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"Thank you for this," she said, voice warm, as she reached for the coffee.
I looked away and cleared my throat. "It was actually from Liam."
"Fuck." She said, taking a sip. "I don't care who it's from. This is pure magic." Her eyes fluttered closed and she let out a soft groan as she drank more of the dark liquid.
Saints. I needed to get out of here. Fast. Her damn moan was enough to make me hard, let alone that see-through dress!
"Mrs. Harlsted is a miracle worker," I said with a smile. "You ready to head out?"
She looked down at her nightgown, shaking it out a bit, then back at me, brow cocked. "Do I look ready to you?"
"I don't know." I kept my eyes to the window behind her. "I've been trying my best not to look since it's rather see-through with that window behind you."
"Wh — " Cheeks bright red, Kaiya scrambled for the blanket, grabbed it, and wrapped it around herself before dashing to the door. "I'll see you downstairs in fifteen," she called over her shoulder.
Turning, I watched her go and tried to tell my body to calm the fuck down. But for some reason, I felt excited and almost … happy.
When was the last time I'd looked forward to a mission? What had changed? Was traveling with her really that different?
No. Those were dangerous thoughts. I needed to keep my distance.
I was known to all as the Fae Prince, The Harbinger of Lust, The Breaker of Hearts … a rake wholly incapable of attachment.
So, what the seven hells was I doing getting getting attached to Kaiya?
Chapter 32
Kaiya
Taking one last look at the dragons soaring in the distance, I turned and made my way toward the stables. Gram said Mirrim and Jaiel would meet me there.
"Kaiya!" Mrs. Harlsted's familiar voice made my stomach clench. For a moment, I debated running. But like Jaiel said, I'd been through worse. I could face this. I didn't have to pretend to be fine.
Taking a breath, I turned around.
Mr. and Mrs. Harlsted ran toward me, both covered in flour and looking frazzled.
"Here!" Mrs. Harlsted said, out of breath as she passed me a pack filled to the brim with snacks. "You won't have fresh food out there, so we thought — well, we thought —" her voice caught.
"We're sorry, Kiddo," Mr. Harlsted said, pressing his hand to his wife's shoulder.
"Yes." She lifted sorrowful eyes to meet mine. "We're so very sorry. If we could go back, we'd have told you everything from the beginning." Her voice quivered. "But our hands were tied. They still are, really. And I know you have a thousand questions, but I can't say anywhere near as much as I want — just that —"
They looked at each other, then back at me.
Mr. Harlsted twisted his mustache, then tugged at the blue suspenders crossing his chest. "What we're trying to say is that we fucked up, Kiddo. I wish we had some grand explanation, but we don't. When the Empire arrived that night, we fled." His jaw tightened "We worried about you and reached out, but our contacts said you were okay and under the protection of some big-wig lady in the Empire. We said we'd try again when things calmed down more." He looked down at his wife and she squeezed his arm, then he looked back at me, eyes sad. "Then more weeks passed, and we didn't know how to explain about Liam. Eventually, so much time passed that it just felt like it was too late to reach out. I'm so sorry, Kiddo. So very sorry."
My chest ached as I stared at the people I'd loved as my own family.
Perhaps it was better they didn't have some big reason, though.
They were just like everyone else and simply messed up. And who was I to judge them for doing that? We'd all done regrettable things to protect the ones we loved. How many times had I turned a blind eye to what the Empire was doing so I could continue to protect Aunt Grace and myself?
"I understand," I said, voice shaking. "I can't pretend it doesn't hurt, but I do understand."
Their shoulders relaxed, and Mr. Harlsted wrapped his arm around his wife. "Thank you, Kaiya. It's selfish, but hearing you say that takes a huge weight off us both. When we were assigned to Gleyma …" He fidgeted with his mustache. "Well, we had no idea it would include watching over you. And then your aunt opened her shop next door, and you'd pop over each day, hair all a mess and eyes aglow, asking for a slice of bread or to work with me."
"Those years watching you grow were truly the best of our lives," Mrs. Harlsted added, eyes shining.
