CHAPTER 13 #3
I wasn’t sure if it was the result of the drinks I’d had or Kilian’s presence that was messing with my head, but I was very confused.
He shouldered open the door, holding it out for Lana and I to exit.
The golden glow of the afternoon greeted us, and I was surprised to find that it was still daytime.
With the lack of windows and lighting inside the tavern, time had ceased to exist.
I felt groggy and irritable. The sunlight seemed too bright, the colors a haze of brown and yellow, spinning and coalescing into an ugly shade of khaki. I raised my hand to shield against the glare as I stalked ahead of Lana and Septimus.
“I’m taking you straight to bed,” Kilian said, falling into step beside me. “I don’t know what this little stunt of yours was about today, but if you wanted my attention, you’ve got it.”
“How delusional it must be living inside your head. Nothing about today concerned you,” I lied smoothly.
He raised his brows, dark curls spilling across his eyes. “I’m supposed to believe that you kissing another elven wasn’t to get my attention?”
“Like I said, it wasn’t about you. Ayden’s hot. I’ll do it again if I want to.”
Fury blanketed me and was instantly smothered by a layer of ice. He gripped my wrist, pulling me against him. “Why are you acting like this? I can feel your anger. What did I do?”
His thumb caressed the inside of my arm, drawing slow circles. Gods, I hated how that tiny action pleased me more than the entire kiss with Ayden. His fingers paused their gentle assault, and his gaze flickered to my wrist.
“You took the bracelet off.” Cold realization dawned in his eyes. “Who told you? Calendula?”
I yanked myself from his grip, breaking easily from his hold as I continued along the winding route I, astoundingly, remembered Lana showing me earlier. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, come on, Lirah. It’s so obvious.”
“Could you leave me alone? I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Then when will you want to talk about it? Because Elena… That was a really long time ago. And I’m happy to tell you whatever you want to know. You just have to ask.”
Gods, her name felt like a cheese grater against my skin. I was so irrationally, uncontrollably jealous of a human girl who had died decades ago.
Valhan House appeared and I nearly sagged in relief.
I was stupid for allowing myself to be hurt, to be distracted by Kilian when the second Trial was swiftly approaching.
I needed to get my head back in the game.
But not today. Today, my limbs felt heavy.
The aftereffects of the drink hazing my vision and jumbling my thoughts.
“I’m not interested in hearing about all the mortal women you’ve fucked,” I shot over my shoulder. “And I’m really not interested in being added to the list. So, if that’s your intention, you might as well give up. It’s not going to happen.”
“That is not my intention.” His deep voice rumbled behind me.
“Oh, right, I forgot. What was it Ayden said?” I whirled around. “You don’t want me.”
“Ayden is not a reliable source.” His lip curled in distaste.
“At least Ayden didn’t drag me here to be a mouse trapped in a death maze,” I retorted.
“Can you stop talking about him.” He groaned. “It’s bad enough I have the image of you two kissing imprinted on my retinas.”
“You should be glad you arrived when you did and that’s all you have an image of.”
I enjoyed watching his gaze darken, the silver in his eyes sharpening at the suggestion in my words. Anger licked at the bounds of the link.
“Has provoking me become your new hobby, Lirah?”
I crossed my arms. “It certainly has an air of entertainment to it.”
He shook his head slowly. “People who provoke me do not have a habit of staying alive.”
“It’s just as well, then, that I’m participating in the Trials. Only a matter of time now. Let me enjoy my remaining days, will you?”
He leaned closer, voice like velvet. “If enjoyment’s what you’re looking for, I can recommend other activities that will be far more satisfying than kissing dim-witted elven.”
I stepped forward, drawn to his magnetism. “Bold of you to assume kissing Ayden was not pleasant for me.”
He scoffed, lips tilting into a sinful smirk. “Not all kisses are simply meant to be pleasant.”
I sucked in a breath, a quick, sharp hit of his scent that stressed out my nervous system.
“Maybe I’m happy with pleasant.” It was a weak retort and from the humor crinkling the corners of his eyes, he knew he had won whatever game we were playing.
His gaze skipped down to my lips. “No. I don’t think you are.”
“The world doesn’t need to shatter for a kiss to be good,” I insisted, sticking to my point now that I’d made it.
“Spoken like someone who’s never had a world-shattering kiss.”
I pressed my lips together, a flush rising along my neck.
I pictured it then, what it would be like to kiss Kilian Valhan.
To feel those lips that had been on my neck just last night, slanted against mine.
I wondered if it would be soft or rough.
If his tongue would curl around mine in a single, shared breath.
If time would stand still and the world would, indeed, shatter. I already knew it would.
No, no, no. This was not happening. He had already forcibly inserted himself in my space, I couldn’t let him get in my head too.