Page 49 of Princess of Bael

Then I headed toward my own destiny, wondering if Kayla and I could alter our own ending and perhaps find a new way to coexist without hating each other.

A wishful thought.

One I doubted could be achieved.

But it was a challenge worth fighting for, so I’d give it my all, just like I did with everything else.

And we’d see where we landed.

Either in a pool of each other’s blood. Or in a bed littered with feathers.

Maybe both,I mused as I entered the room and found her in the same place as before.Your choice, little heiress. What’ll it be?

Kay

I sensedEzra’s approach before he entered, his energy seeming to precede his arrival. Just like when he’d landed on the window and observed me from above. I hadn’t reacted to him, too lost in my notes to allow him to distract me, but I’d felt his eyes on me.

Just as I felt his gaze on me again now.

He didn’t speak, just entered, wandered to a pair of high chairs in the corner, and set his tray on the small round table between them.

“Come eat with me, Kayla,” he beckoned, his tone holding a silky note to it that caused goose bumps to trail down my exposed arms. I’d discarded my jacket a while ago, leaving myself in jeans and a tank top.

Yet somehow I felt naked, like he could see right through me.

I frowned, not appreciating the sensation.

Vulnerable, I realized.I feel… vulnerable.Not necessarily naked in a sexual manner, but unguarded, as though he could penetrate all my natural shields.

It was a result of exhaustion and guilt.

I didn’t appreciate it, but I also recognized that this wasn’t so much Ezra’s fault as it was my own. My decisions had put me here. My actions had driven all of this.

Maybe I deserve to—

“Kayla,” Ezra murmured, interrupting my thoughts. “I will tie you to this chair and force-feed you, if I have to.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“Why do you even care if I eat?” I asked him, utterly astounded by the strange surge of protective energy wafting off of him. “I’ve taken care of myself for thousands of years. Trust me, I can go a few hours without food.”

“It’s been more than a few hours,” he said softly, stalking toward me. “You’re going to eat.”

“Why?” There had to be something he wasn’t telling me, some sort of benefit for him, because that was the only way he would possibly push something like this.

From the conversation with the others earlier, I’d gathered that he was severely weakened by our bond. But I didn’t know how we fixed that. It felt like electricity hummed through us each time we touched. Was he siphoning energy from me like some sort of Incubus? Just without the sex?

I didn’t feel any different.

Perhaps because he hadn’t actually started yet. Which could be why he needed me to eat… so I wouldn’t notice his antics.

I narrowed my gaze. “I’m not hungry.” A true statement. The notion of food made my stomach churn. “So just do whatever you need to do. If I’m hungry afterward, I’ll go raid your kitchen.”

“Do whatever I need to do?” he repeated.

I waved at him. “You know. To replenish or whatever. Use me. Then leave me alone. I’ll figure this out like I always do.”