Chapter 25
Kelrean leads me to a nearby stand stacked high with barrels of wine. We each drink a goblet as we wander through the village, my arm looped through his, laughing over silly things.
He points out several stands that have his favorite foods, shows me the statue of Orvena in the middle of the village and another of a beastial who reigned several hundred years prior to King Draedor, and then takes me to the outskirts away from the village.
There, we continue sipping wine while gazing at the stars, which seem closer here.
“With how brightly you shine, you’d fit right in with the stars,” Kelrean says, turning to me with a soft, crooked smile.
I shake my head. “You’re just saying that.”
“I’m serious, Zaira. Don’t discredit yourself. You’re beautiful.”
I feel my cheeks heat up as my heart picks up in speed. Being romantic seems natural to him, as if he practices exactly what to say and when to say it. Or perhaps he’s just a really good flirt.
To distract myself from the wave of excitement and desire swirling within me, I take a hefty sip of wine. Some dribbles down my chin, and he releases a soft laugh.
Reaching up, he wipes it away with his thumb in slow, careful strokes. Our gazes lock as that same thumb travels up to my cheek to caress it, then glides along my jawline. This simple act makes the small hairs along my spine rise.
“Fascinating,” he murmurs, studying every feature of my face. My body.
I start to ask him what, exactly, is so fascinating about me, but someone approaches, and he looks their way.
“Our Majesty is looking for you, Your Highness,” Sheera says, stopping only a few steps away from us.
“Of course he is.” Kelrean looks at me, huffing a laugh as he lowers his hand. “Just when the fun was starting.”
“It’s okay,” I assure him. “Go ahead. I should find my friends anyway.”
“Would you like me to lead you back?” he offers.
“That’s okay. I can find my way back.”
He nods. “I’ll find you afterward, then.” He excuses himself, and I watch him stride away.
A freaking prince. Flirting with me. Maybe the swamp monster actually demolished us and I’m dead right now. Or perhaps the talmoon is making me imagine all of this? That’s the only thing that makes sense. Fascinating? Beautiful? I must be dreaming.
I head back to the village square, polishing off my wine and then grabbing another meat skewer. I watch a man play a flute on the stage as I eat it.
My body still feels weightless from the talmoon, my mind so utterly relaxed that I can’t help smiling as I wander about. Everything seems much more vibrant—the moon fuller, the heat of the fires warmer on my skin as I pass them.
After discarding my empty skewer, I stop at a cart for a sticky roll and bite into it.
It’s not honey loaf, but it’s just as delicious and warm.
I notice all the children have disappeared, likely sent home to bed.
The remaining beastials hang around eating, drinking, and…
making out. Some dance together to the music, while others drunkenly sway alone to their own rhythm.
I start to feel the talmoon ebb away as the wine creates a soft buzz.
In the distance, I spot Algar and Thane standing between two buildings a few paces from the courtyard. I bite into my roll as I stroll in their direction, but the longer I watch them, the angrier Thane becomes as he speaks to Algar.
When Algar points a finger at Thane’s chest, Thane shoves it away, then yanks him forward by the collar. I gasp, walking faster. As I approach, Thane releases Algar, mutters something in his face, then storms off.
“Algar? What just happened?” I ask.
Algar whips his head around so hard the ends of his plaits fly over his shoulder. “Where the shadows did you come from?”
“I saw you and Thane arguing,” I reply, ignoring his question. “What was it about?”
“It was nothing,” Algar grumbles as he hobbles past me. “Just Thane being Thane.”
Confused, I watch him go. Before I can follow him, I notice Kelrean coming from the opposite direction.
“There you are,” he says. “Shall we pick up where we left off?”
“Um, sure. I just need to check on someone really quickly.”
He blinks at me a few times, seeming confused. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just—”
I clamp my mouth shut as Thane makes his way toward us with heavy steps. He’s the person I wanted to check on.
“We should get back to the castle.” Thane says the words to me while glowering at Kelrean.
“What’s the rush?” I ask.
“Your sister’s imminent death.” Thane finally eyes me.
I scowl. Jackass. “I’ll go back when Algar does. Or just return with Prince Kelrean.” I shift closer to the prince, demonstrating once again that he doesn’t dictate my decisions.
“I don’t think you’ll be seeing Algar anytime soon,” he returns.
“Why? Because you’ve pissed him off?” I quirk a brow, testing him.
Thane tenses.
“Hey.” Kelrean puts on a smooth smile as he claps a hand on Thane’s shoulder. “She’ll be taken care of, my friend. Don’t you worry.”
