I raise a brow. “You think you know me?”
“Maybe not.” He drags his feet through the snow, closer.“But I’m starting to. I’d like to.” His tone is soothing and warm, and it curls around me like a sjaal. The composed mask he wears like armor is gone now. He watches me with that darkness he usually hides. I can’t look away.
“Don’t bother,” I say. “You’d be disappointed.”
“I doubt that.” His gaze drops, and for a moment, I could swear he’s looking at my lips. “You haven’t disappointed me yet.”
“Really? I thought I was conniving, spiteful, and cruel?”
“You are. Doesn’t mean I’m disappointed.”
I’m sure of it now: his eyes fall to my lips.
Run. A little, rational voice whispers to me. Kaidren looks ravenous. Dangerous.
I don’t move.
“I made a lot of assumptions when I met you. I thought you were gullible. I thought you were sweet. I thought Ilikedsweet.” Kaidren continues his slow approach until the toes of our boots graze, and I feel the cloudy warmth of his exhales on my cheeks. “Now I don’t think I like sweet at all.”
This time, when his gaze lowers to my lips, it doesn’t waver. It darkens with determination. He sucks in a breath and leans forward.
For a moment frozen in time, I stay perfectly still. His brown eyes are hauntingly deep, the kind you can drown in; his voice is smooth as churned butter; he lies as easy as he breathes; and some days I’m certain I despise him.
But there’s a rage inside him I recognize. A hunger for power, a willingness to do whatever it takes to get it. It should scare me. Sometimes itdoesscare me. But with the danger he poses comes a desire I can’t deny. I feel as if I know him, and I think he might be the first person who’s ever seen me clearly.
Kaidren Vale is annoyingly attractive. Less so when he’s flashing that fake smile I hate. More so when he’s glaring inearnest. Or when he’s looking at me like I’m the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen. I’ve never been kissed before, and as his lips descend upon mine, they look so, so soft . . .
One touch and you’re ruined.
The voice of reason is small, but it’s enough—I pull away.
I’m dazed, and my heart flutters a combination of panic and lingering anticipation.
Kaidren’s eyes fly open. He looks startled. “I’m sorry. I—”
“It’s fine,” I say quickly.
It’s anything but fine. I can’t believe how foolish I almost was. He’s an isha. I wasn’t seriously considering letting him kiss me, was I?
I turn to flee, but in all my fluster, I slip on ice.
I fall back, gracelessly and embarrassingly.
Kaidren catches me. His eyes are gentle as he turns me to face him, hands warm around my waist. “Mira—”
I shove him back. Even though I’ve been sitting still for over an hour, I’m breathless. “Don’t.”
He raises his hands, palms out. “I don’t want you to think I was—” He releases a frustrated groan. “That wasn’t a game. I swear to you, that was real.”
He’s not lying. Dammit, hemeansthat. I can’t tell which thought is more terrifying: Kaidren trying to kiss me because hewantedto or Kaidren playing a cruel game with my heart.
“Good night.” I rush away for the safety of Widow’s Hall.
If Kaidren calls after me, I don’t hear it. Or maybe I just don’t want to.
“You’re back.” Sef lounges on my bed, waiting for me. She sets aside the book she was reading as I burst through the door. “Did you find anything?”
Not really. The only thing I uncovered was that his aunt Jules collects illegal magical goods. Is it enough to blackmail him? I’m not sure, but admittedly, thinking is a bit difficult when the only thing on my mind is how close I let Kaidren’s lips get to mine.
