And as much as he wanted to, Eithan didn’t have the time to figure out how or why. Not right now. But he’d find out eventually. As long as Hayes kept Gibson alive until he returned, that is.

He looked back down at the text, wishing he could take it with him to Midpath. But it wasn’t worth the risk of Sulian finding out.

The bastard would have him beaten within an inch of his life if he ever discovered Eithan was learning a language that he, himself, didn’t know. Which only further proved how pathetic of a leader he truly was.

* * *

About twenty minutes later, he heard the door scrape against the floor as it opened behind him, but he didn’t bother turning or even pausing his writing.

“My—”

“Don’t speak,” he interrupted, barely letting the woman get so much as a word out. He didn’t want to hear her voice. It would ruin everything. She was his bride-to-be. The woman—female—who was set to be his.

“If you speak, or if, at any point, I see your face, this evening is over.”

He finished the letter, signing his name at the bottom and dropping his quill back into its pot. “If that is something you can do, tap twice on the door. Otherwise, you may take your leave.”

There was a slight pause, and then two raps echoed out. He closed his eyes, dragging his palm down his quickly hardening length, and imagined it was Vera standing at his door.

Vera who waited for him. Vera who was completely inexperienced and too shy to speak.

He squeezed his eyelids tighter, working his shaft harder. She stood naked beneath a white, sheer robe, her breasts heavy and nipples hard, the tips pushing against the fabric as she pressed her thighs together.

It was Vera who would be bent over, shoving her ass into him again and again in silent demand, needing him to cure her insanity. The same insanity he felt for her.

He placed both hands on his desk, leaning over it as lust shot through his body and his heart beat faster. “I want you to walk over to the hearth and get down on all fours, Vera. Forehead to the rug with your ass up and thighs spread.”

Hearing her footsteps lead over to where he’d instructed, he wasted no time removing his trousers and letting his length spring free. He’d been lusting for her for weeks. He needed to be inside her.

Two raps hit the floor, signaling she was ready without instruction. Good girl.

Finally daring to turn, he made his way toward the hearth, a shudder coursing down his spine at the sight of Vera before him. Naked skin, up and bared for him, while brown curls fanned across her back.

She was fucking perfect.

Epilogue

ELRIC

He glared at the letter in his hand, grinding his teeth until his jaw popped. It was meticulously written, each word chosen specifically to mean something to Vera, while not raising alarm bells to anyone else.