Chapter 38 Unravel
Unravel
Raven
Itake a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. Part of me is still fighting with myself to be annoyed that he wasn’t upfront with me, but another part knows I want to meet him halfway.
“I can’t imagine growing up in a place like this,” I look around.
“It sounds like it would’ve been… an adventure.
” My lips curve into a small grin as my gaze drifts back to him.
“Not that I can complain, though, I loved where I grew up. My grandparents took care of me, they loved me, and taught me everything I know.”
Kane chuckles softly, and there’s something about the way he’s looking at me that makes it impossible to stop now, even if I wanted to.
“My grandmother is the one I have to thank for my love of all things magic.” I pause, catching the faintest bit of amusement in his expression. “But you probably guessed that part already.”
My grin widens a little, trying to keep the mood light despite the twinge of nostalgia creeping in. I have a love-hate relationship with talking about my grandparents.
He gives me a small nod, and I almost forget the tension I felt a minute ago. “She sounds like a remarkable woman.”
“She was.” I smile, letting the memory settle over me. “My grandpa, on the other hand, was not as soft. He was all about teaching me how to defend myself. At the time, it was mostly against bullies.”
When I look at him again, he’s watching me with an intensity that nearly makes me lose my train of thought. It’s like he’s hanging onto every word, afraid to say anything that might make me stop.
Heat prickles up my neck, and I shift my weight, feeling strangely exposed. “My grandma would always save her best stories for the harder days. She’d sit beside me, playing with my hair while she retold them.”
A bittersweet smile tugs at my lips, and I let out a small laugh. “Honestly, I secretly looked forward to those days, but I'd never tell them that.”
Kane’s expression softens with an understanding that catches me off guard.
“What does a hard day mean?”
My feet stop moving before I even realize it. I hadn’t meant to let that slip. My throat tightens as my breath catches when I realize how dangerously close I came to opening a door I’m not sure I’m ready to walk through.
“Oh, um…” The words stumble out, clumsy and unsure, caught somewhere between the instinct to retreat and the strange pull to share. My hands twitch at my sides, unsure of where to go.
Kane stops, turning to face me fully. He notices my hesitation immediately. “You don’t have to tell me,” he says softly, like he’s trying not to spook me.
I take a deep breath, and the tension in my chest loosens slightly. I nod, grateful for the out he’s giving me, even though I don’t need it.
Before I can say more, we step into the library, and the sight of it steals my breath all over again. No matter how many times I see this place, it never loses its magic. The towering shelves, filled with stories and secrets makes this room feel like the safest place in the world.
Which is why when I look back at Kane, a tiny, traitorous part of me wonders if opening up wouldn’t totally wreck me. I mean, it's just my grandparents. Nothing dangerous there…right?
I let out a sigh, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “No, it’s okay. I want to.”
My voice is stronger than I expect as the words come tumbling out. “My grandpa wasn’t the type to go easy on me. He actually spoiled me rotten in almost every way, but when it came to life lessons, he was all business.”
Fondness and exasperation cross my features, as the memories flood back. “He always said he wanted me to be strong. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and that he didn’t believe in shortcuts.”
Kane snorts, the sound catching me off guard. My eyes narrow as I fight the urge to smile. “What’s so funny?”
He shakes his head, failing miserably to suppress his smile. “Let me guess, you’re a perfectionist? The type who gets worked up when things don't go exactly the way you planned?”
I roll my eyes, but a soft laugh escapes anyway. “Maybe,” I admit, “That’s probably why I loved it so much in the end. It taught me how to be honest with myself and everyone else. Because, really, what’s the point if you’re not?”
His expression shifts, like he’s seeing a glimpse of something he wasn’t expecting. It’s disarming, and more dangerous than any sarcastic comment he’s thrown my way.
“Sounds like your grandparents knew exactly what they were doing,” he says quietly.
I pause for a moment, gathering my thoughts before continuing. “I mean they did teach me some important things. But my favorite thing was that life is going to be hard, but the only way to make life easier is to figure out how to get through it.”
I expect him to throw in a teasing remark, but he stays quiet, his expression intent and focused, so I keep going.
“But to answer your question, my grandpa always switched things up to keep me on my toes, to make sure I never got too comfortable,” I explain.
