Page 148 of Winds of Ruin
He met my gaze. “Maybe look past whatever mistakes El’s bound to make untilshecan see it. She’s lost so much. She is worthy of someone fighting for her.”
At last, Darvanda and I finally agreed on something.
Chapter 54
Elsedora
The heart-shaped door knockers and pretty burgundy floral wallpaper went by in a blur. The renovations much improved the place.
Grasping Leonna’s arm, I stumbled into her bedchamber. My elbow knocked a candle from the bedside table.
Oops.
Leonna worked quickly to stomp out the wick.
Looks like I didn’t need to use the key after all.
I giggled as she kicked off her velvet slippers and sat me down on the edge of her bed.
“You need water,” she mused.
She tried to step away to retrieve the pitcher on the vanity, but I caught her hips, gently digging my fingers into the supple silk, enjoying the way her skin gave way beneath it. I imagined large hands touching me this way—setting me on a kitchen butcher block.
My vision cleared. I looked up at her through my lashes.
She smirked and shook her head. “You are piss-yourself drunk, Elsedora.”
“And you are veryyy pretty,” I retorted. The words dragged across my tongue as seductively as spoiled milk.
Sources. Shewasgorgeous—with her dark hair piled up neatly and her dress cut low.
This would do. Wouldn’t it?
“Well, I’m flattered by your enthusiasm,” Leonna answered with an airy laugh and an expression that looked far too much like sympathy.
Shit…I’d said that last part out loud.
Emmerick would find an amiable woman. I bet she would never stumble home with a courtesan, or sleep with three traveling performers at once, or any of the many debaucheries I’d cooked up through the years. She’d be good enough for him—she’d match him. She wouldn’t fucking run.
“Can I ask you some-sting? Some-sing. Something.” I laughed through my own drunken garbling. “Do you think that I’m lovable?”
Leonna’s expression turned soft, and I hated the pity that pinched the corners of her eyes. I didn’t wantthat.I needed her to make me forget.
I shook my head. “Don’t feel bad for me. Be honnnest...”
“Darling, why don’t you lie down and try to get a little sleep?”
I reached up and pulled on her bottom lip with my thumb. “I’m trying so hard not to love him. He can’t love all of this...” I waved my free hand over myself. “I can’t let him.”
Leonna pushed my hand away from her mouth.
Those full pink lips didn’t feel tempting tonight. Nothing did, aside from running into the arms of an off-limits King—I’d sullied that though.
Ugh.
She settled down next to me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this bent out of shape over someone,” she said and ran circles with her palm over my back as I hunched over my knees.
“It’s horseshit, really,” I answered.
