More spectacularly than I would have thought possible, and now Eleanor was in more danger than ever before. I defied the king, and Shade tortured him; there would be repercussions. My eyes flew wide as icy dread settled in my veins.
“Eleanor!” I exclaimed, pushing myself upright, intending to find her immediately. I needed to make sure she was safe.
Large hands pulled me back, turning me to face soft silver eyes.
“She’s safe, Wista has people watching over her,” he murmured, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. His words did little to comfort me.No onecould be trusted, not with this.
“I have to see her.” I frantically searched the room for the robe I hadn’t put on and found it draped over the back of the chair in front of the dresser. Shade stopped me before I could move again, cupping my face and pulling me back to him. His swirling silver eyes held me in place as he spoke, more firmly this time. “My Solis… Eleanor is safe. You are safe—at least for now. You need to rest. To recover.”
“But—”
He silenced me with his lips, a soft caress against my mouth filling the dark hollow in my chest with light and warmth, which spread across me in a wave of burning embers. The gentle kiss ended before it really began, and when Shade withdrew, his face was a mix of concern and mild horror, worry reflected in his silvery gaze.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Not after—” He broke all physical contact, taking with him all the calm and safety filling me moments ago. “I’m sorry.”
“No,” I breathed, fisting his shirt to stop him from moving farther away. I needed him more than I needed air to breathe. He was the only thing keeping me from falling into the darkness threatening the edges of my mind. He hesitated, studying my face. “Please don’t leave me.”
The words were vulnerable and selfish, everything I despised being.
“I will never leave you, not while I can still walk this plane.” It was a rough vow, his sincerity shining brightly through molten eyes. “Are you sure you want me to touch you? After …” His nostrils flared and his eyes burned brighter. He didn’t need to say the words; we both knew what he was asking.
“I need it. I needyou,” I muttered, flattening my palms against his chest and drawing strength from the humming vibration to admit my feelings. “Your touch grounds me. Your scent calms me. Your voice sends my heart beating from my chest. Your eyes make me feel truly seen for the first time in my life.” I stared into those silvery orbs swirling with deep emotion. My voice softened, leaning closer, drawn by the invisible pull that hooked me the moment I set eyes on him. “I like when you kiss me. I want it. Icraveit. I can’t stop myself—no matter how hard I’ve tried.”
Then I kissed him just as he had kissed me, a softer caress of lips than any other kiss we’d shared. It didn’t go deeper, but it didn’t need to. The small brush a promise of tender care and gentle touches, of protection and warmth. It was enough to send my heart bursting, filling with enough light to banish the darkness. For now. For this moment.
He pulled back slowly, caressing my cheek. His swirling silver eyes were filled with compassion and something I recognizedbut couldn’t put into words because none would sufficiently describe the feeling.
I didn’t fight him when he circled me with strong arms, cradling me against his chest and brushing a light kiss atop my head. I closed my eyes, grateful I could still have this, that the king hadn’t stolen my ability to be this close to him, to kiss him. Other than the ceremony, Terym hadn’t forced his mouth on mine; if he had, I might have lost this feeling.
The connection.
The desire.
My kisses would always belong to Shade and no one else.
“Rest now, my Solis. We’ll see Eleanor in the morning.” His promised words relaxed me enough to allow sleep to claim me.
A slam startled me awake, and I sat upright, searching the room for the source so I could understand what it was. The light streaking through the heavy curtains told me it was already morning. The blankets fell, exposing my naked and bruised body to the cool air. Shade urged me back down and covered me again, then sprang to his feet, putting himself between me and the door just before it flew open.
Captain Gensen and Pierce entered the room, hands on the hilt of their swords, and surveyed the area with narrowed eyes. Finding the room empty, save for us, they split, allowing King Terym to enter between them. His neck was raw and red, and considering I likely had a matching bruise, the sight wasn’t nearly as satisfying as his black eyes and swollen nose. I hoped it was broken.
More of the king’s guard could be seen beyond the doorway, but they didn’t follow him into the room. I tugged the blankets high around my neck, feeling entirely too exposed being naked underneath them. At the move, Terym’s fists clenched and he scowled at me before focusing his angry stare on Shade, who stepped to the side, further hiding me from view.
Smoke poured from his body like a never-ending waterfall, pooling at his feet and expanding around the bed. Though it didn’t move toward the men, the threat was clear in the way all three men eyed the smoke warily; Shade wouldn’t attack them, but they couldn’t move closer to me.
“Return to the lamp,” Terym ordered through clenched teeth. Shade’s responding chuckle was a menacing sound that had even my hair standing on end.
I wasn’t scared of him, I didn’t think I ever could be, but we had to be careful, anything we did could have dire repercussions on us and on Eleanor.
The king’s cold, hard eyes turned to me. “Order him back, or I will fetch Eleanor.”
“Do not talk to her,” Shade growled before I could respond, the smoke at his feet darkening and twirling with jerky, agitated movements.
“I’ll not talk to you,” the king gritted out, his face reddening as the bitter-edged scent of lilac and sandalwood grew heavy. “I don’t care who you once were.”
If Shade understood Terym’s words, he didn’t show it. Ignoring the statement, he said, “You have already proven she is not safe around you. I won’t leave her unprotected.”
Gensen’s expression didn’t change at the statement, but Pierce startled, and his concerned gaze flicked to me for a moment before he focused back on the threat in the room. I didn’t know what Terym told him before they stormed into my bed chamber,but I doubted it was the truth. Pierce was too kind a man to condone the king’s actions.