“I’m not your fucking friend,” Thane growls, swiping Kelrean’s hand away.
Shock fills Kelrean’s eyes before his face settles with a frown. “That swamp has clearly shaken you up. Perhaps you should return to the castle and have a lie down.”
“And leave her with a man who is intentionally drugging her and drowning her in wine?”
“What are you talking about?” I cut in, mildly annoyed. “I wanted to try the talmoon, and I grabbed my own wine. Besides, I’m nowhere near drunk, and the talmoon is already wearing off.”
“Right,” Kelrean adds, “and I would never do such a thing anyway. She only had one pull of the talmoon, and that was it. I wouldn’t have let her try more.
” Kelrean sizes Thane up as he puts on a knowing smile.
“You know what I think it is? I think you’re jealous, my friend.
I can’t blame you, truly. She is unbelievably gorgeous. I’ve been drawn to her all night.”
My heart thumps faster as heat crawls up my neck.
Thane grimaces. “Call me friend one more time, and I’ll punch you in your fucking nose.”
I gasp. “Thane!” What is it with him always choosing violence?
Kelrean throws his head back to laugh at the audacity of Thane’s words.
“Right. You know what? You’re a bit too hostile right now, and frankly, even if Zaira were ready to go, I wouldn’t trust her running off with the likes of you.
Leave her with me. She said she’s fine, and I believe we should respect the lady’s wishes. Okay…friend?”
Before I can blink, Thane slams his fist into Kelrean’s face. Kelrean howls, and I gasp as his nose immediately starts gushing blood.
“Ow! What the fuck?” Kelrean roars—literally—as he clutches his face. “You nearly broke my nose!”
Thane looks the prince up and down. “Sorry about that…friend.”
“What the shadows is wrong with you, Thane?” I snap, setting my wine down to assist Kelrean. “Kelrean, are you okay?”
Two guards appear with swords in hand, pointing the tips of their blades at Thane’s back. “Are you all right, Your Highness?” one of them asks.
“Give the order and we’ll detain him, sir,” the other guard says.
Kelrean raises a patient hand as bystanders swarm, murmuring among themselves with worry as they focus on their prince.
Oh my gods.
This is so embarrassing. This reckless assassin just punched royalty. Perhaps it will be Kelrean who causes Thane to finally meet his demise. What a twist that would be.
“I’m all right, I’m all right,” Kelrean announces, sniffling as he swipes a hand under his bloody nose.
“Our friend here has suffered a rough journey. He had a few drinks, and I believe he needs rest. Mercy is needed here.” He fixes the lapels of his suit, then brushes imaginary dust off his shoulders.
“Guards, please escort our friend to the castle so he may reorient himself.”
The guards go for Thane immediately, grabbing either arm.
“Get the fuck off of me.” Thane manages to maneuver himself away from them and storm off.
“Kelrean, I’m so sorry.” I clasp my hands together, looking at his bloodied nose. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m all right, Zaira. He got me good, I must admit.”
“I’ll talk to him. I’ll make him apologize,” I swear. “That was unbelievably rude of him.”
“Yes, it was, wasn’t it?” Kelrean accepts a handkerchief from another guard. When the blood is cleared, he sighs. “I should calm my people. See you at the castle?”
“Sure. Yeah.” When Kelrean saunters away, I chase after Thane and the guards, making sure to catch up before they reach a covered carriage. The guards shove him inside and demand the coachman take him straight to the castle.
“You’re lucky the prince is forgiving, otherwise we’d hang you on the mountain for what you’ve done!” one of the guards spits out.
“Just wait ’til the king hears about this,” the other one snarls.
When they storm off, I climb into the carriage and sit on the bench across from Thane. I hold on to the edge of the seat as we lurch forward. It’s only us in the dark, velvet confines—our bodies jostling with every dip and bump over the rocky path.
“I cannot believe you did that,” I finally mutter when we’re a third of the way there. “It’s like you want someone to kill you.”
He doesn’t dare look at me. Instead, he peers out the nearest window, watching the courtyard glow from a distance.
I scoff. “I don’t understand you at all.”
“I never asked to be understood,” he returns, eyes still focused out the window.
“Whatever.” I fold my arms. “You need to apologize to Prince Kelrean.”
“Apologies are only necessary when regret is felt.” He turns his dark gaze to me. “I don’t regret making your pretty prince bleed.”
“You know what, Thane? You are being beyond childish right now. You just punched a prince in the face in his own kingdom! They could’ve killed you for that!”
