Page 134 of Her Ivory Flame

He stood, her eyes still lingering on him and when he relaxed against the table across from her, she let her head fall into her hands.

Exhaustion was taking over, the day feeling like an eternity along with trying to process all the new information.

“I need to process everything.” she groaned.

Her friends nodded and she started towards her room after getting to her feet, Kaden following her.

As soon as the door shut, he grabbed around her waist and pulled her front against him. She barely had time to react before he took her face in his hand gently, his thumb brushing her cheek. Their eyes met and neither made a sound as they moved toward each other slowly, her eyes closing and felt his lips press tenderly against hers.

He kept it soft, never pushing further and she knew he was just as relieved as she was that they made it home.

“You fought like your old self,” he whispered against her lips. “How are you feeling?”

Their foreheads rested against one another and she let out a long shaky breath. Her hands gripped his shirt and she tried to let her mind calm for a small moment.

“If this is all Silas’s doing and I spent a century thinking he cared about me, then I feel like the stupidest person in the world,” she mumbled.

“You wouldn’t have known.”

“I should have. Like you said when we first met, one of Mavros’s soldiers doesn’t just change sides.”

“He took advantage of you at your most vulnerable time, you cannot blame yourself.” His hand reached up to cup the side of her face. “If it is all true, I will make sure he regrets his decisions for the very short amount of life he has left.”

A smile formed on her face, the possessiveness in his voice turning her anxiety into heat in her core. Their bond vibrated, his hand gripping her face a little harder and she knew he sensed it.

“Go take a bath,” he whispered, his lips grazing against hers. “I’ll come back in a little while.”

“Where are you going?” She pulled back and felt a slight panic slam into her.

“I’m gonna go get myself cleaned up and get updates from the rest of the group. I promise I will be here when you come out.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before releasing her and exiting the room. Taking in a long breath she started towards the bathroom, stripping off the now ruined dress splattered in Trencher blood and lowered herself into the full bath.

The familiar smell of lilac stopped her mind from spiraling further and as soon as her body submerged in the water, she felt herself melt into it.

Chapter 52

What seemed like hours later, she heard the main bedroom door open and she shifted in the water to glance towards the bathroom entryway close by.

Kaden’s figure appeared in the doorway and she leaned her head against the basin.

“Isn’t the water cold?” Kaden smirked.

“Yes,” she sighed. “You hadn’t come back yet though.”

“I’m sorry, there were more things to discuss than I anticipated.”

His face didn’t falter so she figured it wasn’t anything serious that she needed to worry about.

“How’s Finnley?” sheasked quietly.

“He will be fine, almost healed already but will be sore for a while,” he replied, his eyes trying really hard to stay on her face and not venture further down her body.

“Still showing your self-control I see.” She smirked.

“I know you’re exhausted and after our escape from death tonight, I just want to hold you.”

She saw his face relax as he leaned against the wall, the look in his eyes bright and she let out a sigh.