Page 100 of Taken By Shadows

“I didn’t!” I shot.

His brow raised at me. Explain. Quickly.

“I left a note …”

“I got your note.” The words were clipped.

My eyes tried to match his darkness. “I just needed … space.”

I felt like an idiot. But there had been no fighting the need that had driven me here. I’d have torn the rooms apart in the Alabaster Palace if I hadn’t left.

“I didn’t think anyone would care that I was gone. You were—” I was babbling. Why was he here? How did he find me here exactly? My note had been vague. Even I hadn’t known where I was going.

“I was what?” Biting frost tipped his words. Had he been drunk or had I imagined it? This was so far removed from the way he’d beguiled my senses.

“I needed space.” I jutted my jaw at him.

“You said that.” His voice was low, lethal. “Why?”

“You know why.” I folded my arms as I glared. I was still kneeling in the grass, and I felt ridiculous.

Something flickered in his blue eyes that were bright in the darkness.

Maybe he truly didn’t feel the need, the urge, I did. All of that climbing and exertion had been a waste of time now that I was back kneeling in front of him, bickering over inane things.

My core coiled, and something warm writhed deep inside me as I forced myself to hold his stare from beneath him. I was acutely aware that my blouse was still somewhat wet and clinging to me. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of my repentance. I wouldn’t. Instead, