Page 53

“I think you’re the devil.”

Kiam scoffed. “I’m not nearly as good looking as him.”

“Ya know, that’s the second time someone has mentioned how hot he is.”

“Gotta make up for the lack of flames, I guess. Here,” he said, motioning me to climb in his arms. “It's going to be cold, but it won’t last long. Keep your eyes shut.”

He lifted me and I wrapped myself around him, tucking my face into the crook of his neck. He was nice and warm, and his familiar scent of cloves and cotton wrapped around me.

A cold wind tore at me, roaring in my ears and searching for every gap in my clothing. I dug my face deeper and felt his palm cradle the back of my head. The next thing I knew, I was being gently laid down on my bed in the Fae’s mansion. I had no idea how Kiam got me here.

“How do they not detect you coming in here like this?” I asked, sitting up.

“Camouflage. Spells. Lack of opportunity to see me. They must feel the disturbance.” I’d thought about it vaguely before but hadn’t given it a lot of consideration.

“They want something from you, so they are tolerating it,” he remarked.

Something occurred to me. “How long have I been dead for?”

Kiam cupped my cheek and rubbed his thumb along my skin. “I don’t know. Time doesn’t work the same way here. It can vary between all the Realms. I’ve spent hours attempting to decipher the passage.”

“That’s really strange.”

“Mm. It is. I’ll be back to get you.” He dropped his hand. “We’ll be using the tunnels from now on.”

“Okay.” It made sense that he’d want to, especially with his plan. I could do without the Arctic cold, but as long as he held me close, I’d be fine.

My hair got tangled in the hoodie as I pulled it off and once I set it down, Kiam was gone. Shaking my head, I laid down, nestling in the pillows. He was lucky he hadn’t been caught. There was no doubt in my mind that Adrian and Leander would be vicious.

Behind all their smiles, their stringent etiquette and politeness, and their self-serving kindness, they were malicious.

“Good morning, Miss Ross.”

Flopping over onto my back, I found myself staring into Leander’s silver eyes. He grabbed the edge of the blanket and slowly slid it down, like he was carefully revealing a gift.

“Do you mind?” I snatched the sheet back up.

He leaned over the bed, caging me with one arm while his other hand gripped the comforter. “Not at all.” He kept his voice pleasant.

The blankets and my pillows vanished. Disoriented, my arms flopped onto the mattress, searching for fabric that wasn’t there. He was incredibly annoying.

Leander sat down on the edge of the bed and smoothed his palm along the mattress. I glared at him.

Then, he leaned back and swiveled his head to smile my way, dragging his gaze down the length of my body.

“What have we said about sleeping the day away? You really should make more economical use of your time. I, for one, would love to go home.” He sat up and gently patted my hip. “I’m sure you’d love to as well.”

His face fell as he stood, and he canted his head. “Forgive me, I forgot you are unable.”

Leander held his hand out like I would put my own in his, and I shoved myself off the bed, leaving as much space between us as possible. “I’m up. Are you happy now?” I snapped at him.

Me and Kiam weren’t a thing, but there was no way I would fall for this guy’s antics. He had this sexual energy I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It was insidious and slid under your skin, doing its best to make you drop your guard. He was an interesting combination of masculine mixed with slightly feminine, his features almost too fine, and I had to wonder if that was characteristic for some of the Fae.

There was no way I would ask, though.

Besides, I felt a sense of loyalty towards Kiam, despite the lack of anything concrete being stated, on either of our parts. It was pretty ridiculous to feel anything towards him when he was the whole reason I was dead to begin with. He left me in that trap to rot, and I paid him back by spreading my legs.

What that said about me, I wasn’t sure. My anger toward him had obviously left and been replaced by something much more debilitating.