Chapter 15
State of Grace
Raven
We step into the library and Rachel squeezes my arm, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her gaze flicks toward Kane. Where the hell did he come from?
He stands in the shadows with his back to us, staring out the window. The fire crackles behind him, casting a warm glow over the room, but it doesn’t touch him.
He turns and his eyes sweep the room before locking onto me. It's just long enough that it makes my cheeks heat. Then he moves, sinking into a chair like he’s forcing himself to relax.
Something’s definitely off.
He doesn’t waste any time. “There’s been… a situation,” he says it smoothly, but I can hear the unmistakable edge under his calm.
Rachel shifts next to me, crossing her arms like she’s about to negotiate a business deal. “Well?” she prompts. I love that she's acting like we’re on a tight schedule and she’s got places to be.
A smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it, but Kane catches it. He looks at Rachel and for the briefest second, he looks amused. But it’s gone just as fast, his expression hardening again.
“Alright, here’s the deal.” His voice drops slightly and his accent curls around the words like a slow caress. My thighs clench together and I have to fight the urge to look away. Focus. Now is not the time to get turned on by his voice.
“There’s a storm coming, which I'm sure you noticed,” he keeps talking, oblivious to the directions my thoughts went.
“We’re far enough from town and it’s supposed to hit hard and last through the night.
” His eyes land on me, pausing again. “If you want to head back, I can take ye. Just tell me what ye want.”
I barely register the next part, because I'm too caught up in the way his voice drags over every syllable. My body has plans of her own.
“... or we can stay here for the night and leave in the morning.”
Rachel vibrates with excitement next to me, grabbing my arm. “We get to stay here?” She whispers, practically bouncing in her seat.
I glance at Kane, who’s watching us with an unreadable expression, waiting for my answer just as much as Rachel is.
I clear my throat, trying to force my brain to function and make a decision. “Um, if you don’t like driving in the rain, we can totally get an Uber.”
His face goes blank. And not in a pleasantly neutral way.
“That wasn’t on the list of options.”
“Well, okay, but… how are we just supposed to stay the night here?” My brows knit together. “That's kinda weird. What if the owners come home?”
Kane leans back in his chair, his lips twitching like he’s fighting back a smile. Oh, he’s enjoying this…“Like we said, we know the owners.” His voice is smooth. “No one’s coming here tonight.”
My eyes narrow, not liking this one bit. “This feels like the perfect setup for a horror movie.”
Rachel nudges me, grinning. “A horror movie where we get to live in luxury for the night? I’ll happily be dragged into the forest in exchange for that.”
Cam snorts, barely holding back his laughter. “What’s with you guys and horror films?”
Kane ignores him and just watches me, waiting for my response.
“Everything can be arranged either way.” He hasn't looked away, just keeps looking at me. “I'm just asking if you could please decide what you’d like to do, so we can make said arrangements.”
The please doesn’t soften the command behind his words.
And there I go, wet again.
Fucking hell.
It’s infuriating. No matter how hard I try to stay in control…one look, one word from him, and I’m unraveling. He’s not even doing anything and yet here I am, spiraling. I hate that he has this effect on me. I swallow, locking eyes with him, refusing to let him see how much he’s getting to me.
I'm trying to will the heat in my veins to settle, reminding myself that staying here is just practical. Nothing more. But with him around, everything feels like a test. A game neither of us will admit we’re playing.
I lean in, grinning. “Kane! I didn’t realize you knew how to say please.”
His lips twitch, and I just know he wants to bite back. “I guess I'm just full of surprises.”
He stands and extends his hand to me.
I blink, eyeing his outstretched palm like it’s a trap. Because let’s be honest, it probably is.
“What are you doing?” I raise a skeptical brow.
“Helping you up. You know, like a gentleman.” The look he has on his face is pure trouble, his eyes are dark with something that looks a lot like heat. And damn if he isn’t the hottest man I’ve ever seen. My pulse betrays me, skittering like it’s trying to keep up.
“Believe it or not, I'm quite well-mannered,” he adds, laced with sarcasm.
I snort, crossing my arms. “Well, I'm not sure how I feel about this sudden display of chivalry. You’re creeping me out.”
He chuckles. “Get used to it, Princess. I have layers.”
“Like Shrek!” Rachel chimes in, doubling over with laughter. “You know, like onions.”
Cam groans, rubbing his forehead. “Please, no. Don’t encourage her.”
