When I reached the upper floors, I relaxed a little in the expansive library. From floor to ceiling, all of the books were perfectly organized.
I crossed into my bedchamber, and started to fill the bath with freezing water. I stripped off my clothes completely. For some reason—even though she was mortal—embers of lust had started to spark in me. I would smother them in ice.
I needed to make sure I kept my wits about me, to focus on my true destiny—becoming High King of the Fallen. And when I did, we would hunt down our mortal enemies and slaughter them, one by one.
I stepped into the bath, and the shock of the cold sent a jolt up my body, freezing my muscles. As I lowered myself in, my abs clenched at the frigid water.
I must not let this mortal woman confuse my purpose.
13
Lila
It seemed I still had a job at least, and I’d be going to the Isle of Thorns. I’d never been there, but I knew it was a little island city just west of here, in the middle of the Dark River. It had a palace to rival this one.
I sat on the edge of the desk, disturbed that my skin still felt hot where his fingertips had brushed against my thigh. That little point of contact was seared into my memory. Addictive. Angels were deeply addictive.
So it would be important to remember that they’d been ripping out people’s lungs.
The door swung open, and Lord Sourial leaned against the frame, his hazel eyes twinkling, a curl falling over them. The rings on his fingers glinted as he took a sip of wine.
“What happens next?” I asked.
He stretched his arms, giving me a complete view of his chest, as though he liked my eyes on him. “Come on. I’ll show you to your room.”
He turned into the hallway again, and I followed. I took in the hall as we walked. The vaulted ceiling soared high above us, and torchlight wavered over dark stone.
Sourial cast a glance over his shoulder, shooting me a look that dripped with pure sex.
I looked down, feeling myself blush. He was trying to beguile me, and I had to remember I was here for Alice. “Do you have servants?”
“Of course.”
“Where are they?” I asked.
“How should I know?” He sipped his wine. “Serving, here and there.”
Not very helpful. “How well do you know the count?”
“Very well. We’ve been through many wars together.” He led me to a narrow set of stairs—clearly they’d been made for mortals long ago, and he hardly fit in them. His shoulders brushed on either side of the wall as he walked, and darkness enveloped us.
The stairs seemed to climb upward forever, chilly beneath my bare feet.
“Why did he execute that man outside?” I asked.
“You have a lot of questions. Can’t you just appreciate the experience of being personally escorted to your room by a lord?”
“The execution was a memorable experience. I was curious about it.”
“The count killed him because he was one of the Free Men. And the Free Men don’t believe we belong here. Most of them are aristocrats, angry that they lost power. They’re growing in numbers. They need to be defeated.” He flashed me an easy smile, light dancing in his eyes. “I suppose we will have to kill every last one of them. And frankly, I wouldn’t mind a good battle.”
The stairwell opened up into a new hall—this one with light slanting in through towering windows onto the flagstones.
Sourial stopped walking at an arched black door.
He opened it, revealing a large room with vaulted ceilings. It was a hexagonal shape, with stone walls. From three sides of the room, tall windows let in the morning light. Rays beamed over a circular oak table in the center.
Most importantly, the table had been set for lunch. My mouth watered as I crossed to it. Steam curled off a steak pie with gravy and roast potatoes. And set around those were bowls of fruit, fresh bread and cheese, and oh my heavens what had I done to deserve this.
“What’s this?” I asked, stunned.
“Your room.” He pointed at another doorway that opened in one of the walls. “The bathroom is there in case you want to freshen up.”
My jaw dropped. I don’t know why I was surprised—I mean it was a castle. “Are you bloody serious?”
“What?”
“I just can’t believe I’ll be staying here. I’ve never lived in a place with an indoor bathroom before.”