His hand covers mine, and it’s a cataclysmic event. Longing. Fear. Hope. Comfort. Heat. Desire.
Forever.
It’s as if each nerve ending in my body awakens, sending a delightful shiver racing through me. I try to convince myself that I’m overreacting, but every second he holds my hand reminds me that this connection is far more intense than I’ve ever allowed it to be.
A sharp gasp escapes my lips, and warmth floods my cheeks, the kind of heat only he seems to elicit. His fingers interlace with mine, flipping the tablet over. The movement is slow, almost sensual. When I dare to look at his mouth, my curiosity piques—I wonder what he might taste like. Does he have that lingering minty freshness fromearlier? The thought makes my pulse race. I want to know. Hell, I want to feel his mouth all over me.
“Interesting,” he remarks, breaking my reverie.
I snap my gaze to his eyes, confusion swirling within me. His grin surfaces, and that irritatingly charming dimple makes an appearance. If I weren’t already seated, I might just float away from the sheer effect he has on me.
“What?” I manage to ask, my voice unintentionally breathy, betraying the whirlwind of erotic thoughts playing out in my mind.
“Your list,” he says with a playful lilt. “What else would I be talking about?”
As if he can sense my thoughts, his eyes darken. My stomach twists at the mere mention of it, but not in a bad way. My body seems to have a mind of its own, finding new ways to self-destruct, reacting to his words with reckless abandon. I press my thighs together, desperate to regain some semblance of composure.
“Seems I have a few options,” I respond with a touch of sass, but inside, I cringe at my choice of words.
Options?Gods, open the ground and swallow me whole. When did I lose my ability to talk to him?
“Princess, we both know that’s not true,” he counters, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty that feels a lot like a promise.
My heart does a little flip as butterflies take flight. I clear my throat. Pulling my hand away from his feels like a frigid gust of air cutting through the warmth, leaving me immediately clearer-headed but unbalanced.
“I have some questions for you,” I say, aware that time is running out: twenty-two seconds left. “Tonight. After dinner. Can we meet down by the river at our spot?” The words tumble out, and I almost blush at the idea that we would have aspot.
“See you there.” He stands while taking my hand. The air fills with iridescent waves, buzzing with unspoken words and possibilities. Every cell of my being hums with anticipation.
Then, as if the world around us slows, he leans down, turning my hand over, and presses a soft kiss onto my palm. The touch reverberatesthrough me, all the way to my soul. My jaw drops to the desk, and I can’t help but notice the hushed gasps from those around us. When the shock fades, laughter bubbles up inside of me—nervous, giddy, and undeniably excited.
Is this how it feels to have someone pining for you?
I feel multiple pairs of eyes on us as he turns, casually sliding his hands into his pockets while that infuriating yet enchanting air of confidence surrounds him as he saunters away, leaving me breathless and filled with a longing to chase after him and finally discover what it would feel like to have him claim me like promised.
Later.
Later, I will find out.
Three additional men sit across from me, their presence hardly worth noting, but they’re all sweet nonetheless. They’re all from my kingdom, so I thank them for their time, knowing that I’ll be their queen one day. By the time I reach the final spot on my list, I’ve gathered a respectable number of candidates. Kellan claims the last seat, and a contented sigh escapes me as I sense our Bond coalesce in the air. He greets me with that same warm smile he’s worn every day for the past fifteen years, a smile that instantly soothes me.
I know it’s selfish, this desire to keep him close while still knowing it’s Anders I’ll be Bonding with, if the prophecy is true. But I’m not ready to let Kellan go. Not yet. The idea of him Bonding with anyone else makes my stomach turn.
“Saving the best for last?” I let a teasing smile dance on my lips, both a challenge and an invitation.
“Raea, you don’t have to choose Ryker just because of some prophecy.” Okay, I guess that’s how we’re doing this. It’s the same conversation we had the other night in my room. My brow furrows at his bluntness, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.
“Kellan, you know it’s not up to me. When the time comes, I don’t actually get to pick, do I?” I lean back and cross my arms over my chest defensively, annoyed by this conversation and the whole scenario. I hate feeling like I’m toying with his emotions, but he has tounderstand there was always a possibility we wouldn’t Bond even without the prophecy.
Kellan looks exhausted, like he, too, has felt the invisible weight of the Bond this year. His freckled face looks a little flushed, and the longer strands of brown hair seems as though he’s been tugging at them repeatedly. His hazel eyes, usually bright, look dimmer today, but there’s a desperate plea written across his features.
“RaeRae.” He leans closer. “You know how I feel about you. I don’t want to Bond with anyone else. You’re my best friend. Screw the prophecy. Just tell me I can make you happy.” His words wrap around me, squeezing my heart, and I reach across the table, taking his hand in mine.
With Kellan, everything feels softer and warmer, like a cozy blanket on a chilly evening or a gentle hug when the world feels overwhelming. Things feel so right with him, I don’t know how I can feel so strongly for two different men. Lifting my gaze to meet his, I see a world of unguarded emotions reflected back at me—hope, love, and a hint of despair.
“Kellan, I love you. You have to know that,” I confess, my words spilling out in a rush. “We still have a year left. Things can change. I’m not making any decisions, okay? Not until The Ceremony.”
He nods, but it’s clear it’s only to pacify me. The weight of this brokenness between us weighs on my chest, crushing me. In a simpler life, one where Kellan and I weren’t tied to a crown, I would be perfectly content to settle down with him in a little cabin on the edge of the woods and raise a few children as we grew old together.
