Ellewe clicked his tongue. “Doesn’t look so complicated to me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“WHAT IS THIS? What happened?” Killian glared down at Kade’s wrist, tenderly inspecting the injury.
It was a visceral thing, Killian’s reaction to seeing Kade wounded. It felt wrong down to his bones. It made him want to crawl out of his skin, sending him back to a time where bruises and blood were familiar sights on Kade’s pale skin.
“It’s gone, Killi.” Kade put a gentle hand over Killian’s. “It was just some crazy lady.”
Killian ground his teeth. “Show her to me.” He’d kill her.
Kade shook his head. “Leave it. Please.”
Snarling, Killian tamped down his anger. “Fine.”
They never talked about it. All the bad that happened in that house, what they went through together. Honestly, Killian never wanted to. He never wanted to relive those moments of weakness, where he’d been stuck, not able to do anything to protect Kade. He’d always hated himself for that.
Seeing right through him, Kade nodded like he knew exactly what Killian was thinking. Maybe he did. Maybe he’d never been able to hide anything from Kade. It was a terrifying thought.
Kade whispered into the quiet, “Now you know how I feltduring Hokda’s test.”
Squeezing his eyes shut, Killian spit, “I hate it.”
“I know. Me too.” Kade leaned up to butt his forehead against Killian’s. “Take me somewhere fun.”
“We are somewhere fun. Aren’t you having the time of your life?”
“Somewhere better. Somewhere it’s just the two of us. I’ve had enough of the city for today.”
Killian bit his lip. “Your wish is my command.”
Inside the estate, at each corner of the eastern wall at the front of the palace, lay twin lakes surrounded by dense clusters of trees. The glittering cerulean water was always the perfect temperature. The dirt and moss on the lakebed was soft underfoot and the trees cast welcomed shade over the water. It was calm. It was quiet. Coming from the crowded city streets, it was paradise.
Visitors were a rare occurrence, but it was well known that the servants and residents of the palace liked to dip their feet there. Though between palace preparations and the festival in the city, Killian was confident that no one would bother them.
Killian had broken off at the palace gates to give Dantel strict orders to take Fyar’s cakes to the kitchens to warm them up before bringing them straight to the king’s study. The desserts were best fresh.
By the time that Killian had them settled lakeside, the sun was beginning to dip, dusk creeping up on them. He laid out his jacket and spread all the food and drink he had collected from the city on top. It was the perfect scene for a romantic lakeside picnic. All he needed were some candles, and companywho loved him back.
“Cider for the baby,” Killian said, handing over a small glass bottle.
Kade huffed. “Shut up.”
All thoughts of Turell and Kade’s injury were forgotten with good conversation and laughter as they picked at the spread Killian had collected.
Closing his eyes, Kade turned his face towards sky and just breathed. Calmed by the sounds of nature.
Killian drank in the sight. The long line of Kade’s neck, the rise and fall of his chest.
And he hungered.
Sure he was going to do something stupid if he didn’t get himself under control, Killian pushed to his feet. He toed off his boots and got to work on the ties of his uniform. He stripped off his shirt, his trousers, his socks, and pulled out his hair. Piece by piece everything fell to ground until he was in nothing but his dark undergarments.
Beside him, Kade sounded like he was choking.
Taking a breath and trying not to puff out his chest and strut, Killian waded into the lake and dived in.
The water felt amazing. Silky smooth on his skin. Coming up for a breath, Killian hovered waist deep. He shook out his hair, water droplets dripped down his shoulders and back.
