Page 16

Chapter ten

I startled awake the next morning when a loud thud caused me to get up in nothing but my most comfortable tunic and shorts—bronze dagger in hand.

My eyes took a moment to adjust to the light that poured into my bedroom when I opened the door, but eventually, they landed on Nickolai at the counter, still topless.

“What are you doing?” Sleep still filled my voice, making it sound deeper than normal.

He turned around, the muscles of his abdomen contorting.

Gods help me.

“Shit, did I wake you? I’m making breakfast,” he answered sheepishly with a point at the bowl of rising bread.

His chest was bare, the honey cleaned off, and although it still looked red and in the process of healing, it had improved exponentially.

I walked up to him, touching around what were large gashes only yesterday on his pectoral muscles that were directly above my eye level.

“Wow, it looks so much better,” I uttered in reverence, still touching his chest. My eyes met his, and the realization that I was practically fondling him caused me to retreat. “Sorry,” I murmured.

“No need to apologize—after saving me, you can touch me whenever you want,” he winked.

I rolled my eyes at him, trying and failing to fight the never-ending blush. “How are you feeling?”

“Still sore, but much improved. . . And truly, thank you for saving me,” he said it again, this time genuine and with a heartfelt smile. I smiled back and held his stare for a few moments.

Clearing my throat, I broke first, turning my gaze to the bowl only to find chunks of white squares in the dough.

“It’s cinnamon and apple. My mother taught me how to make it when I was a boy,” he clarified.

I sniffed, and the crisp, sweet scent of the apple and spice wafted through me. “Smells delicious.”

“It should be ready to start cooking soon. But in the meantime, there are still some apple slices,” he added, pointing to the cut-up pieces on the counter.

“Where did you get all this stuff?” I asked, plucking one of the slices off the counter and popping it into my mouth as I sat at the table. I’d yet to go shopping at the market, but even if I had, there was no way I could afford fresh fruit this time of year.

He joined me, his movements so fluid and casual, “I went into the city to get a new tunic.” The thought of him walking through the city shirtless, most likely causing an uproar among the women, had my mouth twitching into a smirk.

Looking at his still bare torso, I lifted a brow and ate another apple slice.

He chuckled before looking down at the large marks that were slowly scarring at the edges. Perhaps if it had been shallow enough it would've healed on its own and he might not have been left with scars. Lifting his hand, he lightly grazed his fingertips around them. “It's still sensitive.”

Thoughts of how I’d just touched around the forming scars, unaware of how it would feel, sent a wave of guilt rushing through me. “Oh, I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“I’m not,” he said bluntly, desire filling his glistening emerald eyes. A wave of need washed over me in response.

“Right. . .” I dropped my gaze to the table, needing a break from the spell that damned look put on me.

“Well, I’d better go check the perimeter.

Hopefully, the bread will be done when I get back,” I announced, pasting a polite smile on my face.

This was dangerous territory—a whole new undiscovered area that had my pulse rushing to multiple spots.

Standing to go get dressed, I was stopped as he threw his hand in front of me. He too stood, his head almost hitting the ceiling. I felt so small compared to him.

“Have I made you uncomfortable?” he asked, looking down at me with worry.

I wanted to lie, to say that he did, so I could have the space I needed to think clearly, but something else inside me had me whispering, “No.”

Nickolai stepped closer, allowing his fingers to glide across my neck as he pushed back my hair. The smell of leather with a hint of pine overwhelmed me. “Do you feel it too?”

I couldn’t speak, afraid to lose my little amount of self-control at any moment. Instead, I nodded, stomach twisting at the uncertainty of what would happen now that I’d admitted it.

Heat filled his gaze once again as he slid his fingers under my chin, lifting slightly.

“You’re the tiny angel that saved me, and yet ever since I met you.

. .” I waited for him to finish, my heart sitting in my throat.

“I find myself feeling like I can no longer live unless you are near. It’s rather infuriating.

” My breath hitched and his gaze followed the sound to my lips.

Leaning in, he brought his mouth closer to mine.

Each millimeter of space between us being eaten up by his presence.

