A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows #2)(55)

Jorah knocked twice before he pushed the door open. I took a deep breath and held the blanket tightly around me before stepping inside. There was a large dais at one end of the room with two thrones upon it. Both as black as night and twin in design.

But Evren sat at a large table that was taking up most of the room, and he was staring down at parchments of maps in front of him. There were a few others in the room as well as both Thalia and Sorin at his sides, but it was only him I could see.

He hadn’t noticed me yet, but Thalia did. She gave me a small smile as she stood from her chair and nodded toward Sorin.

He looked up from the maps he was studying with Evren, and he blinked when he saw me standing in the corner of the room. He started to move from the table, and Evren’s attention finally pulled away from the maps and landed on me.

He looked like he hadn't slept since yesterday. His eyes were dark and tired, and his hair was disheveled as if he had been running his hands through it.

“Princess.” He stood from his chair without taking his eyes off me. “Did you need something?”

I hated how tired he looked. How worn down he was over his racing thoughts of keeping me safe. And I wanted to take them away.

“It's late.” I let my gaze fall to the windows that stood beyond the dais. “Why don't you get some rest?”

I saw Evren’s face falter, and he sat back down in his chair. “I will rest. But there are some things I need to attend to first.”

Thalia looked back and forth between us, but I couldn't make out the look on her face.

But it didn't matter. It didn't matter what anyone in the room thought other than him, and I pulled my blanket tighter around me as I made my way to him. He leaned back in his chair as he watched me, his hands gripping the arms of the chair.

“Adara.” Even his voice sounded so tired.

“Evren.” I mocked the way he said my name, and Sorin chuckled at his side.

“I think Adara is right.” He walked past Evren before reaching me and placing a kiss on my forehead. “We've been at it all night and day. We could all do with some rest.”

Evren nodded once even as he gritted his teeth. It wasn't what he wanted to hear, but I stood silently as Thalia and Sorin left the room along with the other soldiers that had been at their sides. The large doors closed with a loud thud, but I didn't take my eyes off of Evren.

“I don't need rest.” His voice was taut, and he looked along the maps in front of him. “There is far too much to worry about than to think of rest.”

“People tend to make mistakes when they’re tired.” I held the blanket tighter around me and ran the soft fabric against my chin.

Evren cocked an eyebrow at me, and I could see the ghost of a smile on his lips. “You think I'm going to make mistakes?”

“I didn't say that.” I took a small step closer to him. “But you look exhausted.”

“Ah.” He chuckled. “My betrothed is worried that I won't look good on her arm?”

My stomach tightened at hearing him call me that, and I couldn’t seem to make my hands quit trembling.

I forced myself between him and the table, and I didn't stop until I was standing between his thighs. He pushed his head back against his chair and stared up at me.

“I'm not sure that there's anything you could do to make you not look good.” I pushed my fingers into his hair, and his eyes closed at my touch.

He leaned forward and slid his hand beneath the blanket. His fingers touched my bare thigh, and his gaze darkened.

“Are you telling me that you’re attracted to me?” His lips curved at the side, and my chest loosened at the sight.

“I would never admit such a thing.”

He laughed and his hands moved around the backs of my thighs. “Oh, princess.” His grip tightened, and he lifted me as I let out a small squeal.

He didn’t stop until my ass hit the edge of the table, and my hands came down and had most of his maps flying to the floor.

“Your stuff.”

“It’ll be fine.” He leaned forward and pushed his body between my thighs. “I have more important things to attend to.”

“Like what?” I barely managed to breathe out the words.

“My mate,” he growled and jerked me forward until my sex pressed against his chest. “It would appear that she needs me.”

“I don’t think I said I needed you.” My blanket was barely covering me anymore, but I still clung to it like it could save me.

“No, but the scent of you tells me otherwise.” His hands ran along my thighs, and I attempted to close them around him as I blushed.

“That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” He stared down at my thighs as his fingers trailed over the inside, just over my scar. “Are you telling me if I go just a little bit higher, I won’t find you soaking?”

“I came in here to check on you.” I looked back toward the door. “I wanted to make sure that you were okay.”

His face softened, but his hands didn’t. “I’m fine, princess.”

“You don’t look fine. You look worried.”

“I am worried.” He nodded once before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the inside of my knee.