12. Lira
12
LIRA
H is musky amber scent filled my nose, making me dizzy. Those damn butterflies took flight in my stomach again, and I forced myself not to lean into him. After everything, I hated how attracted I still was to him and the way I longed for his touch.
Bastard.
“The gauntlet is three different games in which your only goal is to survive,” he answered, his lips brushing my earlobe and his breath flitting across my skin.
I couldn’t hide my shiver, but it clearly had to be from what he’d told me and not from his touch or proximity. Stepping back, I shook away my daze and focused on the words, games and survival . “What exactly does that mean?”
“You’ll take part in three obstacle courses with dangerous challenges that include the other prisoners.” Tavish leaned back and closed his eyes. “The prisoners will use the opportunity to kill each other without repercussions. Eldrin and Caelan will lay out the rules and the obstacles while I continue to handle the kingdom’s issues.”
I tried to swallow, but the lump in my throat was too large. “They’re all going to attack me, and I don’t have wings or magic.” My pulse quickened. I’d been determined to escape so I wouldn’t die at their hands, and here I was, being handed over to them.
“Oh, I’m aware.” Tavish opened his eyes, the color so dark it could have passed for onyx if I hadn’t known better.
“All this time, you said you would kill me.” I didn’t know why, but out of all the options, Tavish would be my choice. I wasn’t sure what that said about me. “Instead, you’re going to stuff me and put me on a silver platter?”
His brows furrowed, and then he grinned cockily. “If you being stuffed by me is something you’d like to experience, I’m not opposed to making that happen. In regard to the silver platter, that’s an odd request, but I’m sure we can come up with a solution to satisfy both your criteria.”
My body warmed at his sexual innuendo, but I ignored it. There was no way in hell I would allow myself to lose my virginity to a cold, broody asshole who’d kidnapped me and put me in this mess to begin with. I lifted my chin and wrinkled my nose. “Not what I meant. I was comparing what you’re doing to me to a turkey on Thanksgiving.”
“Turkey?” He rocked back on his heels. “Thanksgiving. I’m unsure what you mean. Are we speaking the same language?”
Now that I understood all too well. It’d taken me a little bit to get used to the slurs here, but it was easy to catch on when insults were tossed only in my direction. “Never mind. I just meant you’ve been adamant that you would kill me, and now you’re handing me over to be attacked by …” I trailed off. I wasn’t even sure how many prisoners they had here.
His jaw clenched. “I didn’t do anything. You escaped, despite the nice things I’ve given you, and attacked several of my people. Not only that—but I was forced to kill yet another one of my people to protect you after you attacked me, trying to get away.”
“You’re still the one who made the decision.” I wouldn’t let him justify his actions like I’d caused this problem. “So don’t blame me.”
He closed the distance between us and moved me so that my back pressed against the wall. He lowered his face to mine and placed his thumb against my lower lip, pulling it down. The buzz shot through me, and I had to restrain myself from licking his finger to find out what he tasted like.
“If I hadn’t announced the gauntlet, my people would’ve revolted against me, and you would’ve died tonight. At least this allows you a chance to prepare and survive.”
I snorted, and before I could stop myself, I moved my head so that I had his finger between my teeth.
He smirked, stepping into me, and a velvety, earthy taste filled my mouth from his skin. I could feel him hard against me, and I had to fight my legs to keep them from wrapping around his waist, desperate to feel him between them.
“I should bite your finger off,” I snarled, bearing down a little more on his skin.
“Now that is a sacrifice I’d be more than willing to make, sprite.” He chuckled.
Goose bumps spread across my skin, and my breathing accelerated, but I couldn’t tolerate him getting any more arrogant … especially not due to me. I placed a hand against his chest and pushed him back.
He didn’t fight me, and a part of me screamed in disappointment, but the sane part sighed with relief. When his finger left my mouth, I missed his taste as much as his touch. This connection between us didn’t make sense, but at least it affected us both.
“If you’re expecting a thank-you, it won’t happen.” At the end of the day, he’d set my future. The only question now was who would kill me. “You still sealed my death.”
“Yes. I did.” His irises darkened. “The moment I located you and brought you back here. I’ve been honest about that since you foolishly separated from your sister.”
The words knocked the breath out of me, forcing the walls to close in. My parents had always warned me that one wrong decision could alter my life and to never go off with strangers. I’d never been tempted until I had been by the person who’d brought me here. If I could go back in time and make some other decision, I would, though I understood he’d been determined to bring me here and that Eiric could’ve been caught in the cross fire. “It wouldn’t have mattered.”
His face morphed from arrogance to a deep scowl, and his frigid demeanor slid back into place. “You’re right. Fate intervened and allowed me to find you. There isn’t an alternative. The past is set, and the wrongs must be righted.”
“Is that a mantra you repeat to yourself day after day, or only when you spend time with me?” I’d barely been around him, but I’d heard that line or something similar to it any time we remained in each other’s presence. It was like he had to remind himself that this was the way things had to be. “Because if you’re doing it for my benefit, message received.”
He ran a hand through his hair, and the slight curls fell over his face. He opened his mouth to say something but paused. “The towels have been replenished, so you have what you need to bathe for now.”
In other words, our conversation was over. That was for the best. But I flinched and touched the faint scar from Eldrin’s attack. The quick movement caused my tailbone and chest to ache from the injuries I’d sustained tonight. Yet the last thing I wanted was to soak in the bathtub. I didn’t want Eldrin to ambush me again.
Tavish’s attention homed in on the spot I was touching, and he huffed. “What’s wrong?”
