18. Everly
Everly
Chapter eighteen
Maxon and I have absolutely demolished all the sweets in the bags. The powdery sugary delights were amazing. I’ve never tasted anything like them in my life. It’s near impossible to stop at one, and I understand why Coraline gave us a full bag.
Watching the fae dance around the tree from where we sit, a soft smile plays on my lips. My stomach is full, I’ve had my sugar hit, and the music is beautiful.
Maxon nudges my shoulder gently. “Ready to head back?”
I raise my gaze to him and offer a nonchalant shrug. “If you want.”
Maxon's eyes darken, he leans in, running his thumb over the corner of my mouth. Bringing his hand back, he puts his thumb in his mouth, sucking it.
“You had some sugar on your lip,” he replies, his eyes completely focused on my mouth.
Desire burns deep in my chest, heating my entire body. I can’t help but lick my lips, drawing my bottom lip between my teeth. Our bodies sway toward each other, my eyes fluttering. A loud shriek from a young boy running past jolts us, and Maxon stands, holding out his hand to help me up. My entire body is flush, making me want to hide from his gaze, but I let him pull me to my feet.
As we make our way back through the markets, we can't help but notice the newfound tranquility that has replaced the earlier commotion. Storm is still where we had left him earlier. When he spots us, he shuffles back and forth, letting out a soft whine. Maxon reaches into the bag and pulls out one remaining treat and holds it out for him. Storm leans in and sniffs it before gently taking it from Maxon’s hand. Storm devours the treat and nuzzles into Maxon’s chest, as he whispers something to him. The sweetness of the moment brings a rush of emotions, causing my chest to tighten.
Maxon helps me onto Storm’s back and mounts behind me, his arms coming around me to grasp the reins. His scent wraps around me, and I let my eyes drift shut as I inhale the woodsy scent.
We slowly trot down the cobblestone street toward the gates that exit Skora and take us to the castle. The sun is beginning to set as we pass through the gates, and I’m in complete awe of the colors streaking across the sky like a painting, casting a surreal glow over the fields of wildflowers. The breeze is cool and refreshing, but it's also making it difficult to see as my hair whips around my face. With a grin, I reach up, pushing it back and twisting it over my shoulder. Suddenly, Maxon's cheek presses against mine, causing me to jump.
“You smell amazing, Stóirín.”
“Uhh . . . thanks.”
A deep rumbling noise emanates from him, sending a flash of heat through me. His hot mouth moves against the side of my throat, his lips and teeth dragging over the sensitive skin. There’s a wicked sharpness there that steals my breath. My nails dig into his arms as I tilt my head, giving him more room.
Maxon gently sucks on my neck, a moan slipping from my lips. I want nothing more than to turn in his arms and have those lips on mine.
“Maxon . . . ” I breathe, my breath forming a mist in the chilly air.
Sparks of energy move between us, and his grip on me tightens. His palm sliding up my body, I tremble at his touch. Gently, he takes hold of my chin to turn my face toward his, and I am struck by the desire in his violet eyes, which seem to glow in the dim light. I gasp as the silver ring around his eyes flares with heat and he slowly moves closer. I don’t breathe as his mouth closes in on mine, nor can I stop my eyes from falling shut.
Suddenly, Storm lets out a loud neigh, causing us to tense and my eyes snap open. Maxon lets go of my chin and clears his throat, a twinge of disappointment filling me before he pulls away, creating distance between us.
“What is it about you that has me so twisted up inside?”
“If you find out, let me know,” I whisper honestly.
Maxon drops his hands from my waist, grabbing the reins with a sigh, and I immediately miss the warmth and weight of his touch. The absolute ridiculousness of it brings a flush to my cheeks, even as I find myself yearning for more, craving the taste of his lips against mine once again.
However, Nix and Zaria were right—I can’t let myself become entangled in whatever inexplicable bond exists between us.
“I better get you back.” His voice is tinged with regret.
I nod, feeling a wave of emotions overwhelm me, and tears begin to sting my eyes, a lump forming in my throat. Damn emotions.
Adjusting my position in the saddle, I sit so I’m facing forward again and take a deep shaky breath.
The rhythmic thumping of Storm's hooves against the ground is the only sound as we ride in silence the rest of the way. The stables are empty now, only one young fae manning the doors. Upon seeing us approaching, he rushes to open them, and Maxon deftly grabs the reins as he dismounts Storm, leading him into the stables with me still perched on his back.
The stables are dark and quiet apart from the shifting of hay and the soft nicker of other horses every now and again. Reaching Storm’s stall, I decide to try to dismount myself. It can’t be that hard. Though Storm is significantly larger than the other horses. I can do it. I’m not sure, however, whether I can handle having Maxon’s hands on me anymore.
