Page 9

CHAPTER 9

KAIDEN

Mira freezes in place and stares at me with wide eyes. But that surprise soon morphs into a blend of accusation and disappointment that rips out my insides. I know she witnessed today’s execution. Well, she might’ve turned around before the human male caught fire, but she was close enough to hear his screams. Close enough to smell his flesh burning.

Surely she must believe I’m a fiend, and perhaps I am. I didn’t feel pity for the human criminal. He’d killed two humans while attempting to harm my people, and he deserved to suffer a painful, fiery death.

Suddenly, Mira’s eyes fill with tears, and she blinks rapidly. Gods, the sight of her anguish breaks my soul. For a moment, I consider glamouring her to erase her memories of today, but I quickly dismiss the idea because it would be nothing more than a dirty trick, a tactic to improve her opinion of me. Stealing my fated mate’s memories is a line I’m not willing to cross. Even if it means she’ll never want me.

“Death by fire,” she whispers in a shaky tone.

“Death by fire,” I repeat while holding her gaze unblinkingly. “King John, too. It seemed fitting to hand him over to the former subjects he was supposed to protect.” I won’t apologize. Whether I like it or not, I’m the fucking warden and I must perform my job to the best of my abilities. Even if it means sentencing a criminal to a brutal death and standing on a balcony while I dispassionately watch the man burn, then handing over a fallen king to a bloodthirsty crowd.

Some of the wariness leaves her visage, and she suddenly appears thoughtful. Curious. “I’ve insulted you, more than once,” she says, “and you also caught me leaving the city walls. Technically, that makes me a criminal too. Why haven’t you arrested me? Why am I still alive?”

Why, indeed? I struggle for an answer. During my nine hundred plus years, I’ve killed humans, orcs, and even faefolk for less. Particularly in my days as a hotheaded youth. But the prospect of harming a hair on Mira’s head fills me with rage and agony. Sure as the sun will rise tomorrow morning, I would gut any soul who dared to hurt her. I would savage any individual who looked at her the wrong way.

“Well?” She crosses her arms over her chest and gives me a pointed look. Her eyes flare with challenge, making my cock go instantly hard.

Gods help me, but I love her defiance. Her bravery. Bathed in the waning firelight, she stands above me like a conquering empress, her long wavy hair loose around her shoulders. So fucking beautiful.

Finally, I rise to my feet. Against my better judgment, I close the distance between us and gently cup her face. “I would never hurt you, little nymph. Never.”

Her eyes glimmer with unshed tears and she blinks rapidly. She swallows hard and then draws in a shaky breath. I lean down and rest my forehead directly against hers, savoring the proximity of her. I love having her close, love touching her. When she’s with me, I know she’s safe. When I’m away from her, I nearly go mad from wondering what she’s doing and whether she’s in harm’s way.

“If I committed murder or blew up one of the castle outbuildings, would you order my death, Warden? Would you sentence me to burn?” Though her words are taunting, she utters them in a soft, calm voice, and her warm breath wafts against my face. I relish the intimacy of the moment.

I straighten and instantly become captivated by her lovely green eyes. I imagine she’s peering to the depths of my soul. I also imagine she’ll look away once she sees me for who I am. Yet her gaze doesn’t falter. Still cupping her face, I trail my thumbs over the softness of her cheeks. To my great pleasure, a quick, barely audible sigh of pleasure escapes her throat.

“No, Mira. I would not arrest you, nor would I condemn you to death. Not even if you burned the whole fucking kingdom down.” I place my lips at her ear. “If ever I must punish you for some transgression, little nymph, I will do so in private.”

A shiver rushes through her, and a second later, I detect the sweet pungency of her arousal in the air. Fucking gods, yes.

My shaft swells larger and harder in my pants, sensation zips up my thighs, and my scrotum draws up tight. Raw desire clutches me. But it’s more than carnal need. My heart also beats just for her, and my soul hums to be in her presence.

I try but fail to remember all the reasons I’ve used to resist claiming her. Before I realize what I’m doing, my lips are grazing her forehead. I place soft, leisurely kisses all over her face, until my mouth finally comes to rest at hers. She parts her lips, emits the tiniest whimper, and it’s the only invitation I need.

I kiss her soundly while clutching her face, basking in the taste and smell and feel of her. I press my hard appendage to her stomach and deepen the kiss as my magic creates a warm summer breeze in the room, ruffling both her hair and mine. Insects chirp and buzz, and frogs play their familiar trilling song. For a brief time, it’s as though we’re standing in a Linnshire forest, two lovers swept up in our need for one another.

And gods, how I need her.

I need her like I need air to breath, and like I need ussha to power my magic. The kiss becomes more frantic as she responds to my tongue invading her mouth. She moans, wraps her arms around my waist, and gyrates her body against mine. Dizziness grips me as my length throbs harder.

