Page 108 of The Shadows Between Us
“You were treated and touched like a whore, and it must have been disgraceful and humiliating. I don’t blame you in the least for hating me for it.”
“Oh.” I try to mask my surprise at his words.
“You are a true friend, Alessandra. Someone I consider my equal in all things, save title. I did not treat you as such last night.”
“Kallias, you let me help you last night. You treated me as you would a friend. Nothing less. Don’t think any more on it.”
He stands suddenly, and his legs are a bit wobbly, as he steadies himself against the nearby table. “Perhaps I drank more than I thought.”
“Let me help you up to bed.”
I take Kallias’s arm, and though I’ve never done so where anyone can see before (save when we were in disguise), I keep a firm grip on him as we exit the library. I order the guards to escort us up to the king’s rooms, but no one else dares to lay a hand on the king. I couldn’t ask them for help if I wanted to. They wouldn’t risk their lives. I’ll leave Kallias to do the pardoning for our touching later.
Demodocus trails behind us, ever the faithful pup.
We pass by a series of windows in the hallway, and the sound of thunder and pelting rain reaches us. Quite a storm is gracing us this evening.
The guards leave us be at the end of the hallway, and Demodocus and I continue on. I try Kallias’s door first, but since it’s locked, and I’m not about to go through his pockets for a key that he likely doesn’t have on him when he can walk right through walls, I let him into my room instead.
I think to help him into my own bed, but he says, “No, through there.”
I try the door connecting our two rooms. It’s unlocked.
“Why wouldn’t you lock this?” I ask.
“Why would I when it’s you on the other side?”
I help angle his fall onto the bed, then lift up both of his feet. I even take off his boots one at a time.
“Kallias, I’m not mad at you,” I reassure him, continuing the conversation from before. “I don’t care about yesterday. It was quite fun playacting, actually.”
Demodocus hops onto the bed next to him, placing his head atop the king’s stomach. Kallias lolls his neck over in my direction. “Even if you’re not mad about that, you should be mad at me for other reasons.”
“What reasons?”
His eyes close. “I saw you with Leandros. He offered you happiness, and you refused him. Because I’m forcing you to go through this ruse of courting me. I should release you from it.”
I smile. “But you won’t.”
“I can’t. I need you too much.”
Perhaps it’s just the drink, but I would very much like to think he didn’t just mean as a ruse.
His eyes shoot back open then, and his arm swings about before it catches my gloved hand and brings it toward his mouth but stops before he makes contact. He looks down at my glove as though it offends him. Then he’s sliding the garment off. I hold perfectly still.
“He kissed you. Here.” A leather-clad finger trails along my skin.
“Yes, he did.”
“I don’t want him doing that.Iwant to do that.”
He lowers his lips, but I jerk back my hand violently before he can make contact. “You’re not allowed to do that until you’re sober,” I tell him.
“Nonsense. Give that back!”
I laugh at him. “Go to sleep, Your Majesty.” I push against his shoulder, and he falls back onto his pillows, his eyes shutting once more. The fight has left him.
I step toward my room, taking one last look at my king. “I didn’t tell Leandros no because of some deal I have with you. I told him no because it would take me away from you.”
