Chapter twenty-four
The floor-to-ceiling double doors opened into a dark, barely-lit study that held shelves of books upon books, with a large carved wooden desk in the center.
Thick brocade curtains were drawn over the windows, barely allowing the sunlight to shine through.
Aris wore a dark blue button-up tunic with his long sleeves rolled near his elbows and black trousers that led to his black boots.
It was so dim in this room that the candles’ reflected off his black hair.
Aris ordered his warriors to leave after bringing me into the study while two guards remained outside.
My breaths turned shallow.
As Aris approached me, it became harder and harder to breathe, like he was pulling the air straight from my lungs.
How did he do that? Power radiated from him with every step he took.
Mystery, wonder, curiosity.
Closer and closer, there were wars in my head causing me to not think straight.
I didn’t know what Aris wanted from me.
The panic within me rose the more I thought about it.
Maybe he was going to give me back to Malakar.
Maybe he realized I caused more trouble for him than helping him as an indentured servant.
Think, think, think.
“Look at me,”
Aris ordered.
I clenched the side of my dress and forced myself to study the marbled umber tiles and the deep emerald rug that covered a large part of the floor.
I debated his demand for a moment more and realized it was useless and obeyed, meeting his smoldering eyes.
“You are to stay near me.”
I blinked.
“After what happened last night…for your safety from the Strokans…”
His eyes flickered.
“You’re to stay in the servants quarters inside the main palace, where I know they wouldn’t dare come near.”
Aris placed his hands in his pockets and peered down at me.
I forgot how massive he was, towering over me.
“Will it always be this hard to get a response from you?”
I diverted my eyes.
The hanging black velvet tapestry across the room suddenly became very interesting to me.
Think, think, think.
“Do I always have to be close to get you to talk to me?”
His voice dropped an octave.
My wide eyes shot up. “No!”
I shook my head and took a step back, gaining more pointless distance.
Aris chuckled softly at my quick response, clearly amused.
My face flushed red.
I do not want you any closer.
I cleared my throat.
“Do I have a choice in this?”
His chuckle faded.
“No, you don’t.”
I dug my fingers into my palms.
Of course, I lost my choices months ago.
I was a captive, forced into servitude.
“Why do you care what happens to me?”
Aris leaned a hip on his desk.
“You’re my responsibility.”
Right.
That was what Malakar told Aris I was.
But I didn’t want to be here, closer to Aris.
That was the last thing I wanted. He was unpredictable and unreadable.
“You’re to be my chambermaid.
The last one died from a sickness, and I’m in need of a new one.”
My jaw dropped, but I decided to give him a nod as my response, hoping that was enough.
Talking was too much around him, and I wouldn’t give him the easy satisfaction since he’d made my life…not so easy.
My gods, I was playing games.
What is wrong with me?
Several moments went by where I could feel his heavy gaze penetrating through me, reading me.
I gazed at that extremely fascinating tapestry.
Aris pushed off the desk and strolled over to me.
My fingers quivered, and I crushed them again in silent demand to stop.
He grabbed my jaw with his warm hand and lifted it to the side to reveal my neck.
My scar barely showed anymore, but the fact he still noticed didn’t surprise me. How he cared to notice—now, that surprised me.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”
His face came too close to mine.
He angled his head, narrowing his eyes on my neck.
His breath danced over my skin, causing it to prickle, as the warmth of his body radiated toward me.
He grabbed my hand, and I could hardly breathe right as he brushed a thumb over my bruised fingers.
“I give no mercy to those who cause harm,”
he stated.
I gave him a cold stare for his hold on me.
That was enough.
He had no right to touch me like this.
His touch burned through my skin. I was tired of feeling owned, that my body wasn’t even mine. I was tired of having no say over what happened to me. I was tired of being pulled and dragged and pushed.
“Let go of me.”
I raised my arm to release his grasp, but he caught my arm with his free hand.
