“Take me back,” Sybil demanded, her voice echoing through the trees. She stepped up to me, her hand outstretched, waiting for me to take it. “Take. Me. Back.” She repeated once more, catching me glancing behind her at Kieran.
Kieran’s jaw clenched, his chest rising and falling rapidly, before he nodded and looked away from Sybil. Taking a deepbreath, I took Sybil’s hand, calling up my magic to transfer us back to the entry for the palace. As soon as I felt the ground beneath my feet, Sybil ripped her hand from mine, pulled the door open, and marched into the darkness. I raked my hand through my hair and followed behind her, giving her some space to cool off.
Once we returned to her room, Sybil marched into her bedroom, slamming the door shut in my face. Growling, I shoved the door open.
“Get out,” Sybil breathed, her voice shaking with anger. The shadow creature placed itself between us, growing in size. It hissed, the thick blackness wafting off its body in waves.
“No,” I growled. “I know you’re upset, but I will not allow you to distance yourself from a fight again.” Sybil glared at me but stayed silent. The lights around us brightened from her magic. “You’re not happy with Kieran’s decision, and I know it’s hard, but can you truly not see Kieran’s point? Aside from the fact that he believes you’re too close to this, can you honestly say that Ambrose isn’t suspicious of you—of me—with Ezra’s escape? You saw the look in his eyes when he told us, you saw the questioning in them when he stared us down, yes?”
“I saw it,” Sybil sighed, the anger deflating from her body. “Fuck. I saw it, okay? I know that with Ezra’s escape and with me speaking out in opposition, Ambrose is skeptical of me. But what am I supposed to do?”
“Continue speaking out. You will be punished for it, but speak out. You’ll keep his attention away from the rebels so that Kieran and the others can work, hidden from view. Ambrose’s focus will be solely on you, and that will allow Kieran to do what he needs to do.”
The creature returned to its normal size as Sybil fell back to the bed with a long exhale. Closing her eyes and raising her hands, Sybil covered her face with her palms. “Alright.”
Chapter 20
Sybil
Iwalked out of the bathroom wearing nothing but Samian’s shirt. Though I wasn’t small, his shirt gazed at my thighs, wrapping me in the comfort of his smell. My gaze slid over to Samian, leaning back, still reading on the chaise in front of the window—the spot he has recently taken up residence in since the day the beithir attacked me. His mind lost in the book, I used the moment to study him, to explore the way his powerful chest rose with slow, even breaths, and how he licked his finger before turning the page like an old man. The shadow cat that I conveniently named Salem was curled up, sleeping in the rumpled blanket on my bed.
My lips rose in a small smile at the peaceful scene. A scene that I never wanted to end.
A loud crash reverberated through my room as a door was flung open, making me flinch. Samian rushed in front of me, hiding me from the intruder when my bedroom door swung open. Kieran stood in the doorway, his midnight hair disheveled, his crimson eyes glowing when he spotted me.
“Leave,” Kieran grunted to Samian, keeping his eyes only on me.
“I think you need to calm down before stepping any further, brother,” Samian said calmly, eyeing the twitch in Kieran’s hand at his words. Samian slightly shifted, tension gathering in his muscles, readying himself as if Kieran was going to attack.
“I am calm,” Kieran snapped, finally wrenching his eyes from mine. He glared at Samian, his chest puffing. “I need to have a word with Sybil. Without you.”
I reached out, patting Samian’s back. Samian twisted to stare down at me, his face full of conflict. He knew, as well as I did, that Kieran wouldn’t hurt me, but I could see the war in his eyes. Kieran and I needed to settle our argument, to come to an agreement on how to move forward, and though Samian didn’t want to leave me alone, he understood this was something we could no longer ignore.
When I nodded, Samian’s apprehension fell away, and he turned back to Kieran. “I’ll be in my room. Call me when you’re finished.”
I watched Samian walk out, turning to use the passageway to return to his own room, leaving Kieran and me alone. When I could no longer see Samian, my eyes met Kieran’s agitated gaze. Goosebumps pebbled down my arm, my core aching at the sight of him, still so furious.
The muscle in his jaw feathered, his hands clenching and unclenching like he was fighting the urge to come closer. But I stood my ground, my chin lifting in the air. I was still angry about his demand that I sit out this mission, though Samian helped me understand why I needed to. He helped me realize I was too close to this, too invested in the need for action, to the point where it would make me careless. However, that didn’t mean that I couldn’t be a part of whatever plan he created. So, I stood there, waiting for him to make his next move.
Taking one painstakingly slow step after another, Kieran finally closed the distance between us, coming so close that hisbody brushed up against mine, sending sparks of exhilaration and anticipation tingling through my body. Salem’s ears perked up, his head rising from the bed, eyeing Kieran with those depthless eyes. Salem’s head tilted, his nose sniffing the air before deciding that Kieran was not a threat. Jumping down from the bed, Salem disappeared into a shadow in the corner of my bedroom.
Kieran watched the shadow cat leave, only turning back to me once he was sure Salem was gone. The fury in his eyes was still there, though it seemed more tamed. Raising his hand, he wrapped it loosely around my throat. My breath hitched, my lips slightly parting when I felt his length hardening against my stomach. Warmth coiled low in my stomach, and I fought against a shiver.
“I know you’re angry with what I said,” he murmured, his tone low and deep. “But you will not disappear on me again, is that understood?”
Swallowing, I nodded, finding myself unable to speak. I knew that if I tried, it wouldn’t be words that came out of my mouth, not when my body felt like it was about to erupt from his touch.
“I need you to do something other than nod, Sybil. Use your words. Tell me you understand.” Kieran's grip tightened, his voice still hard and demanding.
“I understand,” I murmured, hoping the slight quiver in my voice couldn’t be heard. “But I need you to know that just because you want to protect me, it doesn’t mean you can put me on the sidelines. I’ll listen, but I willnotbe cast aside. I am not powerless, and if you do that again, I will take matters into my own hands.”
“Is that a threat?” Kieran growled, his touch feeling like fire against my skin.
“It’s more than that, Kieran. It’s a promise.”
Kieran stared down at me, the intensity in his eyes severe. The seconds passed by before his eyes dipped down to my lips. His hand tightened once more on my neck, and he stepped closer, pushing me back until I was pressed against the wall behind me. I shuddered a breath, need pumping through my veins. My hand came up, wrapping around his wrist, but I didn’t push his hand away. Instead, I kept it there, holding it against me.
A knowing smirk rose in the corner of his lips, and he lowered his head, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear. “Do you like my hand against your throat, Princess?”
