Chapter Eighteen
Brenna walked past the room then slid to a halt, spinning back to peek inside. Her mate was in the armory with a bucket of soapy water and a rag. Of all the tasks Drake could have given him, to force a prince to wash things seemed harsh.
However, Kai was humming while wiping the rag across the metal, the polished surface shining when he lifted it and spotted her in the reflection.
He smirked and she could see it mirrored back at her.
How did a simple smile from this man make her stomach flip so easily when no dragonite male had even made her look twice?
“Hello, gorgeous,” he said, lowering the breastplate down.
“I can’t believe my brother is forcing a prince to clean his armor,” Brenna replied, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
“He didn’t. I volunteered.”
“You did?”
“It was either that or follow him and Nox around while they check on the old enchantments. Sounded boring.”
“And this isn’t?”
Kai turned around, leaning his back against the table while he polished a new piece. He studied her with those eyes that saw everything. “Not if it brought you here.”
Brenna hid a smile and wandered over, picking up a piece he’d already finished. She looked at herself in the reflection and fussed with her hair. When she lowered it, he was smirking at her.
“What?” she asked.
“Just wondering how fate chose me and not some other handsome, devilishly charming prince for you,” he returned.
“With an ego like yours, how could it possibly choose another?”
“You flatter me, but I see your point,” he replied, his eyes sparkling with humor.
She laughed. He was so easy to talk to. Flirt with.
She was starting to think the problems she had before, feeling so awkward with dragonite males, had more to do with the males than her.
She just hadn’t found the one who could match her.
Who wasn’t afraid to tease her—something Kai had made a habit of doing.
So consumed with her thoughts, she didn’t hear what he said to her next.
Then she was taken out of her trance when she felt a splatter of liquid hit her.
Stunned, she looked down to see Kai had tossed a handful of soapy water right at her.
Patches of suds were everywhere, in her hair, on her gown, her face.
“Oops,” he said, but the wicked grin he wore said he wasn’t sorry at all.
“Oh!” Brenna reached both hands into the water and sent handfuls flying at him.
To his credit, he didn’t jump away. Kai let the water splash across him. It hit his face and tunic, then she watched the water drip from his chin while he gave her a look that told her she was in trouble.
She squealed, giggling as he picked up the bucket and tossed the water at her.
The first try missed because she jumped away but the second landed right on her, drenching her.
When she spotted another bucket on a nearby table, she ran toward it, but he was close behind her.
Kai grabbed her by the waist and spun her around and right into his arms.
Brenna smiled just before his lips found hers.
They were both wet, laughing while he gave her several lazy kisses that made her heart melt just as much as the passionate ones they’d shared.
This is what a matehood should be, she thought.
It should be fun. Memorable. Easy. Make her feel lighter and excited for the future.
But of course, she couldn’t let him win this battle.
Reaching behind her, she wrapped her fingers around the bucket and lifted it up, quickly dumping it right onto Kai’s head.
He opened his eyes and nodded in defeat.
Just when she thought it was over, he shook his hair out and sprayed water droplets in her face.
She yelped and laughed, shoving at his chest. Kai just pulled her back to him and wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands resting on her rear.
Brenna pushed his hair back out of his face so she could look at him.
How was it possible for someone so perfect to exist?
So handsome. So arrogant—but in a way she liked. So… hers?
Three gnomes ran into the armory and slammed to a halt inside the door, taking in their soaked appearances. Rasa’s hand flew to her mouth to hide a giggle. The armorer, Gorn—who had just woken the day before—scowled at them. The gnome put his hands on his hips in annoyance.
“Sorry,” Brenna said, smothering another laugh.
She took Kai’s hand and led him from the room as quickly as their legs could carry them.
When they reached the hallway with their chambers, she thought about inviting him inside her own, but he just kissed her on the forehead and continued on.
He paused, flashing her a dazzling smile before he slipped into his room and out of sight. She missed him already.
~*~
Kai rolled over in his bed, tossing the covers off. He couldn’t get comfortable. The fire burning in the hearth was still blazing, so it wasn’t the room. It was him. He was restless. His body couldn’t seem to settle. Annoyed, he grabbed his pillow and placed it over his head, screaming into it.
It didn’t help. If anything, it made him feel worse. He’d gone through a lot since being brought to Athera, yet this was even more overwhelming. It was like his body knew something his mind didn’t. Sleep seemed impossible for him tonight, so he gave up.
