Page 10 of Frosty and the Reaper
While he fully conceded he was planning on hunting down and obliterating everyone responsible for the curse, the Goddess of Illusions was already dead. Her demise did not mean that the burden of guilt or responsibility should be transferred to his mate simply because she shared the same bloodline.
Zander understood that lineage alone did not dictate character or culpability. He refused to let the sins of the mother taint his view of Kami. She had suffered enough under her birth mother’s cruelty. He found himself haunted by the fact that he could never exact justice on the vicious goddess for the pain she had inflicted on his mate.
That was a bitter reminder that some wounds could never be avenged, and some wrongs could never be righted.
Even though Kami hadn’t revealed the full extent of her suffering, he could sense the scars left behind by years of manipulation and torment. She had endured a lifetime of deceit, emotional abuse, and constant uncertainty. The emotional and psychological toll must have been immense, shaping her into someone both resilient and highly distrustful.
For all her daring, Kami was not immune to doubt. The goddess’s twisted games had her questioning her own worth and struggling to find her place in the world, leaving her uncertain whether she truly belonged amongst the gods and her royal peers. He was glad she was close to her siblings and friends. Having their support had helped her through the dark times.
The revelation of her true heritage had shaken her, leaving her adrift between worlds. She was half fae, half goddess, and wholly unique. He sensed she feared her god powers since they reminded her of her crazy birth mother, but she would have to accept that part of herself in order to reach her full potential.
Zander understood the burden of destiny. Like Kami, he had been molded by forces beyond his control. They might have been forged from different fires, but their evolution was similar. While she saw their mating as potential shackles, he thought of it as a gift beyond measure. He could respect her need for independence, but that would never stop him from shielding her from the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
She was the only flame that could pierce through his darkness.
And he would never let her burn out.
He was pleased watching her explore his home. It had made him chuckle when she’d called it his lair since that word aptly suited it. He appreciated her innate curiosity and commended her bravery, though it had startled him when she had discovered the hidden room. She hadn’t realized there had been a shielding spell on that hallway, but she had passed through it with very little hesitation.
That told him she was more powerful than he had originally believed.
That room was far too dangerous for her to enter without him. The magical wards protecting it were the strongest he had ever used, so he wasn’t surprised when she hadn’t been able to enter.
He was proud when she discovered the way out of his lair. Following her outside, he found himself smiling when her expression lit up with wonder. Since they would be spending a lot of time on the island, he was pleased that she liked it. But after saving her from the noctis blooms with a strong gust ofwind, he knew he was going to have to do something about all the hazardous things that grew there.
He’d made a habit of cultivating rare plants on the island, all of which were dangerous. There were some that were probably considered extinct after all these years. He was going to have to ensure she was aware of what everything was, or he would have to make some adjustments.
Zander thought he was prepared to face her again, but the moment she stepped into the pavilion, he was struck hard by the mating pull he felt toward her. In that instant, he was completely enthralled by her. She was impossible to resist, and he found himself willingly surrendering to the magnetic connection between them.
But first, he needed to feed her.
He knew she was hungry, so he was compelled to provide what she needed. Hearing her stomach rumbling was an affront to his senses. He was starving as well. It had been far too long since he’d actually eaten anything, but her comfort and welfare came before his own.
Since several of the pixies had been in the kitchen when he showed up, they had gotten right to work preparing a meal for him. They were excited about his return and had been even more delighted once they found out he had found his mate. He gave a slight nod to Mali in response to her bow of greeting, then she closed the door behind Kami, leaving him alone with his mate.
Holding a hand out to her, he said, “Come, mate. I have been waiting for you.”
Reminding himself to be patient, he stood perfectly still. Determined not to rush her or let his own anticipation show, he kept still while he waited. Like dealing with a wild beast, any sudden movement might startle her. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, yet he refused to let impatience ruin the moment.
Triumph surged through him when she took a deep breath and slowly walked toward him. He wanted to smile when her chin lifted defiantly. Each step she took was a testament to her resolve, a silent declaration that she would not be intimidated by him. Even so, he saw the unease in her icy blue eyes. He also sensed her lingering fear, but that didn’t stop her.
His little princess was a brave soul.
He loved that she faced danger with her head held high, and yet he wanted to cast a protective bubble around her so nothing or no one could ever hurt her again. His resolve to wait broke when he felt her growing unease, and he strode forward to meet her halfway before he even realized he had moved.
Not giving her time to protest, he took her hand in his and led her toward the table. He felt her touch like a brand against his skin, but he kept the contact light. Once she was seated, he took the seat adjacent to hers rather than sitting across from her. He couldn’t stand being that far away from her. Hell, he would rather have her sit on his lap so he could personally feed her, but he figured she would protest if he tried that.
He frowned at the food on the table since he didn’t recognize half of what was on the various platters. At least everything smelled appealing. He relaxed a little when he noticed Kami’s smile as she surveyed the offerings. If she was pleased, that was all that mattered.
Before he could serve her, she grabbed a spoon and broke the crust on a large pie. A savory scent was released along with a cloud of steam as she scooped a generous portion onto her plate. He knew from reading her thoughts that chicken pot pie was one of her favorite dishes, although he had no idea how the pixies had known that.
While he was displeased that he had not been able to serve her himself, he noted each of her selections for the future. Heneeded to learn all of her likes and dislikes before he could take over that task for her.
Watching her eat was pure torture, and hearing her moan had his cock thickening within the confines of his pants. To distract himself, he loaded his own plate full of food. It had been so long since he’d last enjoyed a meal, but everything could have tasted like ash for all the attention he paid it.
He was too engrossed in watching Kami relish the food to care about anything else. She was grace in motion, her very presence transforming the simple act of eating into a performance that left him spellbound. Every subtle movement she made drew his attention, and the rest of the world simply faded away.
The way her lips wrapped around the tines of her fork was seductive. A sensual display for his viewing pleasure. Zander had never experienced jealousy before, yet the sight of the fork touching her lips stirred a possessive frustration within him. He imagined destroying all of the cutlery on the table just so he could be the one to feed her.