“There was one thing I hated more than anything and that was swimming in the lake. No matter how cold it was. And trust me, it was always freezing. I’d be shivering like a leaf by the time I got out. ”
And cursing the very existence of lakes. Honestly, who decided swimming should be a life skill? If I ever have a future as a mermaid, at least I’ll be prepared.
I roll my eyes. “Needless to say, I became a really good swimmer. But I also developed a deep-seated hatred for the cold. Unless, of course, it’s followed by a hot bath, my favorite fairy tale, and someone playing with my hair.”
Priorities.
Kane raises an eyebrow, and I can see the amusement in his dark eyes. “High standards you’ve got there, Princess.”
“It’s strange,” I admit, smiling. “I've never really talked about this with anyone before. It’s just not… something that’s ever really come up.”
His lips curve into a genuine smile, and there’s a warmth in his eyes that makes me feel too much.
“I’m glad you’re sharing it with me.” His voice sounds sincere. Then his lips twitch, and that familiar cocky spark flashes back. “But if you keep sharing stories like that, I might have to start recording them. You know, just to have evidence that I didn’t imagine the whole thing.”
I roll my eyes, laughing despite myself. “Too bad you didn’t think of that sooner.” My eyes narrow, pointing between us. “This never happened.”
He leans in slightly, “Can I ask you something else?”
I glance at my wrist, looking at the watch I don't have. “Oh, yeah, look at that. Question time is over. Guess I better be heading back home now. My new friends are waiting for me.”
He tilts his head, one brow arching skeptically. “Friends?”
I shrug, looking away, trying to hide my sudden embarrassment. “All the animals that hang around the house,” I mumble, lifting my chin and meeting his stare head-on. “Don’t be an ass and assume that you and Cam are the only friends I’ve made since being here.”
His laugh rumbles out, smoothing the edges I swear never soften. Of course it makes him hotter—because I needed that. God, he should do that more often.
“I’ll answer your question,” I pretend to smooth out my dress. “But only if you stop laughing at me.”
His laughter cuts off and all the teasing is gone, replaced with something sharper. His fingers brush the necklace at my collarbone, and the touch goes straight through me. Naturally, I forget how to breathe.
“This,” he murmurs, keeping his voice low and threaded with something I can’t place. “It suits you.” His fingers linger just a second longer before pulling back. “Where did you get it?”
I hesitate, but my hand instinctively lifts to touch it. “I’m not really sure where it’s from,” I admit. “It was in the box I got after my grandpa passed. I haven’t really taken it off since. I’m assuming it belonged to my grandmother, but no one ever told me.”
His eyes lift from the necklace to meet mine, and it’s like he’s not just listening but dissecting every word.
“Sounds special.” His tone is gentle in a way that feels entirely too intimate.
Desperate to regain some control of my thoughts, I turn to the nearest bookshelf, dragging my fingers over the spine of a book. I force myself to look at him, lifting my chin with a defiant edge to my voice. “So, do you even have time to read? What kind of books does a guy with six jobs even like?”
Kane leans against the bookshelf, and his posture is deceptively casual. His eyes, however, track my every move.
“First of all, I don’t have six jobs,” he drawls. “I own six companies.”
I huff out a laugh, pulling a book off the shelf, pretending to be interested in it. “Of course, you’d say that.”
His hand reaches out to tilt my chin up, and his other hand rests on the bookshelf behind me, blocking me in. I suck in a breath at the sudden shift in his expression because all the teasing warmth is gone, replaced by something darker.
“Princess.”
The word rolls off his tongue like a secret meant just for me. It wraps around me, making my thoughts scatter, and I know without a doubt that I want nothing more than for him to kiss me.
“Hmmm?” The sound barely escapes my lips, but I can feel my body leaning closer against my better judgement.
“You can argue with me in a minute,” he says, his voice dropping to a dark rasp. The space between us evaporates, and his eyes devour me. “I’ll remind you later, if you need it. But right now…I'm going to kiss you.”
My heart lurches into a full on sprint, and my body starts buzzing with anticipation. His words hang in the air, heavy and impossible to shake. Then he leans in—so fucking slowly, and my heart forgets how to function.
When his lips finally crash into mine, it’s like the world shifts. The kiss is firm, but laced with restraint that makes every nerve scream louder. My body melts without permission and my fingers curl against his chest. Of course, that's when he pulls away.