Chapter 16 #2
With the silvery-gray clouds pressing in from all directions, I had no idea how Adriel could tell where he was going, or how Kaden managed to follow.
Sorsha’s graceful form had disappeared, and the only clue that we were approaching the peak was the fuzzy outline of the mountains that stood out whenever an errant thread of sunlight broke through the clouds.
The wind howled as we crested the peak, and Adriel canted his wings, his muscles clenching as he braced against the gale and angled his body to land. My stomach pitched as we descended into the snow.
The second my feet sank into the deep powder, I caught a blur of movement out of the corner of my eye, and Adriel hit the ground.
I whirled around in alarm to find the royal guard in a tangled heap of wings and leather-clad limbs — Kaden wrestling him into the snow.
“What the fuck?” I screeched, fear gripping me. Had Semphrys invaded Kaden’s mind? Was he being compelled?
Leaving my witchwood blade sheathed at my thigh, I drew two mundane daggers. Sorsha landed just as Kaden’s fist swung out to connect with Adriel’s jaw, eliciting a low grunt from the royal guard.
“You just have to let that happen,” the princess sighed, getting to her feet and brushing the snow from her leathers.
Eyes wide, my gaze flitted back to the two males grappling in the snow. Kaden’s wings flared as he pinned Adriel, swinging a fist into the side of his jaw.
“Kaden!” I took a step forward, reassuring myself that a mundane blade wouldn’t kill him.
But then Adriel’s head whipped around, and a low, grating chuckle rumbled up his chest. Blood stained his straight white teeth and dribbled down his chin. An angry purple bruise was already forming along his jaw, and he was laughing.
Bewildered, I kicked Kaden in the ribs, but he barely flinched before driving his fist into his best friend’s nose. The royal guard flipped him in a graceful, practiced motion, punching the prince so hard that blood splattered the snow.
“What’s happening?” I asked in a shaky voice. Clearly, I was missing something.
Sorsha chuckled. “Oh, the usual. Males swinging their dicks around. Comparing wingspans. Typical early mating behavior.”
“Typical?” I choked as Kaden flung his best friend into the snow and clambered to his feet.
Both males were heaving for air, blood dripping from their mouths as their eyes began to swell.
“Kaden’s just feeling territorial. He didn’t like that Adriel had his hands on you.”
“He was only touching me because I can’t fly,” I spluttered.
“Intellectually, he knows that. But when the mating bond is so fresh, fae — particularly the males — tend to act from the more primal part of their brains. In his current state, he’d attack any male who so much as looked at you too long.”
I gaped at my mate in horror and outrage. All evening, I’d been worried that Semphrys might invade Kaden’s mind, but it seemed my mate was perfectly capable of flying off the handle all on his own.
“Adriel’s just lucky that he’s my brother’s only friend,” said Sorsha with a shrug. “Otherwise, he may have found himself missing his favorite appendage.”
Kaden’s gaze was still locked on Adriel, his heart thundering over the silent, snowy peak. His chest heaved from exertion, but he looked as though he might attack again.
“A word?” I gritted, my fists bunching at my sides.
Sorsha tried to hide her smirk, taking Adriel by the arm and guiding him away.
Kaden’s gaze flicked to me as I stomped toward him, and I thought I caught a flicker of remorse in those silvery-gray eyes.
Despite the bitter cold, I felt flushed and tingly. Furious, yes. Disgusted even. And yet I could not deny that there was a small, ugly part of me that was thrilled by Kaden’s possessive display.
Maybe fae males weren’t the only ones vulnerable to the effects of the mating bond.
“Feel better?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
The ghost of a grin flickered across Kaden’s face, and he leaned over to spit blood into the snow. “Honestly?” His half-smile morphed into a full-on grin. “Much better.”
“You’re unbelievable,” I spat back.
That wiped the smirk off his face.
I glanced behind me at Adriel and Sorsha, who were standing a respectable distance away. “You won’t fuck me because you’re afraid of Semphrys taking over your mind, and yet you go feral when your friend flies me up the side of a mountain?”
“I don’t see how the two are connected.” Kaden shrugged. “You are my mate. I won’t stand for another male touching you. Even if he is my best friend.”
“Even if you won’t touch me.”
A crease appeared between Kaden’s brows, and his eyes sparked with mischief. “As I recall, little huntress, I did a whole lot more than just touch you.”
“You know what I mean.” I snapped, cheeks flaming. “And I get it. I respect your decision. But you don’t get to go all feral any time another male gets near me.”
“It’s my prerogative,” he growled, taking a half step toward me. “You — are — mine.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to turn into a raging beast every time . . .” I trailed off as Kaden took another step forward, close enough that I could feel the heat coming off him.
Damn, why did he have to smell so good? Like a warm fire on a cold night and some masculine spice I couldn’t identify.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to slap him or fuck him. Maybe both.
Kaden must have seen the indecision in my gaze, because that feline grin returned. “You act all rational and level-headed, but you are not immune to the effects of the bond any more than I am, love.”
“Maybe not,” I managed. “But at least I can control myself.”
“Really?” Kaden arched an eyebrow. “So you’re telling me that if a beautiful female appeared on this mountaintop, shed her clothes, and wrapped herself around me, you’d have absolutely no reaction?”
“I’d wonder why the fuck she was taking her clothes off when it’s freezing cold outside,” I mumbled, though I felt a nasty pang in my belly just the same.
“You’re avoiding the question,” he pressed, leaning in until I could see every slash of silver that bisected his irises. “Seriously. I want you to imagine . . . a gorgeous, buxom female wrapping her arms around me. Sliding a hand into my trousers and gripping my hard —”
“All right!” I snapped. “I get your point.”
My cheeks were flaming, my stomach in knots, my blood thrumming with fury. My fingers itched to strangle this hypothetical female.
Maybe the mating bond craziness was a thing.
Shaking my head, I shoved past Kaden — knocking into his shoulder for good measure — and stomped off in the direction of Adriel and Sorsha’s tracks. “Just don’t slit Adriel’s throat the next time he flies me somewhere, please.”
Kaden’s low, dark chuckle was his only reply.