A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones, #1)(44)

I waded through the pond, stretching my limbs and avoiding rocks and skinny, orange fish.

“You have plenty of fun I’m sure, but it’s been a little while for me. Not so lovely back home in a town reduced to the used handkerchief of war. Or, trapped in a cell in a foreign kingdom without your loved ones…”

I hadn’t meant to sound so bitter, but once the truth gates were opened it was hard to pull them shut.

Kane studied me with wary interest and something like pity settled on his face.

“I can only imagine what you think of the choices that I’ve made.” He swam closer to me, intensity brewing in his silver eyes. “Actually, I don’t need to imagine—you’ve told me, haven’t you?” I swallowed hard and waded away from him. “Just know… they are not made without understanding the sacrifice. The loss, as I told you in the throne room. I don’t have as much fun as you think.”

It must have been the cool water breaking gooseflesh out across my limbs. I forced my gaze away from his, the sincerity there too raw. Too intimate.

“What did you do for fun when you were younger, then?” I missed how I felt mere minutes ago. How light and airy our conversation had been.

“I liked to play the lute. My mother taught me. It was something we did together.” It seemed like a happy memory, but when I lifted my eyes to him, he had gone still, and his expression was almost distraught.

So much for light and airy.

“Was that your hard-won question?” he asked, brow quirked. “Seems a bit of a waste for the insatiable curiosity I’ve come to expect from you.”

Kane waded closer to me, his broad chest rippling with each movement, hair dripping gleaming beads of water onto his face. He pushed it back as he looked down at me.

“No, I—”

I couldn’t be so close to him. He was too beautiful and magnetic and threatening. But he stalked toward me, the pond rippling around the defined vee at the base of his hips. I scrambled backward, feet slipping over the mossy bottom of the pond until my back pressed against the stone behind me. The waterfall from the rocks above trickled down my back like rain. Kane placed his hands on either side of my head and leaned forward so that the water sprinkled along his hands and forearms, sparkling droplets like falling stars twinkling around us.

His eyes were all pupil as they flared at me. That earlier sincerity and sorrow were replaced by a singular, burning attention that landed on my mouth. I was sure he could see my thrumming heartbeat pulse along my neck. I was near trembling. From fear, but also—

Finding my footing, I stood up, to gain some ground, to steady myself—

But the pond was shallower by the rocks. I felt my milky white chemise go flush against my breasts, soaked and clinging to my body. I covered my pointed nipples with crossed arms, peering up at Kane. His jaw was tight, but he had already averted his slate-gray eyes and was gazing at the falls above us.

“Don’t worry, bird. I’m not looking.”

Once again, where I expected insult, teasing, cruelty, instead I found consideration. Even kindness—

The words spilled out of my mouth before I could catch them.

“Set me free,” I breathed.

“What?” he said, his eyes pinning mine.

I felt my face flush red. But I had already said it.

“Please,” I begged. “I don’t belong here. You barely need me. Let me go back to my family.”

Kane’s jaw had gone rigid, his slate eyes simmering. He pushed himself off the rocks and moved away from me.

“I can’t do that,” he bit out.

“Why not?” I waded after him. I had never felt so small. So vulnerable. Not since I was a little girl.

But I was not above begging for my life. He had shown me kindness today. Maybe there was a part of him that had empathy—that might be swayed.

“Please,” I asked again.

He opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it, and shut it once again.

Tears began to prickle at my eyes.

Now that the adrenaline from the run, my plea, and… other things, was subsiding, I noticed the sun skulking behind the trees, and felt my limbs ripple with goosebumps in the cold water.

“Let’s get back,” he finally said, eyes on my shivering shoulders. “You can ask me your question on our way home.”





TWELVE


The ride back was a thousand times worse than the ride into the woods. After lending me his shirt to wring out my wet hair, Kane and I dressed quickly and made our way through the woods, less clothed than we had been before.

He was such a miserable prick. Playful and charming and surprisingly caring when he chose to be, but as selfish as they came. I kicked myself internally for wasting a plea for my freedom on him.

To make matters infinitely worse, I couldn’t take my mind off the bastard’s slick chest as it stuck to my back, my dress pooled around my middle so my chemise could dry. His hands held the reins in front of me innocently enough, but watching him grasp the leather straps was so sensual it made my toes curl. I was acutely aware of his controlled breathing on the back of my neck and swore I could feel his heart hammering against my shoulder blade. The way our legs were spread in tandem over the sides of the saddle felt disturbingly erotic and I kept having to pull my wandering mind back from downright filthy places.