Chapter 24
Gems
TITUS
Tlanded Draxxinar by a lake two miles from the Kingdom of Terrain’s border.
We were still in my kingdom, but because of his size, my dragon was easily recognized—so I couldn’t fly him directly into the Kingdom of Terrain unnoticed.
The lake was nestled in a ravine: private, secluded, and quiet.
A perfect resting spot for Drax while we ventured to the Enchanted Mines.
As soon as it was safe to do so, I tossed Delilah off my lap. She made a displeased sound, I didn’t care.
Draxxinar gently caught her with his wing.
With her off of me, I started to feel more in control of my thoughts and body. I immediately jumped down and took a short walk to clear my head. I had just held her hands for two fucking hours, and I should’ve been irritated. I should’ve been annoyed. I should’ve felt nothing.
So why did my body almost mourn the loss of her touch? Why did I suddenly feel chilled from the absence of her body pressing against mine?
I told myself it had simply been a while since I’d been touched by another person, so it was only natural for my body to respond that way.
I had no issue getting females in my bed. I simply hadn’t had time. The attacks, the threats, the war, the meetings—it was endless. All I wanted was to protect my people and our way of life, and if I wasn’t giving one hundred percent of myself to them, then I was failing.
But I was not weak. I wouldn’t allow myself to complain about sleep, or peace, or lack of carnal pleasures. I would protect my kingdom, no matter the cost, and no female—mortal or Fae—could distract me from my cause, no matter how bewitching she may be.
I just needed to stay focused.
At least her body was covered by the unflattering riding outfit I had made for this journey, so my eyes wouldn’t wander so easily.
I knew she was attracted to me, but that didn’t surprise me in the least. The mortal males in her realm wouldn’t even compare to a Fae High Lord such as myself.
I just needed to keep her away from me, make sure she was repulsed by me, so she didn’t flood the air with her lust. Because if she did…
after the close contact and intimacy of the flight, I knew I would be powerless against her pull.
I wouldn’t be able to resist her, and I could not afford to be vulnerable.
Not at a time like this, with my entire kingdom on the line.
I came back to our landing spot with my mind cleared and refocused, and I noticed Delilah looked troubled. She was scratching her arms, neck, and shoulders frantically.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked in a snobbish tone.
“I’m so itchy. I think I got bit by a bug or something. Can you check my back?” she asked, concern obvious in her voice.
“No,” I retorted, quick and cold.
The last thing I wanted after finally clearing my head was to look at her bare skin. Even if she did get bit, I didn’t care. Staying focused was more important.
“Please, Titus!” she cried.
Something about the way she said my name made my chest ache and my muscles tense. I sighed.
“Fine,” I said. “But only because I love it when a female begs for me.”
I arched a brow. She rolled her eyes, maybe about to snap back with something fiery and sarcastic—but I was already too close.
I slid my finger under the turtleneck of her puffy blouse and pulled it down.
I grimaced.
Her skin was bright red, swollen, with raised white welts peppered throughout. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“Human,” I said pointedly, “do you happen to have any allergies?”
“No—I don’t think so. Just bee stings,” she said, flustered, trying to scratch a spot she couldn’t reach.
Then it dawned on me. Fuck.
“This top is made from bee-silk web,” I said. “It’s the softest, rarest fabric in our realm.”
“What?!” she snapped. “Are you serious? Your bees make silk— what makes your fucking honey?!”
“Silk bees make silk. Honeybees make honey. Honestly, human, it’s not that complicated,” I replied mockingly.
She let out an aggravated, shrieking groan as she violently ripped off the shirt in obvious frustration and tossed it aside.
She stood in front of me in a red lace band around her breasts, her inflamed skin matching the hue of the lace. She covered her chest with her arms, then turned away, sinking to her knees, hunched over.
Her back was as red as the front, but it was the tears falling down her face that broke me.
I was filled with regret.
“Hey,” I said, hesitant as I stepped closer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
She said nothing.
I didn’t know what to do or say. I only knew I had this overwhelming urge to comfort her. To be near her. To make those fucking tears stop.
I took another step, and she finally spoke.
“I don’t belong here,” she whimpered between sobs. “Delilah, I…” A painful knot formed in my throat.. “I’m trying to get you home. I swear.”
“I don’t…I don’t think I belong there either,” she replied softly.