“They wouldn’t have succeeded.”
“He was being kind to you!”
“He’s full of shit.”
“You think that about everyone!” My voice rises a few notches.
I don’t even fully understand why I’m yelling.
Probably because I’m pissed that he’s keeping his voice so calm while I’m getting worked up.
That has always irritated me. Analla would do it all the time whenever we had a disagreement.
“I’m capable of making my own choices. You know that, right?
I hired you to protect me when there’s danger.
I didn’t ask you to watch me like a hawk during the times I’m actually enjoying myself. ”
“I’m watching you because you trust too easily,” he fires back. “That heinous trait of yours is why you’re in this situation now. Because you hired a man you hardly know and put way too much faith in him.”
“And every step I take with you makes me regret that choice a little more,” I say under my breath.
After a stretch of silence, I sigh and lean forward, cradling my chin in my hands.
His eyes narrow, and he leans in, too, as he studies all the features of my face. “Are you sure about that, Quinlocke? Because when I look into your eyes, I don’t see regret.”
“No?” My pulse quickens. I hate how sexy he looks with the moon bathing half of his face, revealing the wicked scars I want to trace with the pad of my thumb. “What do you see, then, Valkor?”
He doesn’t flinch at the name like I thought he would. “I see hope, even when matters are unfavorable. You reserve it for me because you’re hoping you can find the light in my soul, but there is no light.” He pauses. “Do you want to know what else I see?”
I hold my breath as his face comes closer. “What?”
“Passion,” he murmurs. His lips are only inches from mine. “Hunger. Desire. You hate yourself for wanting a person like me, don’t you?”
He’s just as close as Kelrean was earlier, only with Thane, I can feel my pulse in places I never thought it could pump. “I never said I wanted you.”
“You don’t have to say it.” His eyes drop to my lips, then slowly to my breasts, lingering for just a moment before climbing right back up to my eyes. “It’s very clear.”
I clench my teeth together, refusing to look away even though he’s right.
Gods, I hate that he’s right.
“Going to that little prince’s chambers will be nothing more than a distraction for you, and we both know it.”
“How did you—”
“He’s not hard to read, Quinlocke. Everyone saw the way he stared at you. Treating you like you belong to him. The night was bound to end in one way—with you in his chambers.”
“So you’re jealous, then? Is that it?”
As rare as it is, his lips quirk up on one side, amused. “Not jealous. Territorial, more like.”
“I’m not your property,” I bite back. But why do I feel a delightful twist in my belly? Territorial. Of me?
No. Stop it. Don’t fall for it.
“You may have tossed me those coins, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m the one in charge.
Which means during this journey, no matter where we fucking are or how safe you feel in the moment, you’re mine to look after and mine to keep close.
” He scans my face thoroughly, then slowly drinks in the rest of my body, searing me with his gaze.
I have to clench my thighs together from that action alone.
I fidget in my seat.
“Like I told you before, oh sweet one,” he continues in a silky, deep voice, “I don’t like to fail, and if that means stopping you from making a reckless decision with a prince who might have beast warts, so be it. I’ll be right there protecting you. Watching you. Keeping you safe. Is that clear?”
I refuse to answer him, not with that smug face and entitled attitude. I want to slap him.
He lifts an eyebrow, focusing on my mouth.
“I’m literally starting to hate everything about you,” I whisper.
He says nothing, which only irritates me more. The carriage jostles us around, but I remain steady, matching his stare, waiting for him to lean back first.
But then something tight wraps around me and pulls forward, guiding my bottom closer to the edge of the bench. My breath hitches when I realize it’s Thane’s magic. He stares into my eyes as an invisible hand digs into my waist.
An unavoidable sigh slips out of me as his lips graze mine. A rush of tingles sweeps over my entire body, and heat pools between my legs, hotter than ever before.
My mouth aches for him—no, my whole body aches for him. Why didn’t I feel this way toward Kelrean? During the moments alone with him, I wanted him. But my desire for the prince wasn’t nearly as frustrating. How is it possible to want to slap Thane’s beautiful face and kiss it at the same time?
I have to be under some kind of spell. I’ve never craved defiant, broody, dangerous men like Thane Valkor before. Men who are clearly no good for me. And yet, here I am.
Craving.
Wanting.
“Interesting,” he rasps. “What I see in your eyes right now doesn’t look like hate.”
“Oh, shut up,” I mutter, breathless. And instead of slapping him, I grip a handful of his waistcoat, yank him forward, and kiss him.