Standing, he pulled on his pants and slipped his shirt over his arms, buttoning it only once before he left the room.
In search of what, he wasn’t sure. He found himself in front of Brenna’s door but couldn’t force his hand to knock on it.
He wanted her to come to him, when she was ready.
She might have said the words, but he couldn’t be sure.
Blowing out a breath, he turned to the stairs and didn’t stop until he was inside the parlor.
When he entered, he found it wasn’t empty.
The wizard was there, a glass in his hand.
He didn’t look up when Kai walked in. Nox just pointed to the bottle of rum on the table in front of him and Kai poured himself a glass, taking a seat across from the mage.
“Can’t sleep either?” Kai asked.
“Haven’t been able to sleep well in weeks,” Nox grumbled.
“Isn’t sleep something you can go without?”
“At times. If we eat enough and charge our magic regularly then yes, we can go days without sleep. In my case, my magic isn’t charging properly and food sustains me, but just barely.”
“That sounds terrible.”
Nox just grunted and took a sip of his drink. They sat in comfortable silence for a while. The fire crackling was the only sound in the room. Manny entered, bowing to them, then leaving out of another door.
“Interesting creatures,” Nox said, once the gnome was gone.
“They are. I can’t believe we’ve never heard of them before.”
“We’re one of few who know of their existence even now.”
Quiet settled over them again and Kai stared at the bottle on the table. Before coming to Athera, he would have had no problem downing the entire thing on a night like this. Anything to make him forget about his father’s anger, his mother’s death, and the heavy weight of his responsibilities.
He’d felt lighter since being here. Like a person he didn’t know.
Someone he’d never met but maybe could have been?
Had he been born anyone else, maybe. Did that make him a bad person?
For abandoning his family? His kingdom? For taking advantage of fate throwing an unexpected romance in his path?
And if Brenna found out he’d taken the stone, would she ever speak to him again?
“I can hear how hard you’re thinking over there,” Nox said, looking over at him. “Stop it.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Fine.” The wizard sighed. “What’s ailing you?”
“Nothing you can help with, I’m afraid. Unless your magic has the ability to take me to the past?”
“You regret breaking the curse?”
“Hell no.” Kai shook his head. That was preposterous. “I did something before I came here. It could jeopardize my relationship with Brenna.”
“Like what?”
“If I tell you, are you going to run to Drake?”
“I’m not a snitch, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Alright,” he said, taking a sip of his rum for courage. He wasn’t sure why he thought it a good idea to trust the wizard. He hardly knew him. Yet, the need to unburden himself was just too strong. “I’m the one who stole the stone.”
“The Stone of the Divine? That was you?”
“Unfortunately. My Royal Mage’s stepson, Dorian, is a hunter. Magical artifacts and such.”
“I’ve heard of him. Doesn’t have a good reputation.”
“He’s even worse than his reputation, though.
Trust me. He was tasked to come get the stone—I don’t know by who—but he couldn’t get inside the mountain.
Magical barrier. So he blackmailed me into doing it for him.
Against my will, I entered Athera and took the stone.
Gave it to him. I haven’t seen it or him since. ”
“Then the gnomes brought you here? Do you think they know?”
“No. I seriously doubt it. I mean, would you have brought me here if you knew?”
“Maybe if I wanted to punish you.”
“By giving me the most beautiful, amazing woman as my mate? Not much of a punishment.”
“A mate can feel like punishment sometimes,” Nox frowned.
“Sounds like you have experience.”
“I do. And I wish my magic could take me to the past, as well.”
“Is she living?” Kai asked.
“She is. We just weren’t as compatible as she had hoped we’d be.”
“Is that why your magic won’t charge right? And you can’t sleep?”
“Yes, unfortunately,” Nox said, scowling. “Being separated from your mate and ignoring or outright rejecting the magic in your matehood goes against nature. It’s similar to why you can’t sleep, I would imagine.”
“You think it’s my matehood? I’m still trying to convince myself that I, a human, can even have a mate.”
“We know so little about dragonites, really. Their magic is unlike any I have ever seen or heard of. Whether it’s magical or not, that girl has chosen you as her mate. I wouldn’t complain to the realm too much, else it might decide to take her from you.”