The words came out slow and strained, as if it were the hardest thing she’d ever had to say, the hardest truth she’d ever had to face.
“I died in my world,” she whispered. “Going back now would
be...unnatural. Jared has probably moved on with his life anyway. Every minute I’m here feels like months away from him. I can hardly remember what his voice sounded like…”
She sobbed, and it was the most gut-wrenching sound I’d ever heard.
I could hear the pain rooted deep in her core, erupting from her cries. Her agony—her longing for this mortal man was the most harrowing sound imaginable.
I had tortured captives for information. Their screams never phased me.
But this…this, I could not take.
The undeniable magnitude of how she loved him tore something inside me that I didn't know was there.
I was green with envy. I suddenly wished someone loved me this violently.
Did I wish she loved me like that?
I was mentally incapacitated, too many emotions flooding at once, leaving me to sort through the mess. I didn’t know what to do.
Then, to my surprise, she suddenly stood and dropped her arms, exposing all her red, blotchy skin.
When she spoke again, her tone was nothing but pure, raw hatred.
“And YOU!” she snapped, pointing her finger at me. “You have made it abundantly clear that I do not belong here either!”
In a matter of moments, she shattered all the walls I had built around my heart with only a few words. If she only knew what she did to me, how I felt about her, if she only knew how badly I wanted her, if I could only tell her the truth…
She turned to walk away, and I reacted on impulse alone. I grabbed her wrist firmly to stop her.
She flinched, and I prayed it was from the sudden pressure on her tender skin and not because she thought I would hurt her.
“Delilah, stop,” I ordered, softer than I intended.
To my surprise, she didn’t fight me. She obeyed and turned to look me in the eyes.
Tears streaked her face, and for a reason I couldn’t explain, I took her face in my hands and brushed them away with my thumbs.
She shuddered and looked startled by the intimacy—by my unfamiliar touch that wasn’t sexual or rough. I could feel the heat of her body as I pulled her in close. Where she belonged.
I stared into her arctic pools of icy blue, knowing all too well that by looking this deeply into her eyes, I was extinguishing the very essence of my own flaming soul.
In my mind, I stood on the precipice of giving in to what I longed for.
I tried to hold my ground, but then…I surrendered, and willingly submerged into the icy blue unknown.
I let my healing light flood from my fingertips into her. I pushed it out with all the sincerity and remorse I couldn’t say aloud. I allowed my magic to softly caress and comfort her. I forced it out so passionately it felt like I was filling her with my very soul.
From the look on her face, I knew she felt it too.
Her head tipped back. She closed her eyes and parted her lips, and softly gasped—and I hadn’t realized mine were dangerously close to hers. I shouldn’t have felt the way I did as my power threaded through her veins. And worse, I should not have enjoyed it so much.
I felt my magic sink deep, pumping through her body, correcting the inflammatory response, and bringing her back to normal. Amber, sparkling light illuminated her body, making her look ethereal… and even more powerful than she already was.
I meant to give her only enough to counter the reaction. Instead, my power poured into her like it had found where it belonged.
With our souls entangled, I felt something unusual—yet familiar—and I sensed it was the root of why I was so drawn to her.
She let out a soft moan as I focused my power through every inch of her body, making sure I fixed everything I had done.
The angry red patches faded away.
When I felt the last of the reaction disappear, I called my magic back.
It resisted.
As if it wanted to stay infused with her.
I couldn’t tell if that was my own hesitation… or her pulling from the other side somehow.
I focused my will and pulled harder until the last of my healing light merged back with me. The absence of being threaded in her warmth hit me harder than it should have.
I knew my magic was back. She knew it too. And yet we remained perfectly still in the same close embrace, my mouth so close to hers I could feel her warm breath brush my lips.
There was a silent conversation happening—not mind-to-mind, but body-to-body.
If I leaned in a fraction of an inch more, I could have her.
Her stillness was an invitation: kiss her, take her, make her my mate for real—not just for a mission.
I had fought battles that depleted me physically and magically. I had tamed and killed colossal beasts. But none of it took as much strength as it did to pull away from her, decline her invitation, and release her from my hands.
She stepped back, gave me an accepting, bitter nod, and turned for the lake’s edge in the distance.
I waited until she was out of view. Then I collapsed to my knees.