Page 69 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

“No, kitten. You let me handle it.” His nose brushes my cheek, inhaling me once. “They know me as a monster. So let me be one for you.”

Tapping my belly, he continues. “Focus here. Reign in your power. Let it rest. I can handle this.”

As I inhale, the heir turns back to the lord, as he adjusts his pants.

“I should slice your neck and leave you for the creatures in this forest to feast upon,” he murmurs, tilting his head like a predator. “In fact, I still might.”

“Heir Kaden,” the lord pleads. “She isjusta woman. Not anyone for you to worry over.”

“She is a woman youdo not touch,” he seethes, picking him up with his magic. An inky black hand grips the lord’s neck, swinging him into the air, cutting off his words. “She is under my protection now. If you touch her, look at her in anyway that’s less than respectful, I’ll cut out your eyes, rip out your tongue and tie you to a tree for a beast to find you.” He shakes him, face furious. “Understand?”

He drops the man, looking to the rest of the crowd. “That goes for all of you. Stayawayfromher.”

Turning toward me, he notices the pale pink on my fingers, leaning to whisper in my ear. “Is it done?”

I nod, sealing the magic away with one final shove. “Yes.”

“Good girl.”

The fallen lord sits on his knees, coughing, face red. Kaden smiles like a feline, hand at the small of my back. “Apologize.”

The lord’s eyes widen. “Excuse me?”

My mouth parts in shock.What?

“Apologize to the advisor. Or,” he levels the sword at his neck, “die. A simple choice really.”

Freezing, I await the lord’s decision. No one has ever made someone apologize to me. In the Coven, when I was teased and bullied, more often than not, the Witches looked away.

Here, the heir is making sure I’m respected. The barrier between us from the first night, cracks and my heart opens to him again.

Hastings stands, bowing sniffling, mind made-up. “I apologize, advisor, for my words. Please, take whatever you need from our camp.”

Once the words are uttered, Kaden shoves him away in disgust. The Dark Fae guards break up the crowd as I turn to the heir, eyes searching. “Why?”

He kicks the fallen bowls, sneering at them. The lord apologized and the heir still isn’t satisfied. “Because he’s offended someone I very much like,” he explains. “And I don’t take well to people insulting those who Ilike.”

That crack splits wide and I blink away happy tears.

“You need to be more careful.”

The good mood vanishes. “Really?” I drawl, hand on my hip. “I’ve just had a night from hell and now, you want to lecture me?”

Kaden smirks. “I’m not lecturing, but you need to be aware. These men will use anything against you— because you are a woman and now because they associate you with me. That includes your magic.” He casts a dark look among the camp. “Do not eat their food. They’ll try to poison you.”

“Because of you defending me?” My stomach growls again. How will I eat?

“Because I made one of their lords apologize to you.” He looks down at my belly. “I’ll leave food for you. For now, try to rest.We’ll be leaving first thing in the morning on a new trail. Hopefully the army is just off of it.”

Turning on his heels, I huff, spitting out, “I liked you better when you were ignoring me.” At least then I didn’t feel so conflicted.

That smile deepens. “You’re lying. I can smell it.”

By the time I arouse from a deep nap, still sticky with sweat, there is a silver tray just inside my tent, with a bowl of pale red soup, hearty brown bread and glass of red wine.

I should ignore gifts from tricky Dark Fae. I know enough about herbs to detect poisonous ones but it’s the fact he bothered at all, that he took the time to care, that has me sitting on the ground, devouring it all.

Chapter 25