Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
My parents sent word to the Council that Kole was to return to the palace, and as I waited for him in my chambers, my thoughts shifted to what I had to do tomorrow.
I hadn’t wanted to think about it and had been wishing that I could avoid its inevitability. But upon sunrise, my uncle’s command would inevitably take hold of me, and if Kole was guarding me, he would be coming along too.
I wrung my hands together. I hadn’t thought far enough ahead to realize what having Kole return to my side meant, but maybe, just maybe, Kole wouldn’t suspect a thing.
I would have to be covert. Sly. Devious.
All of those traits made me want to vomit in my mouth, but unless I wanted my mate looking at me with horror, I would have to hide what I was about to do.
Because tomorrow, I was to venture to House Torleaf and ask to see their House leader.
If anyone questioned my visit, I was to tell them that I was visiting each House to better acquaint myself with those in charge.
From there, under the guise of sipping tea and making innocent small talk, I was to manipulate the House leader to sway the king’s council to allow nobles in the western kingdom to expand their reach into the mines below Esvedeel Forest. I was to use the Osterland Exchange as an example, a previous deal made between Mistvale and Faewood Kingdoms, and I was to speak of the wealth our kingdom had garnered since the tunnels had been drilled beneath that land.
House Torleaf was to push for another exchange, this one between Stonewild and Mistvale.
Of course, the lands those mines were on sat just north of my uncle’s estate.
And since Arnel was one of the presiding nobles in that region, he was to be given first rights to the tunnels to extend his reach.
That meant Arnel’s wealth would significantly increase.
Brow furrowing, I wondered if all of his requests would be like that. Tomorrow’s task was likely the first of many demands my uncle was going to place on me. At least creating new tunnels wouldn’t hurt anybody, but I had no idea if his wishes would eventually result in that.
But I had a feeling his initial tasks would all be related to increasing his wealth, which, of course, meant his power in his region of Mistvale would rise.
Yet, I doubted that was his endgame. From what I’d seen of my uncle’s true nature, he was cunning and shrewd.
And he’d mentioned something about falling second in line to the throne not being fair.
He was clearly envious of my father’s position, which could mean he desired the crown, and now that he had me—a powerful fairy who could literally command fae to do whatever she wanted—what better way to start his rise to the throne than to increase his wealth and reach.
But once that was complete . . .
Arms crossed, I drummed my fingers against my biceps. I had a feeling once that was complete, Arnel would be aiming his reach higher.
I paced in my chamber and reminded myself that Arnel hadn’t set his sights directly on my family or anyone I loved yet.
I shivered even though I wasn’t cold, not internally at least. Since becoming a vampire, I hadn’t felt cold or warm. It was as though my body no longer cared what state it was in.
A flash of magic appeared behind me, and Kole’s aura slammed into my back.
I stilled, and for a moment, I couldn’t move.
Kole. He was here. I closed my eyes, and for one blessed moment, I reveled in the feel of him.
Body finally jolting, I whirled around.
Kole stood just across the room. As always, his huge sword was strapped to his back, his shoulders broad, his black attire shining.
Dazzling blue eyes raked over my frame, and a zing of fear ran through me even though my glamour was still intact.
But seeing him, being in the same room with him . . .
It suddenly hit me how foolish my optimism had been.
Goddess, I shouldn’t have asked for him to return. He’ll know, and then I’ll have to—
Before I could finish that thought, the warrior was in my space and crushing me to him.
My entire body locked up, especially when he buried his nose in my neck and inhaled.
“Gods, I’ve missed you,” he whispered. “I didn’t know if they’d let me return.”
Tentative hope bloomed in me. He was touching me, smelling me, and he hadn’t reacted.
I wrapped my arms around him. Perhaps he won’t detect how much I’ve changed.
Just as that foolish thought hit me, he stiffened.
“Stars. You’re freezing.” He pulled back, his brows folding together.
“I am?” I desperately wanted to lay a palm on his cheek, to brush my lips against his, to pull him back into my arms. A stirring began deep inside me. Longing. Want. Carnal desire.
Stars Above.
Vampire urges reared up too, coursing through my blood and swirling around my dead heart. I licked my lips and tried to act normal. Tried not to react. But Kole’s scent, his feel, his body . . .
Gods, I want to fuck him.
“Primelle?” His frown grew.
