A Kiss of Shadow (Court of Starlight and Darkness #2)(19)

“Are you cold?”

“No. Just— freaked out.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I didn’t point out that something already had happened. He was well aware.

“Do you know who poisoned you?” he asked.

I shook my head, then stopped when pain pierced me. “No. I was stupid and drank wine I didn’t see poured, though. I was distracted by the Queen of the Mountain Fae, and when a man handed me a glass, I drank it.”

“What did he look like?”

“Um, dark-haired. Yellow eyes. Not sure what he was wearing. Something blue, I think.”

“We’ll find him. Do you think the Queen of the Mountain Fae was trying to distract you?”

I thought back. “No. It’s possible, but I doubt it. I’m pretty good at reading people, and she seemed legit. I think he just took advantage of an opportunity.” Another thought occurred. “It might not even have been him. The female bartender poured me a drink, but she could have spiked the bottle. I didn’t see her open it.”

Lore nodded. “We’ll find both of them.”

I was so tired and achy that I was grateful he was taking care of this. I closed my eyes as he raised his wrist to his mouth and spoke into a comms charm. “Dain? Come to my quarters.”

A knock sounded on the door almost immediately.

From beside me, I heard Lore rise. I opened my eyes in time to see him open the door to Dain. The other man tried to see around Lore, but I only caught the briefest glimpse of his concerned face.

“Is she all right?” His low voice echoed with worry.

“She’ll survive. But we need to find who poisoned her.”

“I’m on it. Just tell me what they look like.”

Lore gave him the description, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that two incredibly powerful, handsome men were on my side to protect me.

How had this become my life?

I didn’t think I’d ever stop marveling over it.

When Lore finished giving instructions to Dain, he shut the door and returned to the side of the bed, sitting down. “Dain will find them. In the morning, we’ll question them. Until then, sleep.”

I opened my eyes and looked at him. “Why am I in your sleeping compartment?”

“It’s safest.”

“No safer than my own car. I’m fine on my own.” I wasn’t though—tonight had proved that. I also wasn’t stupid enough to reject his protection.

But a little demon inside me wanted to push him for more information about how he felt. Because he hadn’t had to bring me to his car. He could have put me in my own and watched over me there.

It was becoming a habit with him, bringing me into his space—space that I knew he guarded intensely. There were entire laws in his kingdom about not intruding on his floor of the castle.

“I’m going to my car,” I said, starting to sit up. “I’ll be fine on my own.”

His jaw tightened. “If you do, I’ll just follow you.”

“What? And sit up all night over there? You’ll be a wreck in the morning.”

“I don’t need sleep as much as other people do.” He leaned back against his chair. “Go to sleep, Sia.”

I was tired enough that I could no longer argue, and I didn’t want to. I hadn’t gotten my answers, but I didn’t feel like I was leaving the conversation empty-handed, either.

He cared enough to sit here with me. To protect me.

Exhausted, I slumped down onto the bed. The train’s rumbling motion lulled me to sleep, but it was a fitful slumber. Nightmares of the attack made me jerk awake more than once, the memory of the ground rushing by below me enough to chill my skin.

In the quiet dark of the train car, I looked over at Lore. He still sat in the chair, his head back against the wall and his eyes closed.

“I can feel you looking,” he said.

Not asleep, then.

As if he would ever let his guard down.

“Nightmares,” I said.

His jaw tightened. “I’d take them from you if I could.”

“There’s enough room in this bed for two.” The words shocked me. They’d come out of my mouth before they’d checked in with my brain. “For sleeping, I mean.”

“I’m fine here.”

“I’m not.” My voice came out smaller than I’d expected. Of all the dangerous things I’d done in the last few days, the attack had really done a number on me.

Perhaps because I hadn’t chosen to walk into it, like I’d chosen to walk into the competition. I’d been dragged into the danger this time.

Because someone hunted me.

I shuddered.

Lore stood, then lowered himself to the bed beside me. He lay stiff as a board, but that didn’t stop me from rolling over and putting my head on his shoulder, my arm over his chest. His arm wrapped around me, pulling me closer.

Immediately, comfort rushed over me.

He was so strong and warm and here.

Everything about him felt perfect. Like he was the only puzzle piece in the world that would fit me.

I was the only puzzle piece in the world that fit him. It was a heavy thought. For centuries, his touch had caused pain to everyone he met.

Except me.