Praetorian Rising, стр. 52
He hadn't been kidding when he'd said he was placing his full faith in her. "How am I supposed to do that?" Camille asked incredulously.
"Stealthily," Vesyon said, scooting closer to her side again.
"Thank you for being so incredibly obvious, but I need a little more help than that," she replied, extending a finger to poke him in the chest as he sat next to her.
He grabbed her hand before she could withdraw it, holding it comfortably in his own. "Right now, I think you need to return to your room. Breakfast is in three hours, and then you'll be training with Theo. We'll discuss more after dinner."
Neeko mewled from behind them, having waited patiently on the staircase during their conversation.
Camille wasn't ready to leave yet—she wasn't prepared to shut off the valve of information and comfort that Vesyon provided. "You want me to train with Theo? Why?" She gently pulled her fingers from his grasp, not wanting him to feel the flutter of excitement zipping through her system at the mention of Theo's name.
"Because I asked you to." He returned his focus to his pipe, removing any remaining tobacco before tucking it inside his worn leather pouch. It was a silent dismissal, but clear all the same.
"Okay..." Camille said, dragging out the syllables while trying not to sound uneasy. She suddenly felt torn between the two of them. Theo made her feel electric, desirable and wanted. He brought a wildfire of intensity with him—every touch, every look sent her body into a dizzying haze.
Vesyon made her feel calm, collected, and comfortably at ease with herself. He didn't press her to remember things; in fact, he seemed desperate to keep her from the memories he knew would be too painful. His closeness was a breath of fresh air, and she craved more of it. Vesyon shook his head as a smile brightened his face. "Camille my dear, I've missed you more than you could possibly imagine."
He stood and extended a hand to help her up, his eyes never leaving hers. She glowed instinctively as she slipped her arms around his middle, burying her face into the crook of his neck. His arms wrapped around her slim form as he pulled her close, molding her body to his. His sturdiness felt good, and his strength made her feel protected.
"I want..." Camille started, uncertain of her own intentions as she pulled away. Their eyes clashed as she peered up toward his rugged face. His cheeks and chin were sternly defined, covered by a short spray of dark facial hair. Shoulder-length raven hair framed his features most handsomely, and she felt the urge to kiss him, to explore a depth of closeness she craved.
"What do you want?" he asked, voice husky with restraint.
She continued to stare in silence, watching his pupils dilate with indecisiveness. Internally, he appeared to be at war, uncertain of whether he wanted to pull her closer or push her firmly away. He slowly tipped forward, surprising her, and came to a stop mere millimeters from her mouth. She stilled, lips parting in anticipation as she dug her fingers into the linen of his shirt. He moaned so softly she wasn't sure she'd heard the sound at all until he ripped himself away, putting several feet between them.
"No," he said, breathing heavily and leaning against the platform's railing. "I can't do that."
Camille frowned, suddenly much too vulnerable for her liking. Guilt slid like a blade of ice through her stomach, chilling and deeply unsettling. She opened her mouth to question him, maybe even to apologize, but he placed a finger to her lips and pulled her close once more.
"No, no, don't do that. Please don't apologize," Vesyon said, clutching her against his chest as though he would press the insecurities from her body. "I care a lot about you, Camille. More than you will ever know. We just can't walk down that path. You understand?"
She searched his features for a sign of discomfort or regret but saw none, and she nodded. He, too, seemed to feel a sense of comfort around her, and it put her mind at ease even though he was refusing her.
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek before putting several steps of distance between them. "I'll see you later today."
"Yes, later," she echoed, uncertain of her own emotions as her fingers gently explored the skin his lips had grazed.
Camille backed away on unsteady legs and descended the stairs after Neeko, leaving Vesyon with only the misty morning and softly swaying trees as his companions.
Chapter Eleven
Into the Storm
Camille left her bedroom, ascending two floors before gliding between the artfully frosted glass doors of the kitchen hall. It was barely two hours past sunrise, and the circular room's entirety was packed with the roaring hum of aimless chatter. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she glanced around the expansive room, immediately recognizing Theo sitting at a table to her left. After their interaction the previous evening she wasn't sure how prepared she was to eat with him, but Vesyon had told her she'd be training with him later that day. There wasn't much choice; she'd have to face him eventually. Might as well be sooner rather than later.
Gathering her courage, she headed into the center of the hall to take whatever food was being offered. She selected a ceramic plate from the stack and maneuvered her way to the table laid out with oven-warmed toast, butter, a bowl of very ripe fruit, and a pile of greyish-looking eggs. It was a meager offering of sustenance, but Camille felt like royalty.
Asperians didn't even attempt to hide their obvious ogling as she shifted through the spread of tables, passing men in basic cotton shirts and pants as well as Rogues in full Romeo green uniforms. The women dressed in an array of homespun long dresses and thick petticoats, the