Page 135 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

A ceramic-tiled kitchen, the stone painted a rustic red, stark against the cool muted tones of Skybell Castle. A high arched window centred in the far wall, casting beams of sunlight onto a large wooden countertop dusted with flour. And there, his chrome hair dazzling, flour dusting his hands and face, was Raiden.

He kneaded the dough fiercely as a giant fireplace behind him crackled, a honey-glazed gammon joint roasting above it. Dozens of little sausages wrapped in raw dough lined the countertop closest to Kora, with platters of steamed vegetables, roasted in goose fat and thyme, resting on an adjacent worktop.

Raiden flipped the dough, seemingly unaware of her presence, before stretching it out. He tossed it up into the air, thinning it as his jaw ground. As the dough descended, his stare met hers and he froze, the slab of dough slapping onto the counter in awkward silence. Flour blew up, coating the hairs along his thick arms.

He continued to stare at her, his eyes slowly widening as the salty, honeyed scents filled the room. Kora rushed to his side, her mind unravelling from what she’d just read, unable to focus on anything else.

“Raiden,” she breathed, still panting from fleeing the library. His stare narrowed, assessing her state, searching for the threat. “I read something . . . the library, I . . . there’s so much more. This is bigger than what we thought.”

Raiden’s stare flickered to his hands in the dough, then back at Kora. She frowned, her mind not processing his silence. “Did you hear me? There’s something else! It mentioned a dark figure, someone determined to destroy the gods, everything that we know. All life. It could be Barron, but I’m not sure.”

Something flashed within Raiden’s eyes but he still did not move. Did not speak.

“Are you listening to me? What are you doing—” Kora halted, her mind catching up with her senses.

Her fingers brushed the worktop, rubbing flour between them. She glanced around the room, realising there were no cooks here. Not even a servant as dirty dishes lay piled up to the side, waiting to be cleaned.

There was only Raiden.

Only. Raiden.

“Was it you, all this time?” she whispered.

Her knees quaked as she gauged the flour outlining Raiden’s muscles, accenting his thick build. He’d removed his jacket, dressed only in a cream shirt with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows, tucked into dark breeches.

He nodded once.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have accepted it, if you’d known it was from me?” He looked away.

Overwhelming emotion hit Kora like a tide. Her hands shook gently as her stomach flipped, her heart threatening to burst from her chest. All this time, he’d been taking care of her. Nurturing her back from the brink of death whilst she’d treated him poorly, ignorant and devouring those meals placed outside her door.

He learnt her favourites. The sweet treats. The tarts. He made them all, for her. Embarrassment flamed her cheeks, remembering all the times she’d wanted to compliment the chef.

“Can you teach me?”

“You want to learn to cook? We need to discuss what you just read.”

“I’ve never cooked for myself. Seems like an important skill. Just ten minutes.” Kora casually shrugged, and Raiden’s stare flickered, not believing her. “Then we can chat.”

Because right now, all she wanted was to be near him. To feel him. To know his strength surrounded her, when the entire world might disappear as quick as snuffing out a candle.

“Come here.” He gestured before him and Kora sucked in a breath as she nestled in the space between his chest and the counter. Raiden’s thick arms encased her either side, his warmth causing her core to mirror it as his hands took hers. “You need to be rough with it.” Raiden’s voice caught as he motioned her hands into the dough, kneading it, his fingers entwining with Kora’s. “Show it who’s boss.”

Kora released a small laugh, her back brushing his chest. Every knead, his fingers threaded tighter, squeezing her with every push upwards. Her hips rocked back in time, and Raiden’s heartbeat in her ear was thunderous. Her hands stilled as she glanced up at Raiden. His stubble was heavy, and his eyes—sweet Calypso, his eyes—took her breath away every time. For once she didn’t just see the dazzling aura they displayed, but the male beneath.

The male who’d watched the Huntress’ back.

“Fuck it.” Kora twisted, wrapping around his towering form as her lips collided onto his. Raiden jerked, his arms raising into the air as Kora pulled back, her cheeks heating. “I’m sorry. I—”

He pounced. Raiden crashed into her, his hands gripping her behind and lifting her onto the thick wooden countertop. Particles of flour blew into the air, coating their hair as one hand went to the small of her back, the other fisting in her hair as his lips melded to Kora’s, crushing her to him.

Her body burned bright, the void cracking open between them. The bond flared to life, and Kora moaned as she felt Raiden everywhere. His strong hands on her body, his lips against hers, followed by his tongue. He tasted divine, every stroke, every caress sending her into a deeper spiral of desire. His scent wrapped around her, her mind flying free on the wind he supported her with.

Kora’s hands swept over his shoulders, following his arms and back to his chest. Raiden’s skin pimpled, and he growled as she locked her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. Enough to feel him harden between her thighs. She ached deliciously, heat collecting in her core that was more than a simmer. It was a fucking inferno.

“Rai,” she voiced, and Raiden’s hips bucked, his eyes sparking as his power slammed the kitchen door shut. She had no idea where Aerion and Aryn were, but she hoped to the fucking gods they wouldn’t walk through that door.