Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
I tapped my foot impatiently on the street.
Before me, a young kingsfae held a crystal ball beneath my palm.
The crystal’s magic siphoned my testimony onto a piece of parchment he held, effectively writing down everything I’d recalled happening with Abel.
It only took a few minutes, and once the magic signaled that the events had been recorded, the kingsfae pocketed his crystal ball.
I smiled pleasantly up at him, even though the sun was already high in the sky. “Is that all you need?”
His throat bobbed, and his gaze traveled over my face. The tips of his ears turned pink, and he hastily glanced down at his parchment. “I, uh . . . let me read through this.”
He began to scan his document. Smile straining, I tapped my foot even more.
Hours. I was hours behind schedule, all because my stupid neighbor had turned into a complete lunatic this morning.
I glanced in Abel’s direction, but he was too far away to appreciate my annoyance.
The stranger was still in the alleyway too, and like me, he was also being questioned, but he was farther down the lane, nearly out of earshot. Regardless, my stomach flipped the second I beheld him again. The stranger was so masculine. Physically, everything about him was enticing.
The kiss we’d shared still blazed through my mind. I’d never reacted like that to anyone before. My response had been so intense and visceral.
My core clenched, and I hastily turned my attention away. Goddess, maybe the Stone was affecting me too. It was the only thing that could explain the all-consuming lust I felt for someone I’d just met.
Finally, the young kingsfae finished re-reading my statement, then carefully folded the parchment and slid it into his pocket beside the crystal ball.
Once his supplies were stowed away, he gave me a shy smile and cleared his throat, bobbing it in the process.
“Try to stay safe out there, Miss Hollaran. Unfortunately, as you experienced this morning, the Stone’s arrival is causing some fae to act rather badly.
” He glanced toward Abel, who was at last being hauled away in magic-suppressing glowing blue cuffs by two other kingsfae.
“Tell me about it. But thank you for your help.” I beamed, relief surging through me that I could finally leave. “You’ve been very kind. Am I free to go now?”
The guard blinked as I peered up at him. For a moment, all he did was stare at me.
A breeze flowed down the street, and a few strands of hair fluttered around my cheeks. I tucked the stray strands behind the tip of my ear, and his throat bobbed again as his attention drifted to my fingers.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the stranger’s focus shift toward us. It was subtle, the barest movement of his chin, but his aura wafted through the air, and it felt as though he drifted it covertly toward us. As if assessing the situation.
My spine stiffened. It was baffling how the stranger’s every move had captured my attention since this entire debacle had started. Even more baffling was that I’d kissed him, or rather, forced myself on him.
Now that I’d had a moment to think about it, I’d realized that was exactly what’d happened. I’d forced him to kiss me, even if the stranger had returned it. But for all I knew, I’d caught him off guard, and he’d kissed me in return automatically, not even realizing what he was doing.
Goddess, maybe the legends are right, and the Stone can make anyone hunting it turn crazy. Even me.
“Sir, am I free to go?” I asked the guard again, since he just stood there, not responding.
The young guard shook himself, his cheeks pinkening slightly.
“Yes, yes, of course. Good day to you, Miss Hollaran. And best of luck, but like I said, be careful out there while you’re hunting the Stone.
This is likely going to be the first of many unreasonable fae you’ll encounter.
” He inclined his head toward Abel again, then a flash of worry crossed his features.
“Speaking of which, are you sure it’s wise for you to continue?
This morning’s encounter could have ended tragically. ”
I laughed lightly. “You sound like my aunt.”
His blush turned scarlet, but I didn’t regret my cheeky reply.
My entire life, fae had underestimated me.
When most looked at me, they saw a young female of average height with a soft build and, consequently, assumed her magic was as weak as her biceps.
But I wasn’t weak. I was anything but weak if I allowed myself to use the full extent of my power.
Still, I patted the guard’s arm reassuringly, if a little condescendingly. “Please don’t worry. I’ll be careful. Of that, you can be certain.”
The guard’s attention shot toward where I touched him. His cheeks flamed, and a hint of red trickled down his neck.
“Right, um, of course. Apologies for my concern, Miss Hollaran.” He awkwardly tipped his head, then scurried away to join the other kingsfae.
