Page 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

T he silence between Solarius and Narissa was unfathomable.

The quiet in the carriage interrupted only by the whistling winter wind.

The stillness stretched like a gaping chasm, cold and empty.

One day it was as though they were traversing a rickety bridge, determined to meet in the middle.

Then the next they were ripped apart, standing on opposite ledges, overlooking the widening expanse between them.

Not even the echo of his voice could reach her.

At this rate, Narissa would never fall in love with him.

Now, they were on their way to Windsong, where they would undoubtedly be forced to exchange pleasantries with Calfair Skyhelm.

If that bastard of a lord knew Solarius was arriving in Galefell, he would drive a well-placed wedge between Solarius and Narissa.

Besides, he was the reason their courtship ended in shambles.

Anger rumbled through his chest.

Not so long ago, or perhaps not long enough, Calfair had been his best friend.

They’d spent the majority of their youth together, from racing Eponians in the middle of the night during a rainstorm, to pouring soap into Celestine’s fountains and watching bubbles pop and coat the city in sudsy stardust, to drunken escapades that involved daring one another to see who could drink the most whiskey.

Solarius always won that game.

But with each passing year, their audacious friendship evolved into a tiresome rivalry.

It seemed that no matter what Solarius did, Calfair had to best him.

Whenever they skipped rocks at Silvermist Lake in the warmer seasons, it was a ruthless game to see whose stones bounced the furthest across the lake’s sapphire surface.

And in the winter, when Silvermist Lake froze solid, it became a battle to see who could break the ice with the largest rock first.

If Solarius placed first in fencing, Calfair would tout he’d been triumphant in swordplay.

Eventually their competitiveness spilled into their personal lives as well—who danced with more ladies at a ball and who stole the most kisses in the gardens.

All of that changed when Solarius set his sights on Narissa.

He wanted her, and only her, his conflicts with Calfair be damned.

It had been a mistake, a terrible lapse in judgement.

Solarius had made the unfortunate assumption that if he was serious about courting a female, then perhaps Calfair would stand down and see that their feud was coming to an end.

After all, they couldn’t be esteemed bachelors forever.

While a lofty dream, it was not the way of things in Aeramere.

A lord was destined to take a wife, just as ladies were bound to find a husband.

He’d almost bought a ring for her, had a thoroughly planned proposal that filled him with nauseating anxiety.

Just in case.

Everything Solarius ever wanted, he’d found in Narissa.

That was until he’d discovered her with Calfair in a secluded bedroom of House Galefell during a Midsummer ball.

The door had been left unlocked, as though Calfair wanted Solarius to find them, like he’d planned to bed Narissa the whole time.

It had been the final match he never saw coming.

He’d said nothing afterward, choosing instead to save face and shield their reputations from any outlandish rumors.

But Solarius had lost his best friend and the female he wanted to marry in the same night.

So, no.

He wasn’t too keen on being sent to Windsong.

Calfair was the last fucking fae he wanted to see while he was trying to woo his wife.

Solarius glanced over at Narissa seated beside him in the carriage.

She was gripping the edge of the leather seat so tightly he thought for certain her nails would tear through the thick fabric.

Her back was painfully straight, her arms were locked by her side, and every muscle of her body seemed stiff with agonizing tension.

The pale green of her eyes expanded, and her gaze darting from one sleek window to the other.

The frantic beating of her heart pulsed through his own veins and his brow furrowed.

He didn’t think their most recent dispute was cause for her to act as though the world was going to come crashing down around her, but then the carriage caught a gust of wind and bounced lightly upon the stiff evening breeze.

Narissa yelped, clutched at his upper arm with both hands, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Stars above, she wasn’t still mad at him.

She was afraid.

All the air left her in a rush and her eyes flew open.

She let go of him at once, but Solarius grabbed her hand, keeping it wrapped tightly around his arm.

He squeezed her fingers in reassurance, noting how small and delicate they were in the strength of his grip, admiring the pretty gold bands she wore.

Perhaps he would give her one to add to her collection one day.

Narissa tried to tug away one more time but he held on, refusing to let her go.

If she was scared of flying, then the least he could do was offer her comfort, whether she wanted it from him or not.

“Are you alright?” he asked, keeping his voice low and soft.

She shook her head and curled her fingers into the fabric of his coat.

“No. I hate flying.”

“Fear not, I won’t let anything happen to you.” Solarius gave her hand another reassuring squeeze.

“Besides, what could be safer than riding in a carriage pulled by winged Eponians?”

When those frosty green eyes looked up at him, glazed with a familiar sheen, he saw the deeply planted root of her fear.

“My parents…”

Her harsh whisper struck him with remorse, and he silently cursed himself for being so thoughtless with his words.

He should have known better.

For her sake, he should’ve taken more care.

Of course Narissa hated flying, she’d lost both of her parents in a carriage accident.

It was a rare occurrence to be sure, but devastating, nevertheless.

Lord and Lady Seaborne were returning to Azurvend from House Emberspire after the Firelight Festival when their carriage was caught in a sudden summer storm.

A bolt of lightning startled the Eponians and the driver lost control, sending them careening toward the ground.

At some point, the carriage detached from the shaft and the driver was able to save himself and the Eponians, but Narissa’s parents were lost in the crash.

She was only a child when it happened.

Solarius gently stroked the bond the way he might caress her during the midnight hours.

