Chapter 5
ISOLDE
Late morning light filtered through the enchanted windows of the ninth-floor suite, diffused, as if The Abyss itself knew I’d barely slept. Which it probably did, considering how much magic the stone fortress contained.
I woke slowly, my body heavy with exhaustion and the lingering hum of the mate bond. I’d tossed and turned for hours, finally giving up and finishing the cozy mystery. Only then had sleep claimed me.
Rolling over, I saw a new book stacked on top of the one I’d just read. My lips curved into a grin when I saw the title on the spine—another cozy mystery high up on my to-be-read list.
I sat up, realizing with a jolt that I was completely naked.
The festival dress and lingerie had been too uncomfortable to sleep in, so I’d stripped them off in the middle of the night and pulled on the silky black robe I’d found hanging on the back of the bathroom door.
It was soft and luxurious, but it barely reached mid-thigh and gaped slightly at the front.
Heat rushed to my cheeks at the thought of Kastiel seeing me like this.
As if summoned by my embarrassment, a quiet knock sounded at the door.
My heart stuttered. I clutched the robe tighter and padded into the living area, acutely aware that I wore nothing underneath.
When I opened the door, I found Kastiel standing in the hallway, holding a tray with a carafe, two mugs, and several covered plates. His dark eyes swept over me, taking in the short robe, bare legs, and tousled hair. Heat flared in their depths, the red flecks glowing brighter for a moment.
“I brought breakfast.”
I stepped to the side so he could come in. “Thanks.”
Turning toward me, he murmured, “You look amazing in that robe, but I should have told you about the walk-in closet last night. I’d be surprised if you didn’t find it full of clothes for you.”
I felt my face burn. “Oh. I didn’t think to look, but I guess that makes sense, considering the entire space has been tailored to me.”
He set the tray on the low table near the plush reading chair. “Go ahead. I’ll wait.”
I hurried into the bedroom and opened the walk-in closet. My breath caught. The Abyss had stocked it with an entire wardrobe of clothes I’d love to wear. Most of which my father would think were much too casual to wear outside the privacy of our home.
Soft sweaters, leggings, T-shirts, comfortable yet elegant dresses in jeweled tones, and even a few pieces of delicate lingerie that made my cheeks flush hotter. Everything looked like it had been chosen with care to suit my tastes.
I quickly pulled on a soft pair of black panties and a bra I found in a drawer of the dresser lining part of one wall. Then I tugged on a soft charcoal sweater and black leggings, grateful for the simple comfort.
When I returned to the living area, Kastiel was still standing near the table. His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary, the heat in his eyes banked but not gone.
“Better?” he asked, a faint hint of amusement threading through his rough voice.
“Much,” I admitted, sitting down across from the tray. The scent of fresh coffee and warm pastries made my stomach rumble. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do this.”
He shrugged, but his eyes stayed on me. “You need to eat. The incomplete bond and suppression of your aura are draining you more than you realize.”
“You’re probably right.” I wasn’t used to someone making sure I had what I needed, but I liked knowing he’d taken the time to personally deliver breakfast. “Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.” The mischievous gleam in his eyes made him look almost boyish. “But I brought more than enough for two.”
“Well played.” I gestured toward the chair on the other side of the table. “Please join me. It would be a shame for your ploy to go to waste.”
“Is it really a ploy if I volunteered the information?” he asked as he sat across from me.
I considered my answer as I poured myself a cup of coffee and added some cream. “It still could be, like an elaborate double bluff sort of thing.”
“Fair point,” he conceded.
“But I appreciate the thought you put into this.”
His deep chuckle filled the air, and I tried to ignore how aware I was of his presence. My aura wanted to reach for him even as I fought to keep it locked down. Sparks flickered faintly along my fingertips before I clenched my hands around the mug.
Kastiel watched the small display. “You’re still fighting it.”
“I have to.” I stared into my mug. “Being near you makes everything harder. The pull is constant now, and my aura keeps trying to answer. I’m terrified that if I let go even a little, I’ll make you want something you wouldn’t choose on your own.”
