with that.
Kema rolled her eyes. “C’mon, Hope.”
“Goodnight, Cardinal.” Hope’s voice was a mutter as she turned to leave. With her bracers—the East Wind Dominion was a pain in his ass, but their technology was amazing—he could barely tell she couldn’t see where she was going. She fell in step beside Kema as they left.
Now, maybe he could do something about the state she’d left him in. The sight of her eating that first chocolate had done a number on him. Every time after that, she had been careful not to excite him.
He groaned. He needed a hot shower.
Then he’d sprawl out in his sheets and imagine what it would be like to have her there with him.
It’d be reality soon enough.
The room smelled like fresh linen and flowers. It was lovely. Far from the basement of the temple that smelled vaguely musty no matter what they did to try to cover it up. She stood in the center of the room with Kema at her side.
“Could I ask you for a small favor?” She smiled toward the Egyptian. She knew it was strange for people when she didn’t look at them when she talked, so she did her best.
“Of course, anything.”
“If you could just stand near an object and let me know what it is, or where doors lead, it would make my life a lot easier. I could figure it all out eventually.” She chuckled. “But it’d save me a lot of time.”
“Of course! Of course.” Kema walked around the room and did just that. Told her where the bed was, the end tables, the dresser, the bathroom, the windows, and all the rest. The idea of having her own private bathroom was astonishing to her.
Hope quickly committed it all to memory. She had already mapped in her head all the hallways and rooms she had visited so far. “That was an enormous help. Thank you.”
“Anything I can do, let me know.” Kema walked up and rested her hand on Hope’s shoulder. “You’re very welcome here. I hope you can think of this as your home.”
“Is Nero really everything they’ve made him out to be?”
“Oh. He is. Don’t get me wrong—I love that asshole like he’s my brother.” Kema laughed. “But every story you’ve ever been told is true.”
“The man I met tonight was different from what I was expecting.”
“He’s every story you’ve ever been told about how violent and insane he can be. But he’s also a lot more than that. He’s the most loyal, most caring person I’ve ever met. I don’t stay with him because I’m in it for the money.” Kema’s hand slid from her shoulder. “My contract with him was only for a year. I’ve stayed as his slave by choice.”
Hope was stunned. “You…but you could be free.”
“Freedom is overrated, honey. Trust me. I know it might not seem that way to you. But my life now is better than it was in Egypt. That was a sack of misery.”
“Why did you sell yourself into slavery?” Hope moved to the edge of the bed and sat. It was so soft—so fluffy. She wanted to sink down into it and let it whisk her away. But there would be time enough for that.
“I was ‘strongly encouraged to comply.’ Pharaoh decided that one of his daughters should be married to the South Wind. Nero refused. So, they reached an arrangement. Nero bought me—on the cheap, the fucking miser—and here I am. I hated him for the first few months. I warmed up to him, and now I can’t imagine ever going back to Egypt. This is my home, and he’s become better family to me than anybody I’m related to by blood.” Kema sat on the bed next to her and nudged her arm with her elbow. “You’re not the only one whose life has been dictated to them.”
“Kema, what does Nero really want from me? And please, no lies. I can tell he isn’t telling me the whole story.”
The Egyptian sighed and stood. “It’s not my place to say. I’m sorry. It’s not…whatever you think it is, it isn’t.”
“That doesn’t help me.” She laughed. “I can imagine a lot of terrible things. It’s clear he’s trying to take me to bed.”
“Yes, well, there’s that. But that’s not the whole story.”
“I won’t whore myself for him.” She let her hand rest on the comforter. It was soft. She could feel warm air drifting in through open windows. It would be like sleeping in a garden. She