“Interesting. I’ve heard stories about the king of Bernwood being a shifter but had a hard time believing them. I always figured it was a myth.”
He takes my hand and gives it a soft squeeze. “Do you feel that?”
His hand is warm and only slightly callused. I nod.
“We’reveryreal, Zaira.” He holds my gaze for a few seconds, smiling. When he releases my hand, heat rushes to my cheeks, and I look away. I can’t deny that Kelrean is sexy. He truly is, and interestingly enough, his animalistic features make him even more attractive. He seems far too majestic for Thelanor, as if he’s meant to exist in an entirely different realm.
His attentiveness is beyond flattering. I’m just not used to so much of it at once.
I’ve had two boyfriends in my lifetime. One was during my tenth year. I met a boy at the refugee center whose name I can’t even remember. It was a simple childhood crush.
The other was during my seventeenth year, and he’d taken my maiden’s mark. That courtship was fleeting.
“I find you so interesting,” Kelrean says with a lazy smile.
“Do you?”
“Yes. There’s something about you…” He leans closer. “There’s this light—a certain pull to it. Or perhaps I’m simply drawn to you.” His nearness makes my skin hum. He studies my eyes while I absorb the depth of his. He smells nice, like pine and an elevated scent only a royal can carry.
He takes my hand and brings it to his lips. When he kisses the back of it while holding my gaze, I tingle all over.
“What do you think about meeting me for a drink in the castle after the fete?” he asks in a smooth, low voice. “I can show you around a bit more, take you to the gardens, lead you to my favorite waterfall so you can see the view.”
Surprise bubbles up inside me. “Oh. Um…” I snicker. The talmoon is taking full effect now. “Are you sure? Is it wise to spend so much time around a common mortal?”
“It’s only up to us.” He shrugs and then whispers, “No one can tell us what to do.”
That’s true.
Not wise, Thane’s deep voice warns in my head again.Hecertainly wants to tell me what to do. I close my eyes and see his face…his chiseled features…his full lips…his…
No. I will not think about Thane. I’m alone with a handsomeprince, for shadow’s sake. It has to be the talmoon warping my thoughts.
“No pressure,” Kelrean murmurs. “We have all night. Give it some thought.” He leans in and presses his warm lips on my cheek.
Heat floods every sensitive part of my body as I open my eyes. My thoughts jumble and my vision blurs around the edges. His eyes are soft as he smiles.
“Come,” he insists, climbing to his feet. “I’d hate to overwhelm you. Let’s return to the festivities. I’ll show you where the best wine is.”
I grin as he helps me to my feet. “Wine sounds lovely.”
Chapter 25
Kelrean leads me to a nearby stand stacked high with barrels of wine. We each drink a goblet as we wander through the village, my arm looped through his, laughing over silly things.
He points out several stands that have his favorite foods, shows me the statue of Orvena in the middle of the village and another of a beastial who reigned several hundred years prior to King Draedor, and then takes me to the outskirts away from the village. There, we continue sipping wine while gazing at the stars, which seem closer here.
“With how brightly you shine, you’d fit right in with the stars,” Kelrean says, turning to me with a soft, crooked smile.
I shake my head. “You’re just saying that.”
“I’m serious, Zaira. Don’t discredit yourself. You’re beautiful.”
I feel my cheeks heat up as my heart picks up in speed. Being romantic seems natural to him, as if he practices exactly what to say and when to say it. Or perhaps he’s just a really good flirt.
To distract myself from the wave of excitement and desire swirling within me, I take a hefty sip of wine. Some dribbles down my chin, and he releases a soft laugh.
Reaching up, he wipes it away with his thumb in slow, careful strokes. Our gazes lock as that same thumb travels up to my cheek to caress it, then glides along my jawline. This simple act makes the small hairs along my spine rise.
