“Look, as a subject of the Beira monarchy, I know I would much rather bend the knee to the sister who actually gives enough of a shite about this Kingdom to become a part of it.” He grinned slyly. “And as you’ve already bentbothknees to me, it’s about time I returned the favour.”
“How about Ibreakboth your knees?”
He dodged her kick this time.
Chapter 25
Adeline
Having cycled through every weapon on the wall, Kai and Adeline had turned their focus to hand-to-hand combat. Adeline was frustrated to find herself at a complete disadvantage. She had always bested her sister in combat lessons, and could wield much of the weapons wall with more skill than Kai – maybe even take them on two-to-one if she was feeling particularly fierce.
And had the right tool in hand.
But Kai’s height and broad build made him a considerably more difficult adversary than dainty Mareda. Even the handful of times she’d wrestled with Ger, they’d been more or less matched for size, and even with his greater strength, he hadn’t posedthismuch of a challenge.
Kai’s years under the ice had weakened him, he said, but in the books they’d gone over they learned that muscle held a kind of memory, and it was clearly true as with every passing day at the palace he grew stronger and faster. Adeline ended many of their sessions flat on her backside, and he’d pinned her so often she’d taken to chewing mint leaves in anticipation of his closeness. And combing a bit of makeup through her eyelashes. And yes, if she was honest with herself, perhaps she’dlethim pin her a few times when she might’ve avoided it.
This morning though, he was off his game, distracted. Though she resolved to ask him what was wrong later, Adeline took full advantage of the rare opportunity, blazing a path to glory as she pursued him across the training floor. She darted around Kai again and again, making him spin to block her advances until finally she caught him off balance, hooked her leg behind his and tackled him to the ground.
He fell hard, and the air left his chest in awhooshof breath as Adeline steadied herself against his chest, letting her knees fall either side of his hips. She had him pinned, and he seemed to realise his defeat at the same moment she did - while Adeline whooped, he raised his hands slowly to either side of his head in surrender.
“I did it!” She cried. “Ha!”
Adeline drew back suddenly, hovering above him. “Did you let me win?”
“No,” he smiled, a little ruefully. “Your victory is all your own.”
She grinned at him, but her smile faded at the look on his face. “It’s not though, is it? I wouldn’t have won if you weren’t so distracted. Something’s off today. What is it?”
“I –” He sighed and rubbed the creased space between his brows. “It’s nothing.”
“Kai, I’m not getting up until you tell me what’s wrong.”
Until that moment it didn’t seem to have occurred to Kai that Adeline was straddling him. She felt his heart stutter where she braced her hand against his chest, and his ears went a sweet shade of pink, like strawberry cream. But he composed himself quickly - he was getting much better at that - and raised one thick brow defiantly.
“You truly believe I couldn’t throw you off if I wanted to?”
Adeline smirked. She could still feel his pulse kicking beneath her palm.
“You must not want to, then.”
It had been a throwaway comment. For all his quiet, flustered stoicism, Adeline had accepted that it was never anything personal. Kai was just… from a different time. A time of propriety and discretion. He’d told her as much.
So she couldn’t say why the strawberry flush darkened and spread to his cheeks, or why his throat bobbed with a hard swallow. When he spoke, his voice was deep and low, and sent heat washing through her.
“Maybe I don’t. Maybe I have you precisely where I want you.”
Adeline blanched and tried not to show it. Had hereallyjust said that? Composed, proper King Cumhaill?
Kai’s eyes locked on hers and Adeline felt a thrill shoot through her, setting her skin alight. He raised himself slowly to one elbow and the movement shifted their bodies closer, his hips pressing into her inner thighs. A soft breath that might have been a gasp escaped her, and she hoped he didn’t hear it, though his face was drawing nearer to hers, his free hand cupping the back of her head.
And then suddenly she spun and was flat on her back, with Kai’s face over her split in an all-too-familiar, triumphant grin.
“Kai!”
She shoved a hand against his chest, and he rocked slightly to one side, shaking with laughter as he held himself above her.
“I can’t believe you just did that!”