I opened my mouth to say Nothing , but no sound came out. Damn the rule of fae and no lying. I hadn’t struggled on Earth, but here, when I needed to lie to save my ass, I became speechless. I settled on a partial truth instead and touched the area, which still felt hot from where the fae had stabbed me. “My chest hurts.” I glanced down and realized my dress was hanging open and barely covering my chest.
The muscle in his jaw twitched, and his attention landed on the spot where Eldrin had stabbed me.
I had to do something before he asked more questions. We had enough tension and worry between us without adding more. I slipped from my spot and headed toward the bathroom door. I turned the knob and opened it, ready to get away from him and clear my head. “A bath would be good.”
“I’ll get a servant to bring a gown—”
“No need.” They’d already put a new gown in the closet when they’d come to spot-check the room for things the king might need. “I have something already.” Before he could say anything else, I shut the door and faced the tub.
I exhaled, wanting to make this quick. I didn’t want to bathe, but it had been days, if not a week, since the last time I’d gotten clean, and I didn’t want the new wounds to become infected.
I turned on the water and, as the tub filled, opened the closet door to snag a pale-blue towel. I scanned the room, focusing on the darkest corners but didn’t see anything there.
With haste, I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the water, allowing it to cover me. As soon as I submerged myself, the water tingled all over my body, relaxing me and easing the pain from the wounds I’d received. Still, my brain ran wild, seeing flashes of shadows in the shadows. I blinked, and nothing was there. I was allowing Eldrin to mess with my mind, and I wasn’t sure how to fix it.
I sank further into the water, allowing the dirt and grime of the night to wash away. My hands, feet, and chest tingled more than the rest of my body. They were cracked, scraped, cut, and bleeding.
After getting clean, I dried myself quickly and slipped the new dress over my head. I ran my fingers through my hair to untangle the knots to the best of my ability then hurried back into the bedroom, not wanting to be in the bathroom alone.
As soon as the door opened, I saw Tavish pick up the two pillows I’d been using and place them on the bed on top of the comforter.
He stilled, tilting his head. “That was quick. Was something the matter?”
That was a question I didn’t want to answer, so I focused on what I wanted to know. “Am I moving back to the holding cell?”
“If you were going back to the cell, I would’ve put you there earlier.” He exhaled and pulled down the edge of the comforter.
A wall of pillows divided the bed in the center, like a barrier.
He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “ You need good rest so you can heal from your injuries, and you’ll do better on an actual bed.”
My breath caught. “You sound like you might not want me to die.”
He took in a deep breath, and his frown deepened. “I don’t want you to go into the gauntlet without being able to defend yourself. Your death will serve a greater purpose … to save my people. However, the prisoners … they’ll want to kill you out of spite and for revenge, even if you aren’t an actual threat. It’s … not what I intended. I don’t want you to die this way.”
Wow. Even if he was misguided, at least he wasn’t taking pleasure in the thought of my death. Still, I remained quiet, unsure how to respond.
“If you’re uncomfortable and would rather I sleep on the floor, I can do that.” His wings folded tightly behind him.
I could only imagine one of the servants or guards coming in and seeing the king on the floor and me in his bed. I didn’t need their hate for me to increase … if that was possible. I didn’t want to find out. “No, it’s fine.” The pillows were large and fluffy. They created a decent barrier.
“Good.”
“Thank—” I started.
“Don’t.” He lifted a hand. “Don’t thank a fae … ever . That means you owe them, and the last thing I need is for you to be indebted to me.”
For a quick second, an image of a boy popped into my mind, with eyes similar to the light-gray shade I’d seen only a handful of times and a genuine smile … but then it vanished. My ears rang, and I wondered if that had been him .
He gestured to the bed. “Get some sleep. I’m going to get clean before climbing into bed.”
I nodded, and we passed each other. I glanced down, taking in the charcoal gown that covered me. My latest wound was already healing, and the frost-bitten blue tinge had vanished from my hands and feet as well. The water tingling the way it had must have helped heal them. Maybe I should’ve soaked longer, but the thought of Eldrin watching me made me want to vomit. I couldn’t stay in there.
Tavish shut the door, and I slipped into the bed. His scent overpowered me … and made me feel like I was home. The mattress was soft like a cloud, and before I realized what was happening, I fell asleep.
My mind tried to wake me, but my body buzzed, lulling me back to sleep. I felt safer than I ever had since being brought to Ardanos.
Ardanos.
The realm’s name popped into my head like it was meant to be there, but when I tried to tug at it and understand why, nothing more came. I had to know the name because Tavish had said it a few times. That was the only explanation that made any sense.
Still, shock opened my eyes, and I stared at the window I’d escaped through last night. My back was to Tavish, and something heavy and cool lay on my upper thigh, causing a pleasant sensation.
My head spun, and I lifted it to see Tavish’s palm resting on my waist and his calf lay across my exposed thigh where the gown had risen during the night. His foot casually hung off the side.
I looked carefully over my shoulder to see his body pressed up against the pillow barrier and his right arm and leg over it, touching me.
My back was pressed against the pillow barrier. If it hadn’t been there, we’d have been completely intertwined with one another. Thank goodness it was there, but how did I untangle myself without waking him? I didn’t want him to stir and realize what he’d done during the night. After the little bit of progress we’d made, the last thing I wanted was for him to become distant again.
I shifted and wiggled out of his grasp while still pretending to be asleep, but Tavish groaned and tugged me back against the pillows.
Dammit. This wouldn’t be easy.
I froze, listening to his breathing. Fortunately, it was slow and easy.
Good. I hadn’t woken him up.
I bit my bottom lip, debating how to get the hell out of here gracefully.
Then the bedroom door burst open.
Tavish and I jumped awake and turned toward the door to discover the worst person in the world standing there, mouth gaping open.