The Steele Wolf (Iron Butterfly #2)(71)

“Kael, are you all right?” Kael’s dark hair was wet from the mists and his knuckles and hands were bleeding. His shirt and vest were ripped and numerous knives were missing from his belt. Kael had yet to open his eyes. Slowly Kael’s stormy eyes opened and it was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.

“Am I dead?” he asked, looking at me in confusion. “Are we dead?” He dropped his head back down into the grass and groaned. “We are. Stubborn girl. Why didn’t you let go of me? Why did you have to die too?” Kael turned away from me and looked as if he were in pain.

“Kael, you’re not dead. We’re not dead. Joss saved you.”

“Yeah, right. Why would that young puppy want to save me?” He groaned as he tried to move again. But I placed my hand over his mouth to stop him from talking.

“Just take pleasure in the fact that you’re alive. It doesn’t matter in the least how.” I smiled at him.

Kael studied me and I could see fire burning in his eyes. Before I could ask him if he was all right, he grabbed my hand covering his mouth. He reached up with the other to grasp my neck and did something completely unexpected. He pulled me towards him and kissed me. It wasn’t a peck on the lips either, but a real full-fledged, spine-tingling kiss. I was shocked. At first I resisted until I felt the need and the desperation he was pouring into the kiss and then I gave in.

My heart fluttered and pounded loudly, my blood rushed and I felt an almost electric current rush through the kiss. It was intoxicating. Here, Kael was telling me how he felt and not hiding it behind puzzles and stoic faces.

When I finally came to my senses I pulled away from the kiss. Kael’s eyes were filled with passion.

A cough alerted me to the presence of an audience and I scooted back to see an angry Joss, blonde hair blowing, standing over us with the rest of the search team.

My cheeks burned red in embarrassment and Joss just glared at Kael, who slowly, painfully stood up and glared right back in challenge.

“I save your life and this is the thanks I get,” Joss growled and pushed Kael in the chest hard.

Kael just grinned. “No, this is the thanks she gets for saving me. I didn’t know that you were feeling left out,” Kael goaded Joss, looking for a fight.

“You know that we are intended. How could you do this?” Joss stepped forward towards me and Kael gripped my elbow, pulling me behind him possessively.

“No, I know that you were pretending. Remember? I never heard you actually ask for her, just demanded, more like it.” Kael stepped forward towards Joss threateningly.

“Stop it, both of you,” I yelled. Joss and Kael both looked at me and I saw the hurt in Joss’ eyes and the possessiveness in Kael’s, which confused me. “This is not the time or the place.”

When I couldn’t think of anything else to say, I turned my back and walked away. I didn’t want to have this conversation in front of an audience. The rest of the search party had landed and drew the attention of the villagers of Skydown. People were popping up all around us to stare and gawk.

I knew that was coming, Faraway spoke, his soft laughter tickled my senses as he sent a picture of Kael and I kissing back at me.

Oh, no you didn’t. I mentally argued back.

It’s inevitable.

It’s inexcusable.

It’s entertaining?

It’s what? I choked.

Faraway snorted. This isn’t over between them and will make for a very entertaining trip back to Haven.

Wait, how do you know we are going to Haven?

Where else are you going to take the girl?

I had almost, forgotten that Faraway listens in on the thoughts of other Denai if they don’t properly shield. I have a very nosey horse.

You’re right. Since Talbot got away that is our best bet in getting answers about where Tenya is. Adept Lorna can read her mind for lies and they will know what to do with her.

Suddenly I felt old, tired and sore since I had fallen quite awkwardly from the dorabill to the ground. But we were still a few miles away from the cliffs and the path up to the skycage lift. And for once, I really didn’t feel like walking. But I also didn’t feel like flying on the dorabill again.

Slowing my pace, I tried to listen in on the heated argument between Kael and Joss.

“So you fell and let him get away?” Joss snorted.

“I did not fall. I followed him and saw him harnessing himself into a skite and then jump off the northern launch point. I grabbed a skite that was outside someone’s home and attempted to go after him.”

“I figured as much when we spoke with Bartus and he said he was missing a broken skite. I thought you must have stolen it,” Joss spoke, putting emphasis on the word stolen.

“Borrowed,” Kael interrupted. “But now I owe that family a new one because I crashed it into the side of the cliff. I could tell something was wrong with it as soon as I jumped but I saw Raven disappearing into the mists and I had to go after him. It wasn’t until I tried to steer that I realized my mistake.”

“Ha! The SwordBrother just admitted to making a mistake. Write this down, no one will ever believe me,” Joss chuckled and jokingly punched one of the men next him. Kael just held his tongue.

A curious listener, one that turned out to be the other man that was the skycage operator asked. “You’re a SwordBrother? How did you survive and not fall to your death?” He was obviously in awe of the SwordBrother, despite Joss’ ribbing.