The lightsin my chambers were off by the time I emerged from the bathing room. Damp hair draped down my back. Prior to getting in the tub, I’d burned my ruined gown in a burst of my fire element. Following that, I’d taken the glittering tiara and diamond jewelry off.
Now, clean and pink from the bath’s heat, I wore only a satiny nightgown. The silky material hung to mid-thigh, and its thin straps draped over my shoulders. Betsee hadn’t stopped by, as she had most evenings, and I wondered if she’d been sent away by Xaven since he’d stationed himself in the hallway.
Kole stood watch near the wall. In the dark, his form was still and silent. I padded across the floor, and he watched me.Intenselywatched me, given the slight glow in his eyes.
A shiver struck me. After a long soak in the tub, despite Kole’s attempts to stop my anxiety beforehand, it’d returned. Alone in the bathing chambers, memories of the night had pummeled me. Images of the creatures had kept flashing through my mind, and Lillith’s screams had echoed in my thoughts. It was all so horrific, and I kept thinking of what would have happened if the outcome had been different.
I took a deep breath. I just wanted to forget it all.
At my bedside, I picked up the covers and slipped under them. Shadows dipped across the mattress, and the crisp sheets felt smooth and cool.
“Are you going to stand in the dark all night?” I asked Kole quietly.
“Yes.”
I turned on my side to face him. Kole tracked every movement. “Won’t you get tired?”
“No. I’ll be fine. Go to sleep, Princess. I’ll stand watch.”
I sighed and settled back. I knew I could start our game. I could tell him I wasachingfor him and needed my warrior to comfort me, but the events of the night dimmed any playful, sexual mood I normally would have had. The truth was that terror kept skating through me. Dozens anddozensof those monstrous creatures had been sent for me. The gravity of what I was facing had truly hit me as I lay in the warm bath water with nothing but my thoughts for company.
And if we didn’t catch who was behind it all, who was to say what they would do next.
“Kole?” I whispered into the darkness.
“Yes?” His answer came readily, but for a moment I couldn’t reply. It was stupid. I was a grown female. I wasn’t defenseless, but...
“I’m scared.”
In an instant, he was kneeling at my side. His sword clinked against the floor, its sheath so long it hit the floorboards. “Why? I’m here. I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you.”
The darkness dipped his chiseled face into shadows, but the intensity of his eyes cut through it like lightning.
I licked my lips and replied slowly, “I think it hit me, when I was in the bath, how bad this situation truly is. Whoever wants me was able to breach thepalace. This place is supposed to be impenetrable, yet they found a way to get through the wards. Butwhy?Whydo they want me? And if they get me, what are they going to do to me?”
Athudcame from Kole’s sword as he removed it from his back, and then the sheets lifted in a flurry. In the next instant, Kole was in bed with me, his heavy weight dipping the mattress toward him. Nothing was elicited from his wrist, likely because the Council’s magic sensed that I needed him.Trulyneeded him in this moment.
I was shaking by the time his arms were around me.
“Nobodyis going to get you.” He growled softly and tucked me against his body, his strong arms encircling me. “You hear me, Primelle?Nobodywill get through me.”
I turned in his grip and let him spoon me from behind. His scent clouded around me, his warmth quickly following. Even though he was still fully dressed, his clothing was soft and supple, easy to move in. A warrior’s clothing.
He ran a hand soothingly up and down my side and pressed a soft kiss to my neck. Between his scent, his feel, and the blissful warmth from his huge body, my coiled muscles soon began to loosen.
As though sensing it, a low rumble of pleasure came from his chest. “I got you, Princess. You’re safe. I’m here, and nobody’s going to hurt you. Now go to sleep, beautiful.”
Hearing his deep admission created an aching sense of safety to cocoon around me, and before I knew it, sleep claimed me.
Hazy sunlight penetrated my eyelids,and a warm hard chest pressed against me. Sleepily, I cracked my eyes open to see early morning sunlight peeking around the curtains. Just as fast, I became aware of the huge, solid warrior at my back.
My eyes opened more, and surprise flitted through me. Turning, I gazed at Kole, who was still wide awake with a shadow of a beard gracing his cheeks.
“Morning, Princess,” he said softly.
“You’re still with me?” Surprise filled my tone, and a small smile lifted my lips.
“Of course, I am. You needed me.”