At last, we break apart, though we remain close, touching one another as we pant breathlessly. Our eyes meet and my resolve to keep distance between us and ignore the pull of our mating bond weakens.

How can I resist sweet, brave, resilient Mira?

I’m about to kiss her again, when suddenly she pushes at my chest and escapes my hold. Her eyes grow wide, and she looks stricken. She gives her head a brief shake and glances around the room, as though just coming out of a trance.

“You’re the enemy,” she whispers, backing up a few more steps. “You’re the Warden of Trevos. You’re the reason my neighbors cross the street when they see me coming. You’re…” Her voice trails off and she peers at the door. “You must leave. Remember, we mustn’t spend time together. We already agreed on it.” Her voice wavers and she appears pained, as though she doesn’t agree with her own words. Not entirely. Perhaps it’s that she feels pulled in two different directions, just as I do.

Fucking gods. The weight of my responsibilities comes crashing down, and it’s like a rush of cold water. Linnshire. The greshhlins. The regular faefolk who need my protection. My father. I curse inwardly.

“We shouldn’t have kissed.” Mira lifts her chin. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

“I saw you on the edge of the crowd, little nymph. I felt compelled to come make sure you’d returned home safely, and that you were all right.” I’d watched her turn and flee the public square near the castle just as the torches were tossed on the burning platform. I’d watched her rush away and hated that I wasn’t able to leave the balcony and follow her. I’d hated that my duties as warden kept me at the castle until Mr. Marlow’s body was burned to a crisp, as well as King John’s, the fire cooling to embers and the crowd finally departing.

“How many of my people did you kill?” she blurts. “During the battle. How many Trevos soldiers did you kill during the battle?”

I know why she’s asking, and my ire rises at the realization. She wants a tangible reason to dislike me and perhaps even fear me. But maybe it’s for the best. I remind myself that no good could come from our mating union. Linnshire might one day fall to the greshhlins, and I would fail my people. I imagine the look of horror I would glimpse on my father’s face if he saw me fly into Linnshire with a human mate.

A growl builds in my throat, and I fix my sternest glare on Mira. “Over two hundred,” I answer in a boastful tone. “I slaughtered over two hundred Trevos soldiers during the battle, more than any other fae present that day. It’s one of the reasons I was chosen to become the warden of your pitiful city. Because Prince Lucas knows how lethal I can be, and he trusts I’ll keep the citizens of Trevos in line no matter the cost. No matter how many more humans must die. He knows I’m ready to squash any rebellions that might arise with deadly force.”

Her eyes flash. “Get out.” She gestures toward the door. “Get the fuck out of my house and don’t return. Leave me alone.”

Though I can still feel the tether between us, there’s a definite, sudden chill in the room, the summer warmth created by our kiss completely faded. It’s also like the crackling fire in the hearth is emitting no heat whatsoever. Reason returns in its full force, and I firm my earlier resolve to stay away from Mira.

“Very well.” My tone is bitter. I can’t help it. Though I know it’s for the best, and though I intentionally baited her into loathing me with my little speech about killing over two hundred human soldiers, her rejection stings. “I’ll see myself out. Goodbye, Mira.” I depart in a flash of light and reappear on the street outside her home.

I summon my wings, but before I bolt into the sky, I can’t help but glance through her window. She’s still standing in the center of the living room, and I know she’s watching me. Despite our argument, the prospect of leaving her is painful. My chest tightens and burns to the point that breathing becomes difficult.

It's like there’s an invisible rope around my waist, and I’m being furiously yanked in her direction. The outside world also feels crushing, as though I’m not supposed to be out here in the street. For fuck’s sake, how am I supposed to quell my obsession with this human female?

Yes, obsession. Day and night, she’s all I think about.

She moves out of sight, and the burning in my chest becomes more intense. I release an angry growl and finally take off, but the frigid night winds do nothing to vanquish my desires or dull the intense need to keep her safe. My wings beat furiously as I climb higher in the sky, past the cloud cover until the moon and stars appear in all their splendor.

How I wish I were sharing this view with Mira. That’s my first thought as I behold the glorious night sky. I glance below, noting that the city is barely visible through the clouds. I don’t like it. I don’t like that I can’t see Mira’s house. I don’t like that I’m not standing in her living room anymore while holding her close and kissing her.

Does she miss me too?

Though I loathe the idea of her experiencing any discomfort, I find myself hoping she’s in as much agony as me. I hope she aches and longs for me. I hope she’s struggling to breath as she recovers from my abrupt departure. I shouldn’t want her, and yet I crave her beyond all reason, and I would die a happy male knowing she’s yearned for me with the same ferocity, even for the briefest moment in time.

I remain in the sky treading air until ice starts to weigh my wings down. Then I return to my quarters in the castle. Alone as ever and furious with the gods and whatever or whoever else guides the hands of fate.