Narissa gasped when he attuned to her labored breathing, she shuddered when he filled her with his heartbeat, when the might of the moon danced with the tides.

Their magic drifted toward one another lazily, a lulling sway, like the languid way the waves returned time and again to kiss the shore.

This was not the same violent clash as before, it was a welcome kind of serenity.

She turned into him as the carriage jostled to one side, pressing her forehead to his shoulder, inhaling sharply while her body remained rigid and stiff with fright.

Carefully, Solarius reached for her mind.

“Rissa.”

She stiffened against him.

At first, there was only deafening quiet, but then he heard the lullaby of her voice.

“Yes, my lord?”

Solarius casually ran one hand up and down her spine in an effort to calm her.

“I was merely curious if the bonded mind sharing actually worked.”

Narissa leaned back, her grip on his arm loosening slightly.

She arched one golden blonde brow.

“Apparently it does.”

“Right,” he agreed, nodding once.

She hadn’t smacked at his hand yet, nor had she inched away from him, so he continued with his plan.

“Can you see my thoughts?”

Solarius opened his mind to her, and Narissa suffered him a sigh.

She folded her hands in her lap, but he liked her closeness, enjoying the way her thigh brushed his own.

“You’re wondering how much longer until we arrive at Windsong.”

“What about now?” he asked, pressing a different thought upon her, showing her exactly what was on his mind.

A pretty blush stained the rosy gold of her cheeks, and she ducked her head.

He wanted her to see their shared kiss in the tide pool from his perspective, wanted her to realize the power she held over him, wanted her to understand his mild obsession with her.

That kiss had been his undoing.

Her lips were a drug, intoxicating and potent.

Had she denied him, he would’ve gladly dropped to his knees and begged her for a kiss.

The mating bond snapping into place was the icing on the cake, serving only to amplify his fixation on her.

Half the time, the words coming out of his mouth defied those feelings, but Solarius had been unable to quit his mind of Narissa since Ariesian first announced their engagement.

It didn’t matter if Calfair had her first, he still wanted her.

He would always want her.

Solarius cupped her chin, lifting her face, his gaze instantly dipping to where her pink lips parted in surprise.

He lowered his voice, then murmured, “And now?”

A breathy little noise escaped her.

This time, he invaded her thoughts with everything he had wanted to do to her in that tide pool.

If she’d let him, if she hadn’t run from him, he would have worshipped her like the moon.

Gazed upon her like the stars.

Unraveled her like the endless night.

He’d wanted the freedom to feel her everywhere, to let his hands explore every soft inch of her velvety skin.

With her legs locked around his waist and her arms woven around his neck, it would have been so easy to lift her hips, to slide into her, to claim her beneath the silky shower of moonlight.

Solarius’s blood hummed in anticipation and his magic flared, calling to her.

Her scent overwhelmed him.

He wanted to lick the air.

To taste her on his tongue.

“Can I touch you?” he asked, forcing each word out with feigned composure.

He would lose his damn mind if she refused him.

Narissa’s teeth snagged on her bottom lip, and his cock swelled in response.

“I don’t think?—”

Stars above, she would slay him with her rejection.

“Please, Rissa love.” He wasn’t above begging, not when it came to her.

“You consume my thoughts. You reign over my dreams. I know I’ve said awful, hurtful things, and despite the resentment between us, I am driven to the brink of madness just by looking at you.”

“Solarius…” The tone in her voice set him on edge, as though she intended to rebuff him.

But then she did the unthinkable.

Narissa angled herself toward him and that small gesture ignited a spark of hope inside the frozen walls of his chest.

“I beg of you, Narissa.” He searched her face, praying his needs, his desires were not one-sided.

In the shrouded darkness of the carriage, with slants of moonlight splintering in through the foggy windows, he caught a glimpse of longing in her eyes.

“Let me taste the poison of your lips, let me feel the satin of your skin beneath my palms. One more shared moment is all I ask.”

She pressed her lips together in consideration and his hands stole around her hips as he swallowed a groan.

“Let me kiss you, Rissa love.”

She loosed another pinched sigh.

“I hate it when you call me that.”

Solarius grinned.

“I know.”

The corner of her mouth twitched.

Almost a smile.

Stars above, how long had it been since he’d actually seen her smile?

Or heard her laugh?

He couldn’t recall the last time, and that thought alone caused his chest to heave, the stabbing ache expanding with each breath.

His lungs seized, and the erratic beating of his heart echoed in his ears to the rushing of his blood.

He needed her like he needed air.

Without her, he simply would not survive.

“Let us have this moment, then I promise you can hate me again tomorrow.”

Her lashes fluttered like the wispy wings of a tiny butterfly, and she looked up at him.

“You promise?”

Solarius nodded in earnest.

“Yes. I promise.”

Narissa reached out, tucking a few fallen strands of his hair back behind his ear.

Her fingertips feathered along his cheek, lingering at his jaw.

“Okay,” she agreed quietly.

“One more moment.”

“Blessed stars,” he groaned, and plucked her off the seat beside him, dragging her across his lap so she straddled him.

Solarius snared one arm around her waist to support her while his other hand captured the back of her neck.

Her squeal of surprise sent a bolt of desire coursing through him, and when his mouth slashed across her plump, pink lips and she readily opened for him, he knew one more kiss would never be enough.

He wanted all of her.

Forever.