’m late for making the bread.”

“I’ll escort you to the kitchen, then.”

“Oh, you don’t have to.”

“My pleasure,” he insisted.

As they approached the kitchen door, she turned to thank him again. “Wolfan, if you could…perhaps not mention to anyone that you saw me leaving…a certain room this morning, it would be most appreciated.”

“I saw no such thing.” He smiled. “Your secret is safe with me, milady.”

“Again, I thank you.”