Chapter 24
Pulling the Plug
CINDER
Heat engulfs me, and I begin to tremble.
A feeling I can’t name spirals up from the dark depths of me and whatever emotion it is, it is strong.
It’s too strong.
It’s too much.
No, no, no.
I don’t want to be in my body, but Kai has pulled me back into it.
He kisses me like I’m the most precious, sensual gift to this world and I find myself fully inside my body, feeling every small movement, from the texture of his perfectly skilled lips to the way my stomach flips and flops in response. I’m not outside my body, not thinking of something I’ll be painting later or how to exact proper vengeance on a stray cat. I’mwithhim. Fully and completely.
So when Kai interrupts the moment to bring up the cause of my anemia, something else is immediately stoked inside me.Struggling to breathe evenly, the heat ebbs a bit even as my nostrils flare. I have to get away from this. Whatever this feeling is.
“Why didn’t you let me question your father further last night?” I challenge Kai instead.
I’m hot all over and he’s backed away as if he could feel the flames of fear and anger inside me.
I realize that’s part of the terrifying concoction brewing inside me. Fear and anger at how close I let Kai get to me, in more ways than one.
There’s absolutely no fae fucking way I’m telling him how I got anemia. I shouldn’t have even confessed my condition to him in the first place.
Why the fuck does this ridiculous fairy prince have such an effect on me, pulling things out of me whether they are orgasms or secrets?
I should probably kill him. Just for safety’s sake.
“You promised you’d help me find my dad’s killer and the first chance I have to put Valdor on the spot, you force me to back off.” I continue to lash out at him, desperate to get away from what’s brewing inside. I even use the King’s first name, trying to rip down his status as a barrier.
Kaison frowns. “You were pushing too hard. My father is dangerous, even more than you think. You need to tread carefully.”
On top of being stonewalled, yet another day has passed without finding the Ember of Midnight. I have access to the castle, but I haven’t had the time to search. My irritation has me at the snapping point.
“I’m sick of treading carefully,” I snarl.
Suddenly I’m backed up against a headstone.
Charming bears down on me with a seriousness I've not seen before.
“Don’t.” He’s so wound up he almost can’t get the words out. The heavy metal rings shift as his knuckles flex in agitation. “Don’t push him. There are things he can do to you. Things you can’t imagine. Any rumors you’ve heard about him ruling with an iron fist, utilizing cruelty are all true and they only scratch the surface.”
My surprise at his new side almost negates the twinge of fear at being cornered by a vampire. . . almost.
My skin prickles and shrinks away from him. All the fight drains from me.
Kaison blinks then backs away. “Sorry,” he mumbles.
We walk the rest of the way to my apartment in loaded silence, though what it’s loaded with is unclear. His sudden bout of seriousness throws me. Again, I get the sense I got a glimpse past the many masks he wears to something he shares with no one.
After a while, Charming breaks the silence. “We will get the information you need. We will find out what happens, but we have to work on playing the doting bride and groom. Thankfully our taboo coupling will keep people off their game. But my father is different. I want you to be. . .” He seems to struggle to find the word. “. . . safe.”
I almost choke out a laugh.
