Chapter 14
Gisela came awake surrounded by warmth. It took her a moment to remember what had happened the night before and to realize that Xaydin was still wrapped around her.
Heat scalded her cheeks.
“Awake, princess?” That deep voice next to her ear sent shivers over her.
“Barely.” She glanced over her shoulder to find him grinning at her.
Then she realized something. “Did Masakage stay out all night?”
His grin widened.
“What did you do?”
“Masakage isn’t the only one who can spell a door and keep others out.”
“Impressive, but isn’t he likely to be upset?”
His warm hand cupped her breast. “Do you think I care?”
Obviously not. “Don’t we have to get going this morning?”
“It can wait.”
Biting her lip, she groaned as he moved his hand lower to tease her. “Can it?” she breathed.
He laughed in her ear. “Do you really want me to stop?”
No. Even though she knew how important their mission was, would an hour make that much difference?
Or two?
“Is that a no, princess?”
She ground herself against his fingers as they teased her. “Don’t you dare stop.”
Laughing, he laved the nape of her neck.
Chills ran the length of her entire body. Last night had been miraculous, but this was even more so.
His breathing turned ragged in her ear and then, he was filling her from behind.
Gisela gasped at the fullness of him inside her, especially when he began to thrust. Reaching over her head, she burrowed her hand in his soft, wavy dark locks. Her heart pounded as he quickened his strokes while his hand continued to tease and torment her with pleasure.
Xaydin growled in her ear at the incredible sensation of her in his arms. She was right, they did need to be on their way. But…
How could he resist her? She was exquisite. Delectable. And her taste, feel and scent had branded him hers. He’d never felt like this before.
And when she came in his arms with a fierce cry, he felt a satisfaction that was indescribable. No one else had ever made her feel this way, and he took pride in the fact that he was able to give her something no one else had. That she trusted him when she, like him, never trusted anyone.
This was special, and he treasured it as such.
Burying his face against her neck, he growled as he found his own release.
Gisela smiled as he tightened his hold on her. She felt enveloped by his body. Every inch of her was pressed against him. It was both overwhelming and yet thrilling.
Running her hand down his forearm, she closed her eyes and sighed. She should feel trapped or even oppressed by a hold like this. In the past, she’d hated being constricted in any way. But there was something comforting in his embrace.
She didn’t feel trapped, she felt…
Loved. Wanted.
It was so intimate that she wasn’t quite sure what to think or make of this. Did it mean he cared about her?
Don’t be ridiculous.
How could he? This was just basic lust.
But not to her. She knew a wall inside her had fallen down, and it’d left her vulnerable.
What am I going to do? This had changed her, and she wasn’t stupid enough to pretend otherwise. She cared about him. She who had never cared about anyone before now valued someone else.
And she wanted to do this again with him.
And again.
Oh my God! I’m wanton!
Horrified, she felt her eyes widen at the knowledge. For the first time in her life, she understood her mother’s insatiable hunger for men.
Only she didn’t want just any man. She only wanted to be with Xaydin.
Suddenly, someone pounded at their door.
Xaydin’s growl of frustration brought a smile to her lips. “Bastard,” he whispered in her ear, making her laugh. “Yes, Masakage,” he said louder.
“Will you let me in?”
He sighed heavily. “What do you think? Should I lower the ward and let our demon bother us?”
“I don’t know…I guess he’s been banned long enough.”
He laughed again at the feigned angst in her tone. “I’ll take care of him. Take your time getting ready.”
Withdrawing from her, he rolled out of bed, dressed and barely opened the door enough that he could step into the hallway.
Grateful for his thoughtfulness, she got out of bed more slowly.
Until she saw what Xaydin had done…
There was a full-sized tub with steaming water waiting at the foot of the bed.
“Oh my God! I love you!” Those words actually startled her, and she was grateful he wasn’t here to hear them because she feared she might actually mean them.
Something she’d think about later. For now, all she wanted to concentrate on was that precious gift.
And it wasn’t until she’d sunk her body into the luxurious waters that it occurred to her just how much power he had that he could create this for her. It was miraculous.
More than that, it was terrifying. Just how much magic was he capable of?
Given his gargantuan size, it was easy to let his physical prowess and strength intimidate. So much so that she hadn’t even really considered how much magic he wielded. Her thoughts there had been for Masakage.
