Chapter 41
“We should eat,” he whispered a few minutes later as they stood in silence.
They had not parted from each other, his warmth too addicting and she knew if she asked, he would stay like this forever. He would do whatever she asked not just because she was the princess, but because he cared.
All she could do was nod and pull away from him, his arms falling from her slowly. Her stomach was still in knots but she smiled when his hand grabbed her and pulled her towards the bed.
He motioned for her to get on the bed, her eyes giving him a curious look but did as he asked. Pressing her back against the headboard, she watched him walk back across the room to grab their food.
“You didn’t have to do that.” She smiled as he handed her a plate of food.
“I know.” He shrugged.
She set the plate on her lap and started to dig into the chicken and green beans that had since gone cold. The bed dipped next to her and she felt his arm press against hers, his warmth welcoming.
“Kaden, I-”
“It’s ok, we can talk about it later.” He interrupted her, his eyes glancing her direction and they had a calm to them she wasn’t expecting. “You need to eat and get some rest.”
Rest wasn’t going to be easy with how fast her heart was racing, their moment between them still replaying in her head. She still wasn’t sure what she wanted to say, but she knew how she ached for him in ways she had never with anyone else.
“You think Oak wants to actually talk or something more sinister?” she asked quietly before taking another bite of food.
“I don’t get a good aura from him.” Kaden shrugged. “But as long as I’m with you I won't worry.”
She nodded and finished her food quickly, the tension between them changing to more of an awkward feeling than the fire it was before. It was almost like he was avoiding the subject all together.
“I know we need to train, but mind if I check out the library here tomorrow? Maybe there is something here about the war that I can find and try to understand what started it.” She set her fork down and stared at her empty plate.
“Only for a short time. I will send Xander and Boone with you tomorrow to the library if that is what you want while I have a conversation with Oak.” He kept eating but didn’t look at her. “But after that we train all day, long and hard.”
She just nodded and grabbed her plate, the sudden change in his demeanor making her stomach stir in panic.
Did she read too much into what he was asking and got her hopes up?
Maybe whatever she thought was going on between them was just her imagination.
She didn’t have the best track record for trusting her heart, and it seems like he changed his mind.
Swinging her leg off the bed, she went to stand but felt his arm wrap around her waist and pulled her back into him.
“Where are you going?” he mumbled.
“Putting my plate on the table.” she muttered back, her voice shaking. Tears threatened her eyes from the rejection she was feeling, the sudden wall he threw up making her stomach twist.
His head tilted around her and she could see him staring at her from the corner of her eye.
“What is wrong?” he whispered against her ear and she turned away from him, clearing her throat.
“Nothing, let’s just go to bed.” She tried to shrug him off but he kept his grip on her.
He maneuvered his arm and before she knew it, she was on her back next to him, his face hovering above hers and she felt her jaw drop in shock.
“I thought we didn’t lie to each other anymore?” he purred and she was so caught off guard, her throat dried and she just stared up at him.
One of his arms was supporting him, the other moved to cup her face. She felt the tear fall from her eyes and his thumb brushed it away quickly.
“Alyra?” his voice changed to concern and she met his gaze staring down at her.
“I-” she stuttered. “I just wonder why you suddenly shut me out.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can feel you avoiding whatever just happened between us,” she breathed quietly. “My guess is you regret your actions.”
His chest grunted above her and she saw his eyes darken as they kept staring at her. The feeling of his hand leaving her face made her instantly panic and she knew he was about to confirm her suspicions.
“I’m irritated that we got interrupted,” he growled, his free hand pushing under her side and he pulled her sideways towards him as he laid down. “I don’t regret anything when it comes to you.”
Her face pressed against his bare chest and his legs intertwined with hers as they laid above the covers on the bed.
“Don’t overthink and get some sleep. We have time to talk tomorrow.”
Thoughts still raced through her mind, confusion being one of them but as soon as he pulled her in closer to him it was like everything started to fade.
His body was warm and she could feel her eyes start to get heavy after the long day. The food she just ate didn’t help and it didn’t take long for her to fall asleep in anticipation for the next day, Kaden’s hand stroking her back as everything went dark.
- - - - - - - -
Sunlight glowed on her face as the morning sun rose above the nearby mountains, its light brightening her closed eyelids.
Every part of her felt like she was on fire, Kaden’s hold around her body now making her aware of just how sensitive she was to him after last night.
No nightmares awoke her during the night, and she was currently curled into him, her back pressed against his warm chest. The best feeling was his arms caged around her and his breath tickled the back of her neck, giving her goosebumps all down her body.
He stirred behind her and pressed a kiss to the back of her neck making her suck in a breath.
“No nightmare?” he asked with a groggy tone.
“No nightmare.” she answered back but didn’t roll over to look at him like she typically did.
Her stomach was instantly in knots thinking about their interaction last night and she was too nervous to look at him.
That feeling of him pressing against her and his lips so close to hers, it made her insides heat just thinking about it.
Color was rushing to her face, she could feel it and she would avoid his stare for as long as she could.
They laid there for a few minutes, his hand tracing up and down her arm gently and she could feel her heart beating against her chest. Every nerve in her body was on alert and when he kissed the back of her shoulder again, she almost lost her composure.
Footsteps could be heard from the hall and he reluctantly pulled away from her, his head turning towards the door as he snapped into his protective stance.
Someone was standing outside of it, but waited a solid minute before knocking. Letting out an irritated groan, Kaden shuffled himself off the bed and opened the door a little, not enough for whoever it was to see around him.
“I was told to invite your entire company to breakfast in the dining hall. It will be served in an hour and Oak said not to be late.”
She could hear a female's voice but he was blocking her view to see if she was in the same attire from last night.
Kaden just nodded and she heard footsteps go back down the hall.
“Stay here,” he said, his head turning to look at her. “I will go inform the others."
“I’ll be here,” she said casually, not sure how to act this morning.
The door opened a short time later and she turned her head to see Kaden casually walking in, his eyes instantly to her.
Every nerve in her body went on alert, his eyes slowly gazing down her body even though she was fully clothed. Slow steps towards her made her skin prickle and when he slowly maneuvered across the bed to her, her breathing stopped.
“How are you feeling this morning?” His voice was filled with hesitation and she didn’t know how to take it.
“I’m not sure.” her voice shaking as she spoke. “Still tired I guess.”
“I thought you didn’t have any nightmares?” worry lining his voice.
“I didn’t.” she shrugged, “just a lot going on the last couple of days and it must just be catching up to me.”
It took all she had not to want to crawl into his lap and make him hold her all day. Unfortunately she had other responsibilities and needed to get her power back at whatever cost.
She just smiled and started to get up and ready for the day, her mind racing but she kept her outside composure in hopes he didn’t pick up on her current erratic feelings.