“You haven’t given your aura the chance to snare me, but I’m still here,” he pointed out as he poured himself a mug.
I absently noted that he took it with cream only, just like me.
“If you insist upon seeing me as a potential victim of your supernatural allure, you have to know that I’d be a very willing one. ”
His words should have comforted me. Instead, they only made the tug stronger. I took a sip of coffee to hide how badly my hands wanted to reach across the table.
“The Abyss left me another book this morning,” I murmured, changing the subject. “I finished the first one because I couldn’t sleep. It knew exactly what I’d want to read next.”
A faint smile touched his scarred mouth. “Even The Abyss knows how special you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“Its magic isn’t normally this in tune with someone new,” he explained. “The clothes and furnishings, sure. But personal touches like the books mean it’s being more attentive than usual.”
I glanced around the suite again, noting the subtle changes from the night before. There was a black vase with a bunch of red dahlias on the table in front of the couch—my favorite flower. “It feels like it’s trying to take care of me. I’m not used to that.”
“You should get used to it.” The protective edge to his voice was unmistakable. “You’re not alone here anymore.”
The mate bond flared again, sending another soft spark dancing along my collarbone. I quickly pulled it back, but not before Kastiel’s eyes tracked the movement, heat flickering in their depths once more.
“You keep saying stuff like that.” I looked down at my coffee, cheeks warming. “If you’re not careful, I’ll start to believe it. So you’d better mean them.”
“I get that it might take you a while to believe this, but you can trust me, little spark.” He leaned forward. “You’re mine to protect now, and the bond isn’t something I can ignore any more than you can. It’s not just duty, Isolde. It’s you.”
The simple honesty in his words made my breath catch. The fear in my chest eased just a little, replaced by something far more dangerous—the growing desire to stop fighting the pull and let myself lean into it.
But giving in to temptation may lead to disaster, so I continued to resist the urge.
Kastiel leaned back in his chair, giving me a little more space, though it did nothing to dim the tug of the mate bond. “You look like you have questions. Ask them.”
I hesitated, tracing the rim of my mug. “How old are you?”
“Two hundred and seventy-seven.” His mouth curved at my wide-eyed reaction. “Does that bother you?”
“You’ve been alive longer than some countries have existed.”
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Yet you’re the one who makes me feel like I’m learning everything for the first time.”
I looked down at the table, suddenly shy. “I doubt that since I’m only twenty.”
“Doesn’t matter how old you are, you’re the only fated mate I’ll ever have, which makes you fascinating to me.”
Heat crept up my neck. “What do you like to do when you’re not protecting the hotel?”
“I read, too,” he admitted with a shrug. “Mostly horror. The darker the better. Stories where the monster wins sometimes. It reminds me the world isn’t always black and white.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “Horror? I would have guessed military strategy or ancient demonic texts.”
“Those too.” The corner of his scarred mouth twitched. “But horror lets me turn the page when the nightmare gets too real. What do you like about cozy mysteries?”
“They feel safe.” I gestured vaguely between us. “Unlike real life right now.”
Kastiel’s eyes softened. “You deserve to feel safe, Isolde. Even if the rest of your life isn’t predictable.”
Doubt still gnawed at me. “But what happens when my aura sparks again, and I accidentally—”
“I’ll be right here,” he cut in gently but firmly. “I’ve survived worse than a few sparks from my mate.”
I searched his face, looking for any sign of hesitation or fear. There was none. Only quiet certainty that made the mate bond tug even harder.
“You make it sound so simple,” I whispered.
“It might not be easy, but we have time to figure it all out.” He lifted the covers off the plates. “And plenty of food to keep us fueled.”
The crepes with strawberries and whipped cream, peppery bacon, and scrambled eggs were among my favorite things to eat for breakfast. As we continued getting to know each other over our meal, Kastiel watched me as if I were worth every risk.
And I began to hope that maybe I didn’t have to keep running from the bond.