The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1)(86)

You saved us, he said.

We saved each other.

He cradled her head against the warmth of the dragon’s fire in his chest. And you’re sure we’re safe?

I’m sure. The water will tell me if we aren’t.

Good. Then there’s nothing to stop me from kissing you properly. His heart pounded at the look in her eyes. He could no longer tell the difference between the pounding of the waterfall and the pounding of his heart. He slid his hand up her back and tangled his fingers in her dripping hair. Her cheeks flushed despite the frigid water still clinging to her skin, and the tenderness that swelled within his chest felt like it would break him into pieces.

He bent his head, and the cave spun as he pressed his lips to hers.

This time, he kissed her like the world was ending, and she was his last chance at happiness. She held on to him, and her palms tingled and burned with magic as she ran them over his arms and onto his shoulders.

He tore his lips from hers and pressed them against the side of her jaw as she clung to him.

Her magic, as if obeying some secret incantor hidden within her heart, exploded out of her hands and wrapped the two of them in bands of blinding white light that tingled on the edge of pain.

Kol brought his lips back to hers and kissed her as if he meant to never let her go.

You healed me. Kol examined his arms and legs hours later as dawn was breaking across the sky.

Um . . . yes. Remember? I slept for nearly a whole day because of it? Lorelai gave him an amused look as she finger combed the tangles out of her still-damp hair.

He raised a brow. No, I mean you healed me when you kissed me.

I think it was you who kissed me. She gave him a cheeky grin that had him wanting to cross the cave and kiss her all over again.

So do it. Her smile widened, and he laughed though pain from the collar was starting to burn in a way that it hadn’t for days. Lorelai hiked up her pant legs to examine her ankles and then looked over her arms as well. It healed me too. That’s a nice side effect. Plus it’s far more enjoyable than using an incantor to pull your injuries out of your body.

The whispers flitted through his mind—hurt, punish, kill—and he focused on Lorelai to drown them out. The collar wanted to list its wishes for Lorelai? Well, he had a list of his own. A list that kept him from seeing her as prey.

He had the image of her reaching for him, courage and compassion on her face, as he attacked. He had the way she tilted her head and squinted her gorgeous brown eyes when she was trying to figure something out. The way she lifted her chin when she was prepared to argue her point. The way her breath caught in her throat when he held her, and the red of her lips against her pale cheeks.

Cheeks that were now suffused with color.

He grinned. Embarrassed?

She concentrated on wringing water from her shirt. You notice the strangest things about me.

This from a girl who thinks my hair is both wild and adorable?

She laughed, but there were nerves behind it now. He looked to find the reason, and his stomach tightened. The capital loomed before them, just south of here. Irina was waiting, along with his human heart.

It was time to finish what they’d started.

The good news is that it took Irina a while to respond, and, while I don’t ever want to be attacked by trees again, it wasn’t as bad as the statues or the bugs. She shuddered.

You’ve weakened her.

Her smile made her look like the warrior that she was.

We have to go soon, while she’s still trying to recover, she said. This has been nice—

Nice? You wound me with understatement.

She gave him a stern look.

The whispers in his mind seemed to grow louder.

Hurt. Punish. Kill. Let your dragon heart do as it pleases.

He shook his head and pushed against the voices. He’d won this battle countless times. He would win it again.

It’s almost over, she said, and there was a shadow of fear in her usually confident voice. If I don’t survive, I want you to know that—

You’re going to survive. His voice was fierce as he stalked toward her, ignoring the streak of pain the wrapped around his chest. Don’t even think about the alternative.

What if I don’t? This time her fear was a palpable presence in her thoughts. He wondered if she realized that her fear was less about her survival than it was about letting down the kingdom who was depending on her.

Then I’ll kiss you again, and your magic will bring you back to life.

Magic doesn’t bring people back to life.

Then I will stay by your side to make sure you’re safe.

He pulled her to her feet, brushed his fingers across her beautiful mouth and then kissed her until her magic flared and wrapped the two of them in bands of white light that tingled against his skin like he was standing beside a winter’s fire.

He deepened the kiss, his dragon’s heart pounding like a battle drum. Did she realize the effect she had on him? That her true magic had nothing to do with the power in her hands?

She had the courage of a Draconi warrior, the power of a Morcantian mardushka, and the heart of a true princess of Ravenspire. Irina had no idea what was coming for her.

Oh, don’t I? A soft, cruel voice sliced through his mind, bringing a swath of unbearable pain in its wake.

Kol yanked himself away from Lorelai and stumbled back. His dragon heart thudded against his chest, viciously demanding blood.