“Like what?”
There was a biting taunt to her remark, but it was a little breathy, and the deadly combination sent a spear of carnal lust straight through him.
“To start, it’s unsafe for a lady to traverse the realms alone.” His hand unknowingly stretched out toward her, fingers reaching to thread through the silky, pastel strands of her hair. The ends slid between his thumb and forefinger like wisps of satin. “You never know what sort of dangers are lurking, what kind of monsters are waiting to devour you whole.”
He watched her throat work, felt his skin heat beneath the intensity of her stare as those pools of frigid dark blue flicked to his mouth, then to his neck where his runic tattoos marked him. Her tongue darted out, swiping along her bottom lip with haste, wetting it. And for a brief moment, he wondered if she would taste the same way she sounded—bitter and burning, tainted with a deliciously sweet poison.
“I suppose I shall figure that out on my own.” Caelian eased back, letting a cool rush of air glide between them. “There are plenty of dangers I am willing to face. And I am not afraid of monsters.”
Kjeld clicked his tongue and straightened. “You should be.”
She suffered him an eye roll. “Your scare tactics will not work on me, General Holtstrom. I have four brothers, in case it slipped your memory.”
Nothing about Caelian Starstorm slipped his memory. Ever.
And he hated himself for it.
Hated himself because as much as he loathed her for what she did to him, he also desired her beyond all reckoning. Anytime she waltzed into a room, it was all he could do to keep from storming out. Anger boiled through his veins whenever he saw her, but it was constantly at war with the steady pump of longing coursing through his bloodstream. Some days he couldn’t stand to look upon her, yet he committed every insignificant detail about her to his memory. Like the way a pale pink loop of hair always curled near her ear, or how she rolled her lips whenever she was deep in thought. Wanting her—hating her—was like a dance with a double-edged sword. He was doomed to feel its pain either way.
Kjeld supposed it was because he fancied her before she saved his life. Before she wished for him to be fae. And he gathered those emotions had not been suppressed. Still, his volatile feelings toward her kept him on edge.
It was better this way.
For both of them.
“Either way.” Kjeld rolled his shoulders back, his chest expanding as he attempted to put some much-needed space between them, which was difficult to do, given his overwhelming size. “I may as well accompany you to Wenfyre since you’ll be coming to Brackroth with me.”
Caelian’s mouth fell open, and her color waned. Perhaps she was more afraid than she let on.
“I beg your pardon.” She shook her head, her ribbons of soft rainbow-hued hair tumbling around her shoulders. “Did you sayBrackroth?”
“I did.”
“I’m…” She gulped then, her brows drawing together. “I amnotgoing to Brackroth.”
“It doesn’t appear as though you have much of a choice in the matter, my lady. It’s already been decided.” Kjeld rocked back onto his heels, enjoying her temporary distress. Apparently, she did not much care for his company either, though her erratic heartbeat claimed otherwise. Still, it was amusing to watch her squirm.
“By whom?” she snapped, the flush of aggravation spreading through her cheeks.
“By Lord Ariesian Starstorm. Your dearest older brother.”
She was practically fuming, Kjeld could almost see the rage steaming from her bare shoulders. Jaw set, eyes narrowed, she twisted away from him, her heels clicking noisily as she stalked down the hall. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Another time, perhaps?” Kjeld called after her, smirking as she stormed off in search of her brother. “Might I suggest you ready your things and pack light? Riding on the back of a dragon is not for the faint of heart.”
Caelian spun back, eyes alight with cold fury. “Of that, I amwellaware. For it was you who took me on my first ride.”
Her fiery blue gaze raked over him, head to toe, in a look of pure hatred. “In case youforgot.”
Then she was gone in a flurry of purple silk, vanishing from his sight, leaving him standing there in the hall with his jaw slack, feeling like a total asshole.
Because he had forgotten.
Somehow, in the midst of all his inner turmoil, he’d forgotten that she was the first female he’d ever taken for a ride. His dragon, Odryss, was a gentle giant, and Caelian had not shown an ounce of fear. In fact, she’d settled against Kjeld so easily, so comfortably, that for a moment he thought perhaps she’d beenmade specifically for him. That maybe he was worthy of the love of a lady.
But on the night he died, everything changed.
And Kjeld no longer knew what he wanted from her, but it was definitely not her love.
