She’s fascinating, an enigma I’m desperate to solve, and though I should leave now and go back to my rooms, I don’t.
Chapter10
An Error in the Hallway (Renna)
The Forest King has done nothing good to me, nor has he been warm and kind, so why do I want this so badly? It's just lust, nothing more.
His fingertips skate along my jawline, dark lashes long and thick as he gazes down at me, unreadable. He doesn't know me, and he doesn't know why I'm really here, either. The Ruthless King is dangerous, and I'm playing with fire. But fire is what I do; I could burn his world to ash if I choose to.
A dangerous part of me is hoping he kisses me just so I can rid myself of the fascination, stop thinking about it, and move on. His hand runs up the back of my neck, his fingers burrowing into my hair before curling into a fist, pulling the dark strands hard. I let out a gentle sigh, raising my fingers to the beginning of the scar on his forehead. It runs viciously over his eye and I’m surprised he didn't lose it.
I’m unhurried and unspeaking as the pads of my fingers skate down his face, because to rush touching King Rexxan would be the greatest of injustices. I wonder how many people have ever touched this scar. Somehow I doubt that it’s many, given that he’s holding his breath like I might just abuse the trust he has given me. But I don’t, because I see the pain behind the stone facade. My fingers don’t stray from the pale line of the scar.
"I'm blind in that eye.” His deep voice cracks through the comfortable silence, answering my thoughts.
"What happened?"
"The Great Fires."
"I don't know what that is."
"How can you not know what that is?"
"I never went to school. I live in the wilderness. I don't know what anything is."
"Over half the population of Yterras died that day."
Oh, shit. Now I feel ignorant. "Is that how you lost your wife?"
"I lost my brother, my mother, my father, my uncles, my wife, three of my best friends, and gained the title of King all in one day."
Holy fuck. That's horrible. No wonder he's so unhappy. "How old were you again?"
"One hundred and four. About nineteen in mortal ages. My son was one, still a newborn in your years. I stayed alive for him."
He raised a son alone at that age? I can't imagine him as a father. He never smiles—not once in the six weeks that I have known him. For some reason, I imagine that he and his son are not close. He lets out a weary sigh, his huge, tanned hands scrubbing over his handsome face.
"I'm sharing things that I've not spoken aloud for a long time." His gaze burns into the sky, so intense I’m surprised the stars don’t flee in fear.
"I've done that too," I whisper, placing my small hand over his enormous one, trying to ignore the way his touch ignites sparks that dance their way through the veins beneath my skin. I fight the seductive urge to melt into his touch. I don’t like him, but gods above do I want him. "But you don't show me who you really are, Rexxan."
"I do."
"I don't believe that for a second. You're so cold. So cruel."
"It's who I am," he says, shoulders tensing.
I shrug, keeping my mouth shut. He is clearly not happy to have this conversation with me, and for once, I will not push his buttons.
"Renna."
"Yes?"
"Do not marry Stellan, and be careful with him."
I am losing the will to live with this man. I lift up my cloak, looking underneath it before turning round and peering down over the wall.
"What are you doing?"
