He grunts. “This is information that an anchor would have if…” He trails off. “It does not matter. This is not the time or place to discuss things."

Annoyance flashes through me. "Really? Because I'd sure fucking like to know why I acted like a ho if it was something she did. You weren't the one grinding on someone in public all night."

"You think I wasn't affected?" His eyes narrow as he glances over at me and then turns his attention back to the window.

That confession comes as a bit of a surprise. Aron always acts like he's above everything, but I remember putting my hands under his tunic last night and finding a very large and very erect cock. Okay, yeah, I guess he was affected too. Maybe that's why he's so pissy.

"I'm not sure I want to be here anymore after last night," I tell him, squeezing my thighs tightly together. God, they're still wet and sore. I'm so embarrassed at how many times I came last night. Five? Six? Eight? Twelve? Aron's probably got freaking hand cramps this morning. Just the thought makes me moan with fresh humiliation.

I huddle under the blankets, wishing the ground would swallow me up.

I’d really, really like to go home now, please.

"We are not staying here,” Aron says firmly. “I am surprised that Tadekha has let us live, which tells me that she has plans for our use, and we will not like them.”

“Enemies, right?”

“Long enemies,” he says with a nod. “I have disagreed with her abuse of power when it comes to the Citadel, because it has stripped the land and bankrupted Aventine. My city. We have fought over it many times.”

Right. I’m sure that went well. “But we’re alive—"

“And if we intend to stay that way, we will be leaving, just as soon as I figure out how." And he gazes thoughtfully out the window once more. "Tadekha will not want us to go. She is in her element here. She has control over everything. And she will be having us watched."

A shiver crawls up my spine. The goddess had seemed so pretty and delicate. I can't imagine her being as ruthless as he's making her sound…but he knows her. He knows what she's capable of. And if Aron misbehaved and got dumped here in the mortal world, Tadekha must have, too. "So what do we do?"

He gives me a sharp glance. "If I had a plan, we would already be executing it."

I make a face at him. "I missed you, too."

"That much is obvious."

Oooh, is that a crack at how I grabbed at him? "That wasn't me, dammit. That was whatever Tadekha did." I fling one of the pillows in his direction.

The pillow smacks him and he gives me an incredulous look, as if he's shocked I somehow dared to throw something at him. "You should mind yourself."

"Or what? You'll tickle me between the thighs again?"

Aron scowls and turns back to the window, silent.

I sigh. We're supposed to be a team and here we are, picking at each other. "Look, I'm sorry, all right? I'm just embarrassed about what happened last night. I can't believe I did that."

"It wasn't you," Aron says gruffly.

I guess that's about as much of an apology as I'm going to get from him. "At any rate, I'm glad you're here. How did you know to find me?"

He leans forward, studying something out the window. "The pain. It began once you left and grew less when I headed in a certain direction. I figured it must have had something to do with our attachment, and so I followed it." Aron snorts and gives a little shake of his head. "I didn't know you were foolish enough to head straight for the Citadel despite my warnings, though."

"I didn't. Some guys riding these big animals came through and snatched me up. They carried me off and that was when the pain started. I passed out, and when I woke up, I was in Tadekha’s Citadel dungeons. I think whoever grabbed me figured out something was wrong and brought me here.”

Aron grunts.

I gather the blankets closer to my body. "So this pain thing, that's part of the bond?"

"I suppose."

"Well, I wish someone would have pointed that out before I signed up." Of course, since my choice was death, I'd probably still have done it, but I'm feeling petty and abused at the moment.

He casts me an impatient look. "I am as in the dark as you are. We need answers, but I do not trust any that Tadekha will give us."

I nod slowly. He's not wrong about that. I don't trust her, not after last night's quasi-orgy. Heck, I'm still blushing thinking about that. "I'm ready to get out of here when you are."

"Have you looked in the hall? There are at least a dozen guards just outside our room."

"Well, you can take them down, can't you? You went through those guys at the city gates like they were nothing."

"It is not my safety I am concerned about," Aron says, turning to face me. "But yours. Tadekha knows we are bonded. You think she will not have them go after you? I can take out any number of guards, but before they get to you?”

Right. Because for some reason I’m the target. “Why does everyone keep trying to kill me instead of you?”

“That is the question. And I don't want to know what happens to me if you die." He clenches his jaw. “An anchor is supposed to guide but we are both lacking knowledge. And I cannot ask Tadekha or her minions, because they will realize how truly clueless we are.”

"Well I don't want me to die either!"

"Then we figure out another way out. And in the meantime, you do not leave my sights. I do not need to chase you all over the countryside once more. You are my anchor. Anchor yourself to me."

I glare at him. God, I would feel so much better about our pairing if he wasn't such a jerk. "Fine," I mutter, and leave it at that.

Hours pass in our chambers. Aron's in no mood to chit-chat, gazing out the window with impatience stamped all over his features. I nap for a bit in the bed, and when servants arrive with food, I scarf mine down. Aron doesn't eat, so after a short hesitation, I eat his, too. I notice that everything on the tray is finger-foods and no cutlery is provided. Nothing that we could use as a weapon. After that, I give myself a furtive sponge bath behind a screen and then dress in another wispy gown. No shoes are provided, and it just reminds me that Aron thinks Tadekha means to keep us prisoner. I think he's right.

On a whim, I take the food tray and carry it to the entrance of our apartments, then open the door. I put the tray down outside and glance around. Sure enough, guards line the walls, and they all turn to look at me as I peek out. I quickly duck back in, feeling a little sick to my stomach.

We need a plan.

OceanofPDF.com

18

Aron continues to gaze distantly out the open window. I want to ask him what we're going to do, but I remember how pissy he was earlier. I suspect that if he knew, we'd already be doing it. Well, shit. I begin to pace, and when that doesn't help, I start to go through the room itself, looking for ideas. There's a chamber for toiletries, complete with water basins and pitchers, and a table of soaps, perfumes, and other things I don't recognize but might be cosmetics. I open every cabinet and find soft, fluffy towels, more soaps, and a variety of hair combs. Gee. I guess Tadekha figures the combs can't be weapons. I take a few of them anyhow, because fuck her, I'll figure something out.