Thinking about the book reminds me of Anassa, and I realize I can still feel her through our connection. I throw the wall back up, reinforce it. We may have needed to work together today, butI refuse to forgive her fully, not until she starts being honest with me.
Then I kneel on the floor and reach for the book under my bed. I’ve stared at it so much that I swear its words are imprinted on my eyelids. But maybe I missed something in here that could give me answers about the arena. There’s a segment about the castle’s history, so?—
There’s a soft creak, and I startle, whipping my hand away from the bed and jumping to my feet. When I spin around, Killian is stepping out of my wardrobe. Instantly, I breathe a sigh of relief.
“You scared the shit out of me.”
Killian smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I came to check on you,” he tells me. “Are you okay after everything that happened today?”
I have to fight the urge to pick at my fingernails again in an attempt to get the lingering blood out.AmI okay?
I step forward and practically fall into his arms. A lump forms in my throat as he catches me, his embrace strong and steady. I’m just so fucking relieved thatsomeoneisn’t too busy celebrating life to acknowledge the iron stench of death still thick in the air.
I want to taste his concern for me on my tongue, swallow it down, and let it warm me like sweetened emberwine.
Lifting my head, I look into his achingly blue eyes. His hands rub gently over my back as he watches me back. “You…” My voice trails off.
I want to ask him about where the servants took Henrey, but accusing his father of something without proof feels too dangerous. There’s only so much Killian can protect me from.
“Me,” Killian says softly. He lifts his hand and dusts his knuckles across my cheek. His thumb tugs my bottom lip, and it’s like he casts a spell on me.
I push onto my toes and kiss him. Hard. I pull away to suck in a shaky breath, and for the second kiss, he meets me with an open mouth. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down against me, practically devouring him.
At first, he’s hesitant. Worried about me, maybe. He kisses me deeply, but he keeps trying to slow it down. I like the taste of all this care, but I need a little pain if I want it to sink beneath my skin and linger like a tattoo.
The hesitation stops abruptly when I let out a needy whine.
“Fuck, the sounds you make,” he groans. Then he hauls me against his body and spins us around, pushing me against the wall and grinding into me.
I gasp and grip his shoulder. The other hand tangles in his hair. He kisses me roughly this time. It’s bruising.
“Kitten,” he pants. “You?—”
“More,” I beg. “All of it.” I yank his shirt up his body and fumble with his belt. He pulls my leg up over his hip and sinks his hips closer to my warmth. I manage to get his belt unfastened, but then he bends down and starts kissing my neck. I shut my eyes and lean into the sensation.
I hope he can feel the quickness of my pulse beneath his lips.
“Leave a mark,” I whisper. And instantly, his teeth dig into my skin. Not too hard, but hard enough that I know it’ll last. I moan and start to yank his belt out of its loops.
And the door slams open.
“Meryn, have you seen Venn—AGH!” Izabel shrieks and covers her eyes.
Killian and I scramble to fix our clothes. My entire body is one giant blush.
“Izabel,knock!” I shout.
Killian tries to stifle his laughter, even hides it behind his hand, but he can’t quite manage it. I scowl and smack him.
“It’s not funny,” I protest, but that last word breaks apart into a slight giggle. And it makes him laugh harder.
“Sorry,” Izabel squeaks, peeking out from between her fingers. “Are your tits tucked away?”
I scoff. “Your eyes are safe.”
Izabel lowers her hand and curtsies. “Your princeliness.”
Killian laughs again. His hands are shoved in his pockets, likely to help conceal the lingering frenzy I worked him into.
