Chapter 14
“We haven’t even kissed and apparently, you’ve already gone shopping with my money,” is the first thing Kieran says after vanishing into my room without permission—not that I’m upset about that.
I smirk, turning the page of the book I’m currently reading—as I’m peacefully enjoying my bubble bath.
The sight shuts Kieran up instantly.
He arches an eyebrow. “I suppose this alone almost pays off the debt you owe me.”
I laugh. “Almost?”
“I’ve got ideas for how you can repay the rest.” Now he’s the one grinning. Surprisingly, he hasn’t moved any closer. “But for the sake of being a gentlefae—would you like me to come back later?”
“Would you like to?”
“Oh, what I’d like to do is … tricky,” Kieran mutters, arms crossing, wings tucked in tight. “But I will leave you alone if you prefer.”
I think about it for a moment.
Kieran’s kindness is complicated … and utterly attractive.
“Stay,” I muse, flipping the page slowly. “Tell me about your day.”
Kieran sinks into the armchair only a few feet away. “I can tell you now—my day didn’t involve buying tiny, deadly weapons.”
“How boring.” I chuckle.
With a flick of Kieran’s finger, a piece of paper appears before him. “Stinger ring, charm hairpin, stardust perfume, enchanted lip tint …” he reads aloud. “Who exactly are you planning to use these on?”
Ah. Florence sent him the receipt.
I shrug, turning another page. “Whoever deserves it.”
There’s no rule regarding the use of weapons in the trials, but since they haven’t supplied us with any, nor have they taken away my daggers, I’m going to assume everything is allowed … until told otherwise.
And honestly, I can think of a handful of people who’d love to kill me and dump my body in the forest.
No one is going to take care of me but me.
“Those won’t work on me, nor can they keep me away—I hope you know,” Kieran says, grinning.
No, of course not. Trying to scare him off with these would be like waving a twig at an elephant.
“And who says I want to keep you away?” I smile, eyes still on the page. “I just asked you to stay.”
A beat.
Kieran doesn’t reply right away. For the first time ever, he takes his time and doesn’t jump at the first chance of throwing a dirty joke at me.
“My day was fine,” he says at last. “Though I missed you.”
Oh.
That’s—
It takes me a minute to register what he has just said. I look up from my book, meeting his eyes—surprised to find how genuine they are.
Like he actually meant it.
I bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling.
“You did?”
He rolls his eyes. “Believe it or not, spending hours discussing politics isn’t quite as entertaining as listening to your sharp little mouth talk nonsense whilst you seduce me from the bathtub.”
Okay.
This is—
Kieran is—
Adorable.
I blink at the unexpected warmth pooling in my chest—delicious, surprising, and absolutely terrifying.
“That still won’t get you in my bed, you know.” I grin, glancing at the massive bed that could easily fit both me and him, and those stunning wings.
“Yeah, I know,” he drawls. “No sex until I give up clues.”
He sounds almost bored.
Yet, he’s still here.
Kieran rubs his chin, eyes flickering with mischief. “Maybe it’s time I start seducing you.”
I hum, turning another page of the book I have barely read. “If that’s your plan, you might have to take your shirt off. For starters.”
Another flick of his fingers, and his shirt vanishes—leaving nothing but bare, tight muscle and sinful confidence in its wake.
I lick my lips. “Must be nice. Getting naked that easily.”
“Not what I plan to do with you, though,” Kieran whispers, drumming his fingers on the armrest. “When you decide you’re done with this game, I’m going to take my time—dragging every bit of clothing off that precious little body I plan to savour. Slowly. Completely.”
Good Gods.
No man has ever said anything like that to me.
Then again, he’s not a man.
My stomach knots. My face flushes. And my mind is trying very hard to suppress the urge to rub this wet, naked body all over him in that damn armchair.
Who the fuck is this Fae turning me into?
I dip half of my face beneath the water—hiding, surrendering, letting him win this time.
Kieran chuckles, low, pleased, and utterly satisfied at the sight of me unravelling.
“I can’t share any information about the trials,” Kieran says, waving a hand casually, “but I can give you a head start on the mini-game.”
A soft clinking sound follows—
Eclipsed coins begin dropping into the bathtub like it’s his personal wishing well.
My eyes widen.
“There are ten of them in there,” he adds.
I set my book aside and pluck one from the water, watching the light catch its edge.
This is my kind of foreplay.
“Now, I’m not saying you have to.” Kieran raises an eyebrow. “But does that earn me anything?”
Oh, Kieran.
Kieran.
Kieran.
I don’t reply.
I just slowly begin rinsing bubbles off my skin—unhurried. Precise.
Then … I rise.
Water runs in trails down my body as I squeeze it from my hair, every drop catching the candlelight.
Our eyes lock.
Kieran curses under his breath, storm-lit eyes scanning every inch of my wet body.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
I step out of the bath, taking my time before I reach for the bath robe.
Kieran slides lower in the armchair as I wrap it around myself—slow, deliberate, in full control.
I step closer.
And it’s all Kieran can do before he drops to his knees.
He groans, head tipped back. “I swear to the stars—this is where you’ll find me when you’re done teasing. Kneeling in front of you. Tasting that fucking body.”
The King of the Fallen.
On his knees.
Losing control.
Gods, I don’t care how it came to this, but this insane fire—it’s been crackling since the first night I placed my hand in his.
Unstoppable.
Irrational.
Burning.
So bright it’s starting to melt the ice of the guilt about Declan that I froze in my own heart.
I reach down, lifting Kieran’s face. He rises to his feet.
I trail a single finger down that perfect body … then I lean in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
“Good night, Kieran.”
He exhales, long and hard, his hand holding mine on his chest. “One of these days, you’ll stop kicking me out.”
I smile, gently nudging him forward, and Kieran has no choice but to slowly back towards the door.
He opens it, steps out, but lingers in the doorway.
“I hope you know what I’ll be thinking about tonight,” he murmurs, dragging those storm-lit eyes down my body.
The moon does nothing to hide the heat rising in my cheeks.
I cross my arms, leaning against the doorframe.
“Why is it that you always vanish in, but never out?”
“I vanish in, Little Star, because it’s the fastest way to see you,” Kieran whispers, leaning closer enough to steal the air from my lungs. “And I don’t vanish when I leave … so I can linger at the door like this.”
“That almost sounds like you have feelings for me.”
“I’d say it’s too soon to tell, but the concept of time is fucked up around here.”
I smile. “You’re doomed if you think this could ever work out.”
“I’m a prisoner of the Court. I was sentenced to die here anyway.” Kieran smiles. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Well, I could love him.
Then I would forget him.
But if I’ll forget it all anyway, then there’s no point in playing it safe.
“I missed you, too, today,” I purr, leaning into his palm as Kieran reaches up to brush my cheek. I could swear he stills for a second. Then I tease, soft and wicked. “But my friends want me to stay away.”
“I think they’re wise,” he says, thumb grazing over my skin. “We’re just in denial.”
I laugh.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe,” Kieran echoes, his maddening smile landing on my forehead in a kiss so gentle everything else in the world fades into dull, grey colour.
Then he pulls away.
“Good night, Cassandra.”