With Maxon's back turned, I quickly swing my leg over and flip onto my stomach, prepared to make my escape. Holding my breath, I start to slide down but slip. A gasp escapes my lips as I instinctively tense, bracing myself for the impact with the ground. Powerful hands swiftly catch me, securely wrapping around my waist and guiding me safely to the ground.
Maxon presses himself against me, trapping me and causing my breath to quicken as a wave of heat rushes over me. It’s becoming increasingly likely that I will faint if things continue at this rate. He has this way of taking my breath away and making my heart race all with one touch.
“What do you think you are doing, Stóirín?” he whispers, against my hair.
That word again. I want to ask what it means, but I’m also worried. Worried it will make my heart beat even harder for a man I can’t have. I also don’t want to embarrass myself.
Maxon drops his head lower, lips skimming down my neck as his fingers tug at the neck of my tunic, baring my shoulder to his touch. Gently he bites down on the sensitive part of my neck, where it connects with my shoulder, eliciting a moan from me.
“Maxon . . . ” I whisper hoarsely, my body flooding with desire.
“Yes?”
My eyes flutter shut as he continues to lay bites and kisses across my shoulder and neck.
“We– we need to talk,” I stutter.
Maxon reluctantly takes a step back, and I slowly turn to meet his gaze. I cannot allow myself to keep getting distracted. Taking a deep breath, a sense of determination wells up inside me and I lift my chin a fraction higher.
“What did you need to talk about?”
“The queen.”
Maxon frowns. “What about her?”
“She threatened my friends in the human world. Said if she wasn’t allowed to torture me, then she would torture my friends to get me to talk.”
Maxon goes still; the type of still that is predatory. Dangerous.
“She said that?”
“She hinted at that. I need to know if she was bluffing. Would she hurt my friends?”
The silver around Maxon’s eyes burns brightly as he stares at me. He stares and stares and stares before finally speaking. “What else did she say to you?”
It doesn’t slip my notice that he hasn’t answered my question. “Nothing of importance. I only care if my friends are in danger.”
“The queen can open the gates, but she won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Maxon moves past me and unclips Storm’s bridle, lifting it from his head. “I just know. Lavina is all bark, no bite.”
“I don’t think we see the same thing when looking at her. Or you do, and you just won’t admit it to yourself. Otherwise, why would you barge into her chambers to rescue me yet again?”
Maxon flashes me a hard look over his shoulder, his jaw clenching. “I’m not blind to her ways. I will make sure the gates are guarded. No one will leave this realm and hurt your friends.”
“Why can’t I leave if the gates can be opened?”
Maxon’s body stiffens.
“I know, because you need to know how I managed to stumble into this realm.” I roll my eyes. “Kian said something to me today about the old druids and the prophecy.”
Maxon's hands pause on Storm’s buckles. “You have questions?”
I have plenty of questions, but no one seems to want to answer them. “Why were they killed?”
Maxon releases a deep sigh as he lifts the saddle off Storm’s back and puts it aside. He grabs two brushes, tossing one at me. I catch it and step forward to help him brush down Storm’s coat.
“The Seelie Queen, Anwyn, heard the prophecy first from a Seer. And in the beginning, she wanted this child for herself, wanted the druid princess to marry her son. The Druids refused this offer. After all, no one knew when this would come to pass. When the druid king and queen at the time had a daughter, the Seelie queen once again tried her luck, but the king and queen stood firm in their decision. Their daughter would marry whomever she wanted. This provoked Anwyn, causing her to veer off in another direction. If she couldn’t have the powerful druid on her side, she would turn all others against them, scaring the fae folk with outlandish tales about how this druid would be powerful beyond what has ever been. The seelie king and queen deemed the druid's powers too dangerous to leave unchecked and opted to eliminate them, thereby extinguishing the royal bloodline. It then became a race to see who could capture and kill the druids.”
Maxon pauses, his gaze dropping to the ground before his haunted eyes peer over at me.
“My father was against it at first, but somehow, he was persuaded to help them in the hunt. My mother tried to stop him, but someone was whispering in his ear, and he wouldn’t listen to reason. Following my father's death in battle, my mother's health declined rapidly, and she passed away soon after. At the age of only five, I was deemed too young to take the throne, and thus, my father's sister was appointed to rule in my stead until I came of age. It basically comes down to power and who holds it.”
The despondency in his tone is like a physical blow to my heart. I stop brushing Storm and turn my attention to Maxon, laying a comforting hand on his arm. “I’m sorry you lost your parents. I lost mine, too.”