Page 28 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

Nope.

I shut that thought down fast. I was not adding that complication to this already twisted dynamic.

Just then, a cry came up from the courtyard, followed by a child’s wail.

“Call a healer!” somebody yelled.

“Jaxus!” I said in alarm.

“On it,” he replied instantly and launched.

I screamed as we lifted and then dove over the platform.

My stomach knotted, my head went light, and then everything went black.

“Kiera, open your eyes. Kiera!”

I blinked, the bright sky above me blinding. A shadow moved over me, and I focused on Jaxus’ now fae face.

“Goddess have mercy, you scared me to death.”

“What happened?” I croaked.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “You probably don’t want to know.”

I tried to sit up and my head spun. He didn’t need to tell me I’d passed out. That much I knew. Then I remembered the cry for a healer. “The child?”

“Fine, another healer is here.”

I sighed with relief.

“Are you okay?” He inspected me. “No injuries?”

“Injuries?”

“I had you in a tight grip. I was worried I’d hurt you.”

I decided I needed to sit up so I could let it all sink in. I carefully pushed myself up and was less dizzy this time, though my stomach was still in a knot.

“Tight grip?”

“Yes. You blacked out and slid right off me.”

I covered my mouth with my hand. My stomach churning and churning.

“I caught you immediately. Don’t worry. I was just worried I’d squeezed you too tight.”

That was it. I couldn’t hold it in. I lost my breakfast all over him, crouched before me.

I was mortified.

I watched in horror as it slid down his bare chest, over his stomach, and it was as it slid down—there, I realized he was completely naked.

THIRTEEN

KIERA

“Oh! Please stop! I can’t breathe!” Zaria squealed.