Series: Lords of Rathe Series by Meagan Brandy
Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“The room beside mine. It was the redhead’s,” I trail off.
Knight’s eyes narrow on me, but I don’t cower and look away.
She’s gone and from the gossip in the breakfast hall this morning, she would only be gone if she were killed or dismissed, and the girls swore they didn’t off her. It was kind of weird how they all looked at me as if I were the one who did it, but all I could do was laugh at their accusing glances.
Why the fuck would I kill any of these girls? They’re the only chance I have at freedom. He has to pick one and the sooner the better. I’ve got a college class to tank and a best friend to get tanked with waiting on me.
“Yes,” Knight finally says. “She is gone.” He watches me closely, as if searching for something he can’t quite see.
So, he did get rid of her.
“As of fifteen minutes ago, so is the Fae,” he offers, those eyes penetrating and swimming with more than I dare to name.
I don’t know which girl he’s talking about. I have no clue who is what around here, but I don’t care enough to ask him which two girls remain at the moment because now I’m even more confused.
He was so pissed at me the other night, yet I’m still here. What could she have done that was worse than sneaking out of this fortress with another guy when you’re supposed to be fighting for the King’s hand, let alone the crown? Not fucking much that my brain can come up with. Granted that doesn’t mean much being this is the most time I’ve spent around the Gifted in over a decade.
“So then why am I still here? If you can decide when you’re sure of someone, why not send me home?”
“You are home, London,” he says deceptively but calmly. There’s a glint of fire in his eyes.
I shake my head but say nothing and he doesn't like that.
“Come on.” He shoots to his feet so fast I jolt.
When he holds his hand out, I hesitate, but then those deep blue eyes fall to mine. They peer deeper, seeking the secrets of my soul and while I want to wither away, I can’t. Something inside me stirs, a sudden burst low in my belly and I clench my abs to hide it.
His gaze lowers, and I realize my lips have parted. Those eyes slice up to mine and he tips his chin the slightest bit.
I don’t intend to move, but my body has other plans. My palm finds its way to his.
An electric shock shoots down my arm as our skin connects and I gasp when he yanks me from the chair so hard my chest slams into his.
He's so fucking tall, so much, my knees begin to shake. His free arm comes around me, pressing me closer and his fingers find the underside of my chin. He lifts, forcing my eyes to stay on his.
“Close your eyes, baby,” he whispers.
Baby.
My eyes close and just as they do a flash of pale skin and muscle assaults my mind.
Teeth and a sharp sense of pain-infused pleasure.
Rough hands and angry words.
Slow movement and tender whispers...
“Baby...” he whispers.
My eyes fly open again, my heart pounding in my chest. As I stare up at him, confusion creates panic in my mind, but my thoughts die on my lips when I look around.
“Holy shit...”
An obsidian-colored waterfall flows from over a tall cliff filled with bright pink and lime green flowers that twist up to meet the top. The trees reach over with thick claws, offering a taste of magic that hides behind the barrier. Whatever this place is, it’s beautiful, if not pure. A figure of his imagination, maybe?
My feet come to a stop and just as they do, Knight’s arms come around me from behind. He hugs me to him, and I stop breathing.
The future King of Rathe is holding me as if I’m a flower he’s afraid to break. His touch is gentle and soft and almost ... hesitant. Like he’s not sure he should.
Like he’s not sure he wants to.
Maybe this is how it goes? He has to test out the feel of his Queen in his arms and see if he can stand the touch of her.
I should burp or something disgusting, try and turn him off as much as possible, but my body doesn’t seem to catch on to my mind’s sense of survival because with the next breath, I lean back into him.
At the same time, we both let out a long, slow breath, as if we’d been holding it.
A calm I’ve never felt settles over me, but at the same time, something pokes at me from the inside. It knocks at a door I can’t see, and I desperately search for the handle so I can open the door to reveal what's on the other side.