I stared at his outstretched hand. I asked quietly, “What if I just wanted to sleep there? With you?”
He was quiet for a full minute. His hand never lowered, though. In the end, he replied, “Maybe you should go back to your room with him. Having sex with me is much different than what you’re asking for. And I have no more room in my life for another romantic partner. The two I have are all I need and want.”
And, yet, his hand was still waiting for me.
Because…he’d watched me kill Adelie.
Because he knew he’d have to kill one—or both—of his lovers soon. In the near future, they would be dead. He would be alone. The love and devotion he still had for his mother showed he took loss hard.
Master Niallan would be at his weakest soon.
I’d been right to ask that question. I was slipping deeper under his skin when he needed someone the most. I would be that person for him—until I wasn’t.
I placed my hand in his and lifted my head to look into his eyes. I said quietly, “Sleep only, Master Niallan. I need to get away from it all for a little while. Out of my own head. Away from them.”
The druid’s green eyes held mine. His fingers gently curled around my smaller digits. Without an ounce of emotion shown, he turned and pulled me behind him. “Only for tonight, your majesty.”
We both knew that wasn’t true.
It would be any night I wanted it.
Because he would need it, too—soon.
I’d…managed to make him more than a friend.
I’d made us partners in our pain.
We now had a link, a bond.
And wasn’t that fucking perfect for a blindside?
I hid my victorious grin as I held his hand and followed him into his castle and all the way up the tallest tower.
When we lay down on his bed, with chilling golden mist floating on his bedchamber’s floor around us, we closed our eyes and fell into peaceful sleep right next to each other.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Gwynnore
Master Niallan and I walked on quick feet to breakfast through his castle, in companionable silence, though we instantly separated as we entered the room, heading to different sides of the ornate table. Devin, Ysander, and the Overlords turned their attention to us, where they already sat at the table eating.
Lord Otto glanced at his watch. “You’re late, candidate.” He tipped his head back up and glowered. “You knew what time we wanted to start this morning.”
Master Niallan sat on his chair in a huff. He shook his head, and muttered, “My damn alarm clock didn’t go off. My apologies.”
I sat on my chair with ease. “I told you to plug in your phone. You didn’t listen.”
His green eyes met mine. “You did not tell me that.”
“I did too. Right before you threw a pillow at my head for daring to mention the beds at our stronghold were better than yours.”
Master Niallan blinked. “Oh. That’s what you were babbling on about?”
I lifted one black eyebrow. “You just wanted to sleep in. Don’t pretend for a second that you didn’t hear me.”
Gradually, his lush lips twitched.
“That’s what I thought.” I leaned back on my chair as a servant set my morning meal before me. I turned my attention to the Overlords. “You’ll have to excuse my appearance, my lords. But the asshole at the end of the table is at fault for the pillow creases still on my face and my rat’s nest of hair.”
Lord Belshazzar grunted. “Is he also at fault for your shirt being on inside out and backward?”
I snapped my attention down, my eyes flying to my shirt. My fingers fumbled at my neckline…and a tag poked the pads of my fingers right under my chin. I slowly looked back up and lowered my hands.
This probably did look bad.
I was sure he’d been told about the druid’s and my conversation last night—my decision for no sex, manipulating the druid on a much, much more intimate level. The Overlord had to be wondering what the fuck had happened to change it—like, a possible remaining childhood crush.
That was dangerous territory.
A personal fuck, not a work fuck.
Lord Belshazzar merely waited.
He took a bite of his eggs and chewed.
I cleared my throat quickly. “No. In my rush this morning to change out of the shirt he gave me to sleep in, I must have put it on wrong.”
He leaned back in his chair and inhaled deeply. I knew he was trying to decipher by scent if we’d had sex or not. His blink was gradual as he untangled the smells or lack thereof. The lord chuckled quietly under his breath and turned his regard to the druid ruler. “Apparently, you can be a gentleman.”
Master Niallan munched on a piece of cantaloupe. “Nothing happened between us last night, my lord. Quit worrying your small-minded thoughts about it. I wouldn’t want your head to explode from jealousy.” His green eyes flicked to Devin and Ysander, capturing their attention. “Really. Don’t worry.”
Devin and Ysander sat mute. But nodded.
No knives flew my way. That was a plus.
Directly on my right, Lord Cato stifled a yawn behind his fist. My father blinked blurry eyes down at his meal and ate at a sluggish pace. He was also leaning heavily on the table with his elbows during his silent eating.
My black brows puckered as I took a bite of my food. I used discretion while evaluating the rest of the Overlords. I took a sip of the blood in my glass, graciously gifted every morning by the druid leader, and decided that only Lord Xenon and Lord Otto appeared well-rested.
Lord Belshazzar’s eyes were even a little glassy.
Master Niallan and his partners were talking together at the end of the table, completely wrapped up in themselves, so I decided this would be safe to bring up.
I lowered my glass to the table, and asked quietly, “Have a late night, my lords? You look a bit peaked.”
Lord Pippin glowered. He stabbed at a piece of sausage on his plate. “Lord Belshazzar paced our room all night long. He fit right in with Master Niallan’s mother dancing and keeping us up.”
My entire body heated with affection. “Ah.”
I switched my regard to the lord sitting across from me. I licked my bottom lip and waited. And waited. But the Overlord wouldn’t look at me, his eyes cast down on his meal. I stated softly, “I was fine, Lord Belshazzar.”
He grunted and cut into his own cantaloupe.
My smile was gentle with caring. “On the positive side, you’ll sleep like a baby tonight.”
Ice blue eyes flicked up to mine—no sentiment showing at all. He chewed mutely, until he asked coolly, “You’re sleeping in our room tonight?”
I nodded once. And ate a piece of sausage.
“Brilliant. I doubt Lord Cato would like you out again tonight in the unknown.” His blue eyes sparkled on mine when my father flayed him with a cross expression. “It’s safer being with us, your majesty.”
My chin trembled in good humor. “Funny. I’m pretty sure Lord Cato knows I can take care of myself. But I’ll take that under advisement.”
Lord Belshazzar pointed his fork at me. “Do that. Everyone will rest easier if you’re sleeping soundly where you should be—even if you keep us up half the night talking beforehand. Not all of us are bothered by your chatter, your majesty.”
I hid the fondness that pressed to show on my face. I quickly stated, “That’s excellent to know, my lord.”
He nodded once curtly and resumed eating.
Lord Otto stated, “I had no issues sleeping. Didn’t notice anything amiss. I dreamed about two women with talented mouths.”
“That’s nice, my lord.” I shook my head in exasperation. “Now I know why you moan every night in your sleep.”
He smirked, unrepentant. “I have sweet dreams, your majesty. I believe you starred in one—”
I pointed my knife at him, cutting him off. “Enough of that.”
Lord Otto cackled quietly, fully enjoying himself.
Lord Belshazzar’s frosty gaze landed on him.
The Overlord’s laughter died a quick death.
My lips twitched. “Silence is a beautiful thing, is it not, my lords?”