Free Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 2 (Afterlife saga Book 7) by Stephanie Hudson

to my wrapped torso. He ran his hand along my side and I squirmed making him stop.
    “Did that hurt?” he asked me with a rough edge to his voice.
    “No, sorry My Lord, it just tickled.” I said giving him a little smile which was nowhere near as powerful as the grin I received in return.
    “I will have to remember that,” he said smirking at me and once more proving that sometimes two thousand years didn’t change a man from being who he was. I blushed again and when I went to bite my lip he placed his thumb on it and shook his head.
    “I don’t think my restraint will last, Little Lamb,” he confessed and I felt my cheeks get even hotter.
    “How long before she is well?” Draven asked Parmida after turning his attention back to my wrapped stomach.
    “A month,” she stated and I almost choked when swallowing. A month! I couldn’t wait around here for a bloody month, I would turn into a raving lunatic!
    “You do not agree, my beauty?” Draven asked me and I must admit, I preferred it to Little Lamb.
    “It is not my place,” I said because I knew it was the right answer to give in this time but he raised an eyebrow again and this time it was joined with a playful smirk.
    “I am making it your place,” he told me and at that moment I wished we were alone again so we could continue the playful banter.
    “Then in that case I don’t agree.”
    “Good because I cannot wait that long. Make sure to have her ready for selection in three days’ time,” he demanded and Parmida looked as if she was choking on a bug.
    “But my King, it cannot be done, there is still so much work to be done and she is…”
    “Perfect as she is.” Draven finished off her sentence for her whilst looking back to me and once he saw me go for my lip again he shook his head silently telling me of the risks in doing so. I was almost tempted to push and see where it got me… underneath him I hoped.
    “Then you are pleased, My King?” Parmida asked in a hopeful voice.
    “Indeed,” he answered, making Parmida relax her tense shoulders.
    “Now leave us for a moment but wait for me outside for I wish to speak further on a matter that concerns me.” Parmida nodded and said,
    “Of course, My King.” Then she rose up and quickly left the room, leaving us alone once more. Draven looked back down at me scanning my body once more and when his eyes reached mine he surprised me with his honest question.
    “What are you?” In that moment I wanted nothing more than to tell him who I was, or more importantly what I was to him. His Electus. His Chosen One. But even greater, that I was his wife from another time. I wanted him to know everything, but I knew that I would also be risking everything if I told him any of these things.
    “Your servant, My Lord,” I told him trying to keep as much pain from my voice as I could. He gave me a look that told me he very much doubted my words and panic almost set in…did he know something?
    “You are something to me it is true, but I am not sure if it is as my servant yet…but we shall soon see,” he said as if talking to himself and trying to understand our connection, which again begged the question…why hadn’t he figured it out?
    “My Lord?” I said playing the part as a naive little slave girl, one I could tell he was quickly trying to unravel to find the real girl underneath.
    “I will take my leave of you now,” he told me and my face dropped. I didn’t want him to go… I never wanted him to go.
    “Now what is that face for?” he asked obviously liking the idea that I was disappointed that he was leaving me.
    “Do you have to leave?” I braved asking him and his grin told me I hadn’t made a mistake.
    “No, I am King and can do as I wish but as a man looking down at a broken body I want to take to my bed, I know that in order to heal such wounds then what my Little Lamb needs is rest and plenty of it…and as your King it is my command, understood?” he added sternly and I