I shoved myself away from him and strode to the window. Agitatedly, I ran a hand through my hair. My jaw ached again. Fiercely. And it took everything in me to keep my fangs from lengthening because I wanted to not only fuck Kole but to sink my teeth into him too.
Horror washed through me, and I called shrilly over my shoulder, “I’ve been chilled a lot lately.”
He came up behind me and ran his hands up and down my arms. “I’m more than happy to warm you.”
Desire swelled in his aura, and the stirrings in me tripled.
Shite.
Tingles that I’d often felt in the warrior’s presence reared, but they were more intense, more . . . savage. Involuntarily, venom coated my fangs, and once again, they wanted to lengthen.
Drink. Suck. Fuck him.
Gasping, I lurched forward and brought a hand up to cover my mouth.
“Prim, what’s wrong?” Concern filled his tone, and Kole advanced on me, already trying to fill my space again.
I swirled away, giving him my back as I desperately tried to control this new thing inside me. “Nothing, I, um . . . I’m just feeling overwhelmed.”
His presence pounded into my back, his warmth seeping through my clothing as he came right up behind me once more.
Hands softly clasping my shoulders from behind, he leaned down and said soothingly into my ear, “It’s okay now.
Everything’s out. The Council and your parents know that we’re mates, and I’m still allowed to be here. ”
I wanted to lean into him, to let him hold me and shoulder some of the burden that’d been placed upon me. But he couldn’t. I couldn’t. I couldn’t tell him anything even if my existence depended on it.
Cautiously, I replied, “Yes, they know. I confirmed it with them today. Initially, they wanted to keep you from me, but I told them that wasn’t an option.”
But now I’m starting to see how wrong I was.
Anguish gripped me as strongly as a constricting snake. I couldn’t have Kole and keep hidden what I was. Sooner or later, I would make a mistake, and then I would have to enter his mind and erase his suspicions.
I would have to hurt him.
Completely oblivious to the war raging inside me, a growl of contentment rumbled from his chest. His hands ran up and down my arms, and I thanked the gods and goddesses that I was wearing long sleeves. “How did your parents take it?”
I swallowed the dry heat in my throat. Gods, I’m so thirsty.
In a rush, I replied, “They’ve allowed you to return, upon my request, but beyond that, we’ve reached no agreement.
For the moment, they’re okay with me bedding whom I choose, but come a hundred summers .
. .” I couldn’t continue. Even though that day was less than seventy summers away, I also knew it would be here before I knew it, but I was starting to wonder if it even mattered.
I wasn’t Primelle Hollaran any longer.
I was a princess of Mistvale Kingdom, and on top of that, a complete monster.
Kole stiffened. “They still want you to wed someone of noble standing? Even after knowing we’re fated by the gods?”
“Yes.”
“Prim . . .” An ache filled his tone, but then his voice hardened. “You belong with me.”
But do I? I didn’t voice the question. I couldn’t. Because if he knew what I’d turned into and that just last night I’d nearly killed an innocent female as her blood called to my soul . . .
A shudder racked my frame.
“Come here,” he said gruffly, obviously mistaking my shiver for worry over my parents’ involvement.
He turned me in his arms, his gaze locking with mine. Tenderly, he cupped my cheek and leaned down to kiss me, but just as fast, he stopped.
“You’re so cold.” He brought a hand to my forehead, and I tried to pull back. “Galaxy Above, you’re freezing. Are you sick?” His frown deepened even more, and his gaze skimmed over my face, as though he could somehow identify my illness if he just sought it hard enough.
Gods, this was helpless. Entirely helpless. Tears erupted from my eyes. I’d been a fool to think that we could make this work. Everything I’d feared was coming true. He knew. Kole knew something wasn’t right with me.
And all of a sudden, it was too much.
A sob shook my shoulders.
Alarm widened his eyes, but I couldn’t stop myself. The horrors of what had been done to me, and the helplessness of our situation hit me like a tidal wave. It felt like a mountain of pain was about to burst the dam of my emotions wide open.
“I can’t,” I sobbed. “I mean I . . .” But I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t tell him anything. Just the thought of erasing Kole’s suspicions made me feel physically ill.
I cried even harder. Helpless. This entire situation is helpless.
A wave of anxiety shot into his aura, and Kole’s arms enclosed me. In a blurred move, he had me on the edge of my bed, seated on his lap, and cradled in his arms.