Varion’s hand was still on my waist when the knock came.
It was sharp. Precise. Final.
“Not now,” Varion snapped toward the door.
“Leave.”
The door opened anyway.
A guard stepped inside. He didn’t look at Varion—not really. His eyes flicked to me instead.
“The King requests your presence,” he said.
“Immediately.”
Varion’s fingers dug into my side, almost painfully.
“She’s occupied.”
The guard finally lifted his gaze, meeting Varion’s glare without flinching.
“The King did not ask.”
For a moment, I thought Varion might kill him. I could feel the rage rolling off him. Then Varion turned to me. His eyes searched my face.
“You don’t have to go.”
Oh, but I did.
I gently but firmly removed his hand from my waist. The absence of his touch felt like breathing clean air again. G