I dropped my head at the last second, reaching out my fingers to his abdomen in an effort to stop him. Nickolai froze his movement. Embarrassment filled every cell as I spoke the words that made me sound so na?ve. “I, uh, I have never been kissed before.”

The smirk that crossed his face filled my vision as he lifted my chin once more, “Mira, may I be your first kiss?”

The last of my resolve flew out the window at the question that unknowingly meant so much to me. “Yes,” my voice was breathless with excitement.

As soon as the word escaped me, his lips met mine, hands traveling to the back of my neck and my waist. His mouth was soft, gently caressing me until the kiss turned deeper, more hungry.

I didn’t know what to do with my hands, but soon the need to have him closer took over and guided them to the back of his neck, pulling him toward me.

The feelings that each breath and touch brought were woefully new, and I was loving every minute of it.

My fingers wove into his hair while his hands slipped down to my ass, lifting me to his level. Gods, was this really happening? My legs found their way around his waist as he pressed me between the wall and his warm body.

An unintentional moan escaped me at the hard feeling against the apex of my thighs, and he took that moment to part my lips with his tongue.

This was so much more than just a kiss. But every second of it felt perfect—felt too good to stop.

We became so eager to explore each other's mouths that we didn’t realize what all was around us until the loud clatter of a picture fell off the wall, startling us both.

I looked at the picture before turning back to him, breaking into a laugh.

Nickolai followed, the sound deep and playful, rumbling through him.

We eventually collected ourselves, resting our foreheads together as we took panting breaths.

“How was that, Tiny?”

“Is it always like that?” I muttered.

He chuckled, shaking his head against mine, “No.”

Any thoughts I had of continuing the kiss were interrupted by a thunderous sound in my stomach that Nickolai undoubtedly heard. Which he confirmed by giving me one more quick peck on the corner of my mouth before setting me down to place the bread in a pot over the fire.

“The bread will take a few—so I can join you, if you like,” he said, wiping the soot from his hands and onto his pants.

I couldn’t control the smile that spread as I nodded shyly. This man tumbled into my life and electrified it in such a short time, making me act like a giddy teen. But the feelings he spurred in me had me unable to think too long about the fact that this wasn’t normal.

Gods, help me, because I was already completely enthralled with him.

—

Loughlan took my bag, hanging it over his shoulder next to his own, and led the way out to the stables.

Several horses were readied next to a couple of unknown fae and Nessy, who adjusted the saddle on her white stallion. The brown mark on his head, paired with the armor that covered most of his body, made the horse look angry, if that was such a thing.

As we neared, Nessy turned, greeting us with a smile. “Hey, Mira,” she pointed at the two fae already mounted upon the wagon with a large cage and supplies pulled by two horses,“These are my lieutenants Calin and Rita. They are going to be joining us.”

They nodded curt greetings. Both of them had short hair, but it was Rita who had her ends dyed blue.

Other than the length of their hair, their similarities were few and far between.

Even sitting, I could tell that Calin was tall, not the tallest fae I’d seen, but he would most likely still make me look like a child standing next to him.

Rita was more like Nessy, with a buff build and an aura of someone who was not to be messed with.

Something that seemed pretty common around here.

Nessy looked behind me, “And now that everyone is here, we can head out in just a few minutes.”

I turned to find Nickolai stalking toward us in silver armor with a connecting green cape above leather pants that he should be banned from wearing in public.

If anything to save me from the torture of seeing his toned legs and ass on display.

Thread and leather crossed over his chest from the bow and quiver slung around him—sword swinging at his side.

What the fuck was he doing here? Didn’t he have a kingdom to run?

Nickolai’s eyes scanned over me, taking in everything from the armor that accentuated my chest to the new dagger along my leg. At the sight of the blade, his eyes shot to mine, surprise crossing over them for a split second.

“It’s about time you got here, you take longer to get ready than I do!” Nessy exclaimed.

Nickolai’s gaze shifted to her before he flipped a finger in her direction. Someone clearly wasn’t a morning person. He moved toward Loughlan, who placed my bag in the open palm Nickolai stuck out.