Demon of the Dead (The Drake Chronicles Book 4) by Lauren Gilley

Author:Lauren Gilley [Gilley , Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HP Press
Published: 2022-06-26T18:30:00+00:00

~*~

His bed had been turned down while he was at supper, by one of the few heavily-researched servants allowed into his wing of the Keep. Náli didn’t climb beneath the covers, though. He waited a few minutes, quiet, listening, in case Mattias came back for some reason. He did that, sometimes. Often, actually. Said that he’d forgotten to clear a dish when he had, wondering if Náli needed another blanket, or asking if he’d cried out, just now, in need of something.

Ploys, Náli now realized, in the wake of the person I love most in the world. Chances to steal one more glimpse, one more smile. Stolen togetherness, disguised by duty.

It was enough to fill him with pleasant tingles, cheeks heated and fingers restless for touch.

But no. His theory.

When he felt certain Mattias had gone to bed, he pulled on his robe and used its length to disguise the fact that he wore boots rather than slippers. Then he tiptoed to the door and peeped out, schooling his features into a sleepy expression.

As expected, a figure stood in silhouette at the end of the hall, cast in flickering light from the cressets on the wall. He knew right away it wasn’t Mattias, from the shoulders, so it must have been Einrih, set on duty by Mattias on his way to his chamber.

In the interest of security, the Corpse Lord’s chambers sat at the end of a hallway flanked only by the bedchambers of his Dead Guard. No one else lived in this part of the Keep. Sometimes that felt lonely, but tonight, it was a boon.

“Einrih?” he called, loud as he dared. Mattias’s chamber was nearest, and though he ought to have passed out the moment his head hit the pillow, he didn’t want to risk waking him.

Einrih turned at once. “My lord?” He strode down the hall and reached him before Náli could beckon him closer.

Náli shifted his brows and mouth into an expression that Mattias had always called dangerous, even before his confession, and the kisses. Einrih didn’t gaze on him the way Mattias did, but he wasn’t unaffected, Náli could tell. “I’m having trouble sleeping,” he said in a small, uncertain voice that left him with the sudden urge to laugh. It was an effort to keep his face properly demure.

“The lavender tea–” Einrih began.

“No, that’s no good. I’ve drunk it already. And I think, given how long I slept on the way here…”

Einrih frowned. “But you must rest to build your strength back up.”

“I know. So I was wondering…” He held one hand against the door, and fiddled with the ties of his robe with the other; shifted his weight to one foot and adopted a childish pose. “Does Darri still have some of that blackleaf weed?”

Einrih’s brows lifted, and then lowered. He frowned. “I don’t–”

Think that’s a good idea, Náli could imagine. He interrupted. “Won’t you please ask him? Please? It always relaxes me, and I’m so restless tonight.”

Einrih hesitated, scratching at the back of his neck, making faces.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.