The Bound (Ascension #2)(62)

“You’re coming with me.”

“What?” she whispered. Her eyes grew wide, and she had the strange sense of déjà vu.

“If I have to tie you to my horse and ride with you the entire way back to Byern, you’re leaving with me. Now.”

“Kael,” she breathed. Her voice was a mere whisper, carried away by the breeze.

She felt herself succumbing. Not just succumbing…she wanted to go with him. She shouldn’t have left in the first place. Kael knew what was right for her, and Byern could protect her and shelter her from harm. Nowhere else in the world was like Byern. It was her home.

“Come with me,” he said.

His lips were so close. Just a breath away. She could lean into that embrace and forget the world. Nothing else existed. Just her and him in that moment. All she wanted was Kael Dremylon.

“Yes,” she purred. “Yes, of course.”

She was desperate to clear the space between them. To feel his lips pressed against hers. Her mind could process nothing else in the world. She moved toward him and felt his sword bite into her neck.

She cried out, and before he could stop her, she stumbled backward a few steps. Her head cleared suddenly, as if she were coming out of a dense fog. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

Kael rushed toward her to regain his advantage, but Dean was there. He moved with a Leif-like grace, putting his sword between Cyrene and Kael.

“Give me a reason to kill you, pretty boy,” Dean growled. His voice was low and guttural.

He would do it. Cyrene could see it on his face. He would kill Kael in an instant if he made the wrong move.

Kael looked into his face and laughed. “The Prince of Eleysia, Cyrene? Do you bewitch men everywhere you go?”

Her response didn’t come. She just stared at Kael in disbelief.

What just happened? She had been yelling at him, and then as soon as he had touched her, she had lost all sense. She had been eager to give in to him and return to Byern. Forget her quest, and be with Kael. Creator, I tried to kiss him!

She couldn’t connect the dots. How did that happen?

“Cyrene, it’s time to go,” Dean said.

“What the hell did you just do?” Everything was coming into focus. “What did you just do?” she screamed.

Kael smiled slowly. It wasn’t the charming smile she was used to from Kael. It was something worse. Something more sinister. Dark and foreboding, like a black shadow sweeping over his elegant features. “You’re not the only one with secrets.”

Her head whirled. She didn’t know what that meant.

Kael turned his attention back to Dean. “Well?”

“Cyrene, go now.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” Kael said.

And then he started pacing his steps. They were fluid and crisp. The steps of a practiced swordsman. Cyrene had never seen him fight before, but she almost didn’t need to know how good he was. She remembered the way he danced. Light-footed, sure-footed. Competent and controlled. If he put half as much emphasis on swordplay as he did on everything else in his pampered life, then he was going to be good…great.

But Dean had just killed a Braj. That had to count for something.

She worried what it would mean if Dean and Kael were an even match…and even worse, if they weren’t. For as much as she didn’t want to return to Byern, she couldn’t bring herself to want to see Kael injured either.

“You think you can fight me?” Dean asked.

He sounded so sure of himself. She hoped that pride had been earned.

“No. I don’t think I can,” Kael said. “I know I can. Fight you and win.”

Dean laughed, but he was watching as Kael shifted and brought his sword down toward him. Dean blocked the touch, and steel clanged together. He ground his teeth as they fought against the weight of the blades. Kael barely looked like he was exerting any effort. In fact, he looked like he was having fun.

Cyrene felt a hand on her shoulder and nearly jumped out of her skin.

“It’s just me,” Avoca whispered. “I left everyone else on the ship. We’re ready to sail. You should come with us.”

“I can’t until we have Dean.”

“Should we interfere?”

Cyrene had no idea. She wanted to stop this nonsense. The last thing they needed was bloodshed between the ruling nations. But this fight meant something. Her friends and Dean’s companions could overpower Kael, but this moment seemed necessary.

“Leave them,” she whispered.

“You believe this fight to be honorable?” Avoca asked.

“I believe it’s our way out.”

Avoca sighed heavily but didn’t say anything else.

Then, the guys moved. Quick footsteps, slicing movements, easy twists and turns. They were both practiced, seasoned fighters. Neither had the advantage, and each was straining to push back and overtake the other.

Kael spun to the right, crossing his sword and striking out at Dean. He missed by a hairbreadth. Dean dropped and rolled away from Kael. They rushed back together, and Dean pushed him backward. Closer and closer to the edge of the dock. The swords clashed off of each other. It looked like Dean was gaining the upper hand. He just needed to finish this.

Damn Kael for doing this! She just wanted to leave. It shouldn’t be this hard. She shouldn’t have to be this connected to him.