Right when I was about to pull away, she grabbed it. I tugged her up, a little too roughly, and she bumped against my chest, my other hand sliding to her waist to steady her. She stood against me, peering at me with wide eyes, cheeks flushed, and a hint of curiosity in those luscious, dark eyes.
I took her arms and wrapped them around my neck, then leaned down to lift her into my arms. Our faces were close, and this time there was no anger or fear in her expression, and when her gaze went to my mouth, it was harder to think… to breathe.
Sunlight replaced the rain, a rainbow arching over the castle. A sign of new beginnings.
“Hold on tight,” I whispered into her ear, then launched us into the sky, wondering if the symbol in the sky meant new beginnings or something else.
With her in my arms, I questioned my actions.
Could I truly trust this human with more than my heart, but with my people, or would she be my undoing? My father had given his heart to a human once—three of them, in fact—and each betrayal left another piece of him broken. In the end, it was one of them who delivered the final blow.
I did not want to follow in his footsteps.
But with every stolen moment, I was.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Deirdre
Kane heldme in his arms, not in a rough hold, but wrapped around me in an embrace full of warmth that still felt dangerous to trust. We shot up into the sky, and I gripped his neck as he moved his hands to hold me closer.
My stomach dipped as we rose higher, the icy wind slicing through my damp clothes. Kane’s grip tightened around me, steady, warm, and infuriatingly careful. Each flap of his shadow wings stirred the air, sending a shiver down my spine—not entirely from the cold.
My heart raced, sending a wave of shame through me.
Shouldn’t I be disgusted? Furious?
His black shadow wings flapped in the air, gliding us through the sky. I couldn't see his face this close to him, but his scent filled my nose, smoky like fire with a hint of sandalwood and vanilla.
He smells nice.
I shook the thought from my head. This was all too much.
I'm overemotional. I'm drained. I’m clearly not in my right mind.
Excuse after excuse entered my head. Yet, I didn'tneedto lean into him as he carried me.
Betrayer.
I just need some distance from him, a bath, a nap, and some food. Distance will make things clear.
It had been a very long day, and I wasn't thinking straight. Anyone would be confused, and it wasn’t as if Kane was ugly, either. In fact, when he had been sitting in the rain next to me, staring at the castle, raindrops sliding down the sharp planes of his face, he looked everything like the fae king I had dreamed of.
The castle entrance came into view. Kane slowly brought us down to the ground near the main entrance.
When we landed, he gently placed me on my feet, then stepped aside, creating much needed distance. “See that the queen is tended to and have the cook prepare anything she wants.”
“I'd like to eat in my chambers, if that's all right.”
Kane nodded and looked at the guard. “See that it's done.”
He gave me a curt nod before walking into the castle.
“Your Majesty!” Liora ran out of the front entrance. A purple bruise spread across her left cheek. “Are you all right?”
“I'm fine. What about you?”
“Just a small bruise. Where have you been?” she whispered, gently guiding me inside.