He tightened his grip on my jaw, and I flinched.
My body was now flush with his from the sudden movement.
My breath faltered.
I forced the image of me curled up in his body that fretful night out of my mind.
“You’re too slow.”
“I’ll get faster.”
Aris chuckled, and my stomach flipped.
His voice turned into milk and honey as he spoke.
“I try to stay away from you, but you don’t make it easy, do you?”
I met his obsidian eyes above mine.
“I am nothing to you,”
I whispered, my heart beating so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
Aris shook his head, the front of his hair almost touching my face.
“If you are nothing, then why do you keep appearing in my thoughts?”
Our eyes locked, and our breaths flowed into each other’s mouths.
He smelled of musky oak trees.
My eyes lowered to his mouth.
The perfect shape of lips. I felt an unfamiliar sensation tingle down my body. It was distracting.
I didn’t answer.
“Are my thoughts not important?”
This was a trap.
He was playing a game.
His body towering over mine felt warm and protective, even though I knew he was dangerous and what he was capable of.
Maybe every other girl would have fallen for his charm, his built body, his handsome face, and the fact that he had a powerful empire, but not me.
Nothing would ever tempt me from the vow I made.
When I didn’t respond to his rhetorical questions, I used my free arm to push against his hold on my jaw again, but instead he released me and twisted my last free arm behind my back.
My entire body was now pressed completely with his.
I attempted to yank the arm behind me out, and his hold on me tightened once more in gripping punishment.
He shook his head, clicking his tongue.
“It’s too easy,”
he said with disdain.
“You better learn fast in a world like ours.”
His threat made my blood boil.
How dare he.
“Like I said before, I’ve managed.”
My eyes darted to his, my neck craning.
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yeah,”
I whispered breathlessly.
I felt his chuckle rumble against my body. “How so?”
“I keep to myself.
And stay away from emperors who like to grab me.”
Aris laughed deepened.
“It’s been pretty easy for me to grab you, quiet one.
I think you’ve done a terrible job at that.”
My face flushed red as I attempted another escape.
Stupid, arrogant emperor.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have you as my chambermaid since you’re a liability.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it.
Having a witch for your chambermaid…doesn’t seem so safe.”
I blew a piece of hair that fell in front of my face from the movement.
My breathing deepened from my exhausting and pointless attempts.
His body went still.
“Is that a threat? To your emperor?”
Oh, shit.
I hadn’t meant it in that way.
I looked up.
He must have understood the innocence in my eyes as Aris curved his lips.
His warmth seeped into my body, so much so that I almost allowed myself to lean and relax into his.
My eyes lifted from his mouth to his eyes.
They grew a shade darker.
He leaned down, his lips close to my ear, and whispered.
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not afraid of you.”
I smiled faintly.
For the first time in…a long time.
“Are you afraid of me?” he asked.
I didn’t know what came over my body, but I lost control of my words, my thoughts, and my movements as I instinctively shook my head, my face barely touching his.
“No,”
I whispered softly.
It was the truth.
I didn’t know why or how it was, but it was truth that burned into my heart.
Maybe I wasn’t the pathetic girl I believed myself to be.
Maybe I did have some strength in me that wasn’t afraid.
Aris released both my arms and took a step back.
His eyes turned indifferent and distant.
“You’re going to have to learn quickly.
I can’t have my chambermaid not know how to protect herself.”
He went around his wooden desk and called in his guards.
My jaw tightened.
He was right.
I couldn’t protect myself.
I was tired of being under the control of others because of my weakness. I decided at that moment that was going to change, and I was going to find a way to fight harder and stronger. I was going to make my brother proud. The funny thing was, I was fine when people looked at me with disgust for who I was but never pity, never in a way that made me feel like the smallest person in the world.
The large double doors creaked open, and both guards entered.
Aris sat in his large wooden chair and fussed with his papers.
“She is to be my new chambermaid.
Show her to her new quarters.”