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I feel his smile as his lips leave an incendiary trail of need across the back of my neck. Then his right hand slides over my hip and comes to rest in a possessive lock across my stomach as he pulls me closer. There’s something raw and primitive in the way his hot breath lands on my skin and the manner in which he holds me to him, like a male mountain lion guards a female before mating.

My own breath is coming in rapid inhalations and exhalations and I realise I'm gripping the table for support. Suddenly, he stiffens. “Damn!” he exclaims as he takes me completely by surprise and twirls me around to face him. His ice blue eyes are an intoxicating blend of white hot desire and burning frustration. However, before I have a chance to ask him what's wrong his lips descend on mine in a kiss so savage in its ferocity, it leaves me totally breathless. I’m only starting to realise what’s happening when he ends it as quickly as he started it.

“Think upon what I have said, Queen Elinor,” he says in a throaty voice as he looks deeply into my eyes, “for now I must away as your Grand Master approaches and I believe he will enter this library all too soon.”

His lips skim mine again and then he is gone and I am left standing there in utter shock, wondering what just happened.

Chapter Nineteen

The next morning I awaken to find Kes sitting at the end of my bed.

“Good morning, my Queen,” she announces in a very cheery voice. “It sounds like you were having a most interesting dream.”

A blush colours my cheeks as I recall the intimate details of my dream and wonder if I uttered the noises I made in it out loud. I dreamt the prince had returned and I was in the process of harvesting him when we were joined by Barra and Aaran and things had gotten… interesting.

“How long have you been sitting there?” I ask.

She smirks. “Long enough.”

I throw my bedsheets back and swing my legs over the side of the bed. “It’s good to see you returned. You look in good health. I take it you weren't harmed in any way.”

“No, my Queen, neither I nor any of the Khaleeni were injured and the mission was a success.” She raises her hand and shakes a small, slender vial in front of me as if to prove her point.

A smile brightens my face and I feel a sliver of hope lighten my heart. “Well done, Commander, I knew I could rely on you, but pray tell, what was the cause of the delay? I had expected you back some days ago.”

A small frown creases her brow and I feel a prickle of apprehension at the back of my neck.

“We weren't informed of it, but it seems a few nights before the Harvesting there was an attempted breach on the SkyTemple. The intention was either to steal the sacred pennyweed or, as I suspect, to taint it.”

I'm in the process of getting out of bed but I stop all movement and turn to look at her. “What?” I ask. “Someone tried to break into the Sky Temple?”

Kes nods. “Yes, it would seem so.”

“Do the Guardians Of The Temple have any idea who it was? Did they manage to capture anyone?”

“Unfortunately, not.”

“Why are we only hearing about this now? Why didn't they tell us about this before?”

Kes shakes her head. “I don't know. All I know is they trebled the guard and I needed to adjust my plan accordingly in order to secure enough pennyweed for our needs and in a way they wouldn't notice any was gone.”

“How did you do that?” I ask.

She smiles. “I simply took a small amount from each container and placed it in the vial. Thank the gods we don't need much for our purposes. Speaking of which, do you know when the prince will return from his visit with the Holy Cleric?”

I’m not quick enough to hide the look of longing from my eyes when she mentions the prince. “No,” I reply in a quiet voice. “Perhaps he will return today.”

She smiles and stretches out her hand to stop me as I go to make my way past her. “You miss him?”

I nod. “Yes, I’ve become quite fond of him and accustomed to his presence.”

Her smile turns into a smirk. “Especially in your bed?”

I smirk back. “And other places.”

I laugh at her shocked expression all the way across the room as I set about preparing myself for my day ahead.

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