But Xaydin downplayed his abilities and skills. Strange how she hadn’t really thought about that before.
Now…
She realized how pompous and stupid she’d been when she first confronted him. He could have laid her low with little effort.
I need to be more careful. But it was easy to get cocky when not confronted. To think that her abilities were superlative, which in most cases they were. But no matter how strong and capable someone was, there was always someone stronger and more capable.
Closing her eyes, she knew how lucky she’d been. How grateful that so far, they weren’t enemies.
Her only hope was that they’d continue to be friends and not turn sour.
That thought made her stomach cramp. Nothing ever lasted forever.
Not the bad.
Not the good.
And nothing ever ended well. Tears pricked at her eyes as she thought about the truth. All things came to an end.
Just how bad would their ending be?
“Am I banned from the room?”
Xaydin just stared at the fake Masakage. “For now. Yes.”
“You know I slept outside in the alley last night, right?”
Blinking slowly, Xaydin just stared at him.
Masakage would never have complained about resting in an alley as he’d made his bed there on many occasions.
Instead, he would have been teasing him because Kage would have known exactly what Xaydin had been doing and why he was banned from the room. “And?”
Shaking his head, the imposter crossed his arms over his chest. “There’s a royal contingent that just came in. Should we be concerned by it?”
“Not really.”
“You seem rather nonchalant for someone wanted dead by the crown.”
Masakage would know and understand. There was a difference between them wanting him dead and being dumb enough to actually try.
But Xaydin wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of an answer. Instead, he shrugged and walked past his nuisance, toward the inn so that he could get them something to eat.
As he walked down the stairs and entered the main part, a strange sensation came over him. One he knew intimately.
Ronan.
His presence washed over him with a slight jolt. Few creatures commanded the amount of power Ronan did. When they’d been captives in Meara’s court, the two of them had been inseparable. Of course, that was back before Xaydin learned to hate shape shifters.
’Course, Ronan had been infuriated as Meara had used an enchanted cuff to keep him from being able to change forms. It’d been its own kind of torture for Ronan who’d been forced to live as a human.
There were no words for having powers bound against someone’s will. It was like having a vice placed on your lungs. Or like losing a limb. Nothing hurt more than having abilities taken away for no good reason.
Some could cope. Most became bitter and angry, especially the longer they were withheld. Not that he blamed them. He couldn’t stand being bound in any manner or not having authority over his own life. It was why he’d never want to be king.
That kind of power came with restrictions he’d rather die than suffer. Nothing was worse than losing autonomy.
And as he scanned the mostly empty room, he caught sight of the beast he sought.
Sort of.
Ronan wasn’t Ronan. Rather he was disguised as a troll. Light green skin and flaming red hair. But the eyes were the same.
Stormy, dark gray.
Jerking his chin, he acknowledged Ronan’s presence.
Ronan cut a glance sideways.
Xaydin looked over to see the contingent of guards the imposter had mentioned.
“Are you fucking kidding me,” he uttered under his breath. Further proof that wasn’t Masakage. Not that he needed it confirmed.
And before he could move, the captain of the group headed straight for him.
Xaydin placed his hand over the hilt of his sword, tempted to unsheathe it and relieve the world of this particular breed of pestilence.
Don’t do it.
It’d be all kinds of stupid. But it was so tempting.
“Xaydin!” Robslin grabbed him into a tight hug.
It took everything he had not to protest or shove the huge troll beast away from him. With jet-black hair and dark skin that held a hint of green, Robslin was almost as tall as he was.
“Cousin.” Xaydin pounded him on the back hard enough that it finally caused the shorter troll to release him. “What are you doing here?”
“We were passing by when we caught word there were humans about. Wanted to see who dared such. Should have known it was you, but this isn’t your usual haunt.”
True. He stayed up north, unless he was traveling to Oath Island and even then, he stayed in the east. He rarely ever ventured to the west.
“Now you can set your mind at ease. No humans for you to chase or expel.”
Laughing, Rob hit him so hard on the arm that it actually hurt.
Xaydin grimaced, then forced a smile so as not to offend his cousin. Rob wasn’t trying to be an ass. He simply wasn’t the brightest spark in the fire. Rather his bundle was shy a few logs.
“Won’t you join us for a drink?” Rob asked.
I would rather have my eyes gouged out and eaten.
Sighing, he offered his cousin a smile. “Of course.”