Page 58 of This Is Not True Love’s Kiss

“A little higher,” she said, her voice so uncharacteristically uncertain, timid almost.

I skimmed my hands up her back and reveled in the shudder that rippled through her. Her long dark hair curtained our faces, blotting out the sun and the forest. From this close, I could see the flecks of green in her eyes, could see the actual shimmer of her skin, like little pieces of glitter sparkling.

Her mouth parted, and this sudden desperate need to kiss her overtook me. “We should . . .”

“Yeah,” I said, knowing we needed to get up, to move, but neither of us did.

I splayed my hands over her back, and she arched into me, her head dipping down, the movement barely imperceptible, except that it brought her lips closer to mine.

“Aoife,” I said, voice low. I lifted my head, hoping she knew that if she wanted this, then I would give it to her.

I’d give this woman whatever she wanted.

Her eyes were ablaze now, and she moved her lips toward mine. My breath caught in my throat at the possibility of what might happen between us, that maybe Aoife wanted me, too, that maybe she’d felt the shift between us this last week. That maybe we could be more than just partners.

A branch cracked nearby, and we both jumped apart, scrambling to our feet as my gaze snapped in the direction of the noise. I stepped in front of Aoife, trying to usher her behind my back, but of course, she swatted my hand away and stepped forward, a slight bend to her knees as she readied herself for a fight.

My hand went to the sword strapped to my side right as members of the brotherhood emerged from the trees, surrounding us.

CHAPTER 30

Lor

The familiar maroon-cloaked figures surrounded us, and I drew my sword, ready to fight if need be. Aoife could portal us out of here, but doing so would confirm the existence of the Fair Folk .. That would only triple their efforts to find us.

No, it was best if they just believed Aoife was some human companion of mine, a guard perhaps.

“Lorcan Wolfgang,” one of the members said from under their breath. “He’s supposed to be dead.”

Another member stepped forward, and she shoved her hood off her head. My heart stopped beating momentarily when I saw the familiar blond hair piled in a bun, tendrils escaping and falling across her forehead.

“It’s okay.” Leena held out her hands. “Everyone just calm down. Many of you have heard of Lor, the Butcher of the Brotherhood, but what you don’t know is that he was the former leader of the rebels.”

Everyone stilled, including me. What was she doing speaking so casually of the rebels like this?

Aoife shot me an unsure glance, but I was just as confused as she was.

“It’s okay, Lor.” Leena stepped forward. “This is the new group of rebels, the group I’ve continued to build since you left two years ago.”

My gaze widened, and I swiveled around, looking at all these people. “How many rebels are there now?” I asked.

“There’s over one hundred of us,” she said, a tentative smile quirking her lips, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. “You’re lucky it was my group that found you. There are others out and about on Kiln Mountain, and they would no doubt have many questions about how you’re still alive.”

I glanced at Aoife, and she stepped forward. “We have many questions of our own about the brotherhood.”

Leena dipped her head. “Then come back to our camp, and we can talk.”

* * *

Aoife stayed a few paces behind me and Leena as we walked through the forest and toward the camp.

“I don’t understand,” I said in a low voice, the other brotherhood members melting into the trees surrounding us, no doubt scouting the area. “How are there over one hundred rebels?”

Leena looked up at me, smiling and revealing the gap in her teeth that I’d always found so endearing. “It turns out there’s a lot of brotherhood members uneasy with the direction the brotherhood is going in. It’s been easy to convert people to our cause.”

“And you never told the rebels the truth about me?” I asked.

She shook her head. “That is classified information. Something like that getting out could put everything in jeopardy, including my life since I’m the one who told the brotherhood you were dead.” She edged close to me so that her fingers barely brushed mine. “I’ve missed you, Lor. So much.”