I giggle, shaking my head. When I look back at Kane, he’s watching me. I still can't read his expression, but his eyes are telling a different story. A story that makes my stomach flip.
Then softer this time, like he’s trying to reassure me. “If you’re not comfortable, we can head back to your place. It’s up to you.”
I shake my head, fighting the urge to smile. I try to ignore the way the shift in his tone does something to me. He’s impossible to read, impossible to predict. And yet, for some reason, I believe him.
“Well,” I drag the moment out just because I can. “Since we’re so graciously being given the option…” I turn to Rachel with a slow grin. “Might as well stay.”
Kane’s expression doesn’t change, but I see the way he's looking at me. Challenge accepted.
Rachel claps her hands together. “Oh, hell yes.”
Cam chuckles, pushing off the counter. “All right then. Guess we’re having a sleepover.”
“We’re staying in a castle and we’re not changing our minds now.” Rachel squeals.
Cam shakes his head. “Shrek? Really, Rach?”
Rachel crosses her arms with a huff. “Hey, don’t act like you don’t know the words to All Star.”
Cam points a finger at her. “First of all, that song is iconic.”
“And second?” I ask, grinning.
“There is no second. That was the point,” Cam replies, making everyone laugh.
I look over at Kane, who tries to hide the fact that he was just smiling. “Alright, so if we have permission to stay here? Where exactly are we going to sleep?”
Kane chuckles, shaking his head. “Yes, we have permission. And as for sleeping arrangements, there are plenty of rooms for everyone.” He looks the same calm as he always does, but his voice sounds like there's an inside joke I'm missing.
Cam claps his hands together. “We can figure that out later. Food first. Unless anyone prefers to starve?”
Right on cue, my stomach growls, loudly. “Okay, yes. Dinner first. I’m starving.”
Rachel laughs, patting me on the back, “That makes two of us. Let’s eat before I have to go out and find a cow.”
A slow smile spreads across Kane's face as he nods toward the doorway. “Alright, follow me.” His hand brushes the small of my back as he walks past me toward the door.
It’s barely a touch, but it brands me all the same.
A slow flutter of anticipation curls low in my stomach the moment we step into the kitchen. I stop dead in my tracks.
Holy fuck.
It’s massive. This is the kind of kitchen that shouldn’t belong inside a castle and yet somehow fits perfectly.
Everywhere you look, earthy tones of rich brown and deep green dominate the space.
And it's accented with just enough white to make everything pop. It’s modern, but every detail speaks of warmth, and something lived in.
Gold accents are scattered throughout the room, and it's subtle but undeniably stunning. I mean, we are in a castle.
The countertops are a polished dark granite and the deep green cabinets contrast beautifully against them.
The whole space is designed with an effortless kind of sophistication.
It’s amazing. It's also clearly renovated, but whoever did it knew exactly what they were doing.
The balance between classic and modern is seamless.
I look around and the floors are covered in plush rugs that make me want to take my shoes off and walk around barefoot.
It softens the space, adding a cozy, almost intimate feel.
I'm obsessed. And off to the side, there's a massive oak table that sits near the windows. It looks worn and heavily used.
Yep. Someone definitely lives here.
I go to say something to Cam, but I see the hanging planters overflowing with trailing vines and the potted herbs lining the windowsill.
I take a deep breath and it reminds me of how my grandmother's kitchen smelled.
All this greenery breathes life into the space, making it feel…
real. Not just a castle, but a home. Whoever lives here is living their best fucking life.
I bite back the jealousy threatening to spill out. If I had a place like this? I’d never leave.
I turn to Kane, trying to push that aside and get this over with. “Alright, what are we making, and what can we help with?”
Is it getting hot in here for anyone else?
Rachel looks between us, and a slow grin stretches across her face before she starts laughing.
“Oh, my God, can you two just fuck already?”
Cam chokes so violently on his drink, I half expect him to drop dead on the spot. He sprays liquid all over the counter, coughing while he tries to recover. Rachel just beams like she’s cracked the world’s biggest mystery.
“Holy shit, Rachel!” Cam sputters, wiping his mouth, still half choking.
I gape at her, horror and mortification slamming through me in equal measure. “What the—”
Meanwhile Kane’s not even fazed. He just tilts his head to the side and leans against the counter, watching me squirm like this is the best entertainment he’s had in years. “Tempting, but no.”
Wait. Excuse me? Ass hole.