Page 103 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

“I’m willing to take the risk.”

He puffed out another breath. “I’m going to find her.”

“Go get her.”

“I’m leaving now.” He turned and began strolling away.

“Good luck.”

“It’s not too late to stop me,” he threw over his shoulder.

“Not going to happen.”

“This is all your fault,” were his last words before he exited through the double doors that led into the gardens.

With a chuckle, I waited a few seconds and then walked to the doors. As I was about to step outside, the sound of Adrian’s voice made me halt. It was coming from inside the house.

“What was so urgent that you wanted to talk in private, Heiran?” Adrian’s question was muffled as I followed it out of the foyer.

“It’s not I who wants to speak with you.”

“What? Then who?”

“Adrian.” My heart dropped when a female voice rang out.

“Daelana?”

I stopped close to where the conversation was taking place and peeked around the corner into a parlor room. Adrian’s mate stood in front of him, and Heiran was nowhere to be seen.

“I’ve missed you,” Daelana said.

“I’m leaving.”

“Wait!”

Before he could glimmer out, she latched on to him, sealing her lips to his. Nausea instantly came over me, but the kiss lasted only a split second because Adrian pushed her away.

“Are you out of your mind?! I’m married!” he exclaimed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “And even if I wasn’t, I’m not interested.”

“Oh, please. Don’t tell me this is about the mortal girl?” Daelana inquired, taking a step toward him, all bold confidence in a fitted black gown.

He stepped away from her. “She’s not just some girl. She is my queen.”

“And I am your mate! We are destined to be together. You can’t fight this.” She closed the distance between them, but when her hands flew up to reach for Adrian, he grabbed her wrists to stop her from touching him.

“Watch me,” he said through his teeth before he dropped her hands and disappeared.

My nausea subsided, and red-hot fury took its place.

“Stay away from him!” I seethed as I stepped out from behind the corner.

Daelana whirled on me. “Or what?! I’m his mate. You might be married to him, but you can’t carry on pretending that I don’t exist.”

“Watch me,” I repeated Adrian’s words before I spun around and stormed out of the parlor.

I strode back into the gardens, where Adrian found me a few seconds later. “We’re leaving.” He clasped my shoulders. I didn’t protest, as eager to leave the place as he was.

When we appeared in front of my quarters, he promptly released my shoulders and stepped away from me. He then opened the door to my chambers and gestured for me to walk in, following after me once I had done so. When I halted by the vanity in the bedroom, he kept striding away toward the hallway that connected our rooms.