As soon as he did, one of his fellow law-enforcers whispered something, then elbowed the young guard and glanced toward me. I could have sworn the young guard’s blush grew even fiercer.
Not able to help myself, I winked and gave them a wave.
Farther down the street, the stranger’s eyes narrowed, but he also dipped his head in farewell to the male who’d been questioning him. His kingsfae took a step back, his aura bursting with eagerness, then he bowed at the stranger. Actually bowed.
I cocked my head. Well, that’s odd.
Not for the first time, I wondered who the stranger was, and not just because of my physical response to him. I still didn’t know his name, since before taking our statements, the kingsfae had immediately split us up.
But now that I was finally free to go, I needed to thank him. He’d saved me from potential future weeks of Abel’s pestering behaviors.
I glanced at my enchanted carpet, which lay motionless on the street since I’d deactivated its magic. All of my supplies were still sturdily secured to it. Another blessing. Amazingly, I hadn’t lost anything, except for Verin’s bottle.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and my earlier annoyance with Abel and concern that I was hours behind schedule began to melt away. Optimism surged through me anew, because this delay was proving to be just fine after all, even lucky if I thought about it. It’d entirely gotten Abel off my back.
I walked toward the stranger, approaching him from behind. Since he had his back to me, that impressive sword running the length of it, I couldn’t help but notice the width of his shoulders. So broad.
A tingle shot through me, but before I could say anything or reach out to touch his arm and catch his attention, he turned to face me.
His movements were slow. Steady. It was as if his every move was calculated, and I was reminded of the efficiency in which he’d taken down Abel in one fluid move.
I gulped and thought of what this stranger had been put through.
What a morning.
When only an arm’s length separated us, I stopped, but I had to tilt my chin up to meet his eyes. Another breeze drifted down the quiet street, bringing the heady scent of the Wood. I entwined my fingers together and gave him what I hoped was a thankful yet apologetic smile.
“I’m so sorry for everything this morning, truly, but I can’t thank you enough for your help.”
He stared at me, his eyes so vivid and sparkling. Seriously, how was it possible for them to be so blue? Vain females would kill to have eyes like his.
“And I’m very sorry about forcing myself, I mean . . . kissing you,” I added in a rush. “Truly, I acted rashly, and I can’t apologize enough, but thank you so much for playing along.”
His expression still didn’t falter. He was that still. But his gaze had fixated on my mouth.
“So—” I thrust my arm forward for a formal handshake. “Thank you . . .” I let my words hang since I still didn’t know his name.
He glanced at my arm, and it felt like centuries passed as I stood there. But just when I thought for certain he was going to leave me hanging, he reached out and wrapped his hand around my forearm.
Our fingers encircled one another, and I became acutely aware of the feel of his forearm. It was hard and corded. Thick veins were palpable beneath my grip, and Stars Above, once again tingles shot up my arm, a shiver following. I pumped our arms a few times just to do something normal.
I could have sworn that his nostrils flared, ever so slightly, as if he was scenting something, and the longer we stayed in contact, the more my magic vibrated inside me.
It felt as though something in my chest cracked. Yawned. Stoked. Grew.
Head spinning, I abruptly let go of him and stepped back. He took a step forward, as though he was going to close the distance between us, but stopped himself just as a whip of magic came from his wrist.
Chest heaving, I cleared my throat and gave him what I hoped was a radiant smile. But honestly, at this point, any smile would do. Something was seriously wrong with me, considering how I was reacting. Goddess, the legends were right about the Stone.
“Thank you again,” I said, relieved that my voice sounded normal and even.
His gaze was transfixed on my face, but he didn’t respond.
“May I ask your name before I leave?” I said, then wondered why I bothered to ask. It wasn’t like I would ever see him again.
Another moment of silence passed.
And then another.
My heart began to beat like a steady drum.
Like the handshake, I was certain he was going to leave me hanging, but then he said, “Kole.” His deep, smooth voice rumbled all the way through me, coating my insides and making me want to melt like butter at his feet. “Kole Swordwielder.”
Swordwielder.
Before I could process what his last name implied, the stranger gave me his back, then strode around the alley’s corner and disappeared into the bustle of Whiteolf.
He was gone before he could see my mouth drop to the ground.
Swordwielder. His name was Kole Swordwielder.
No wonder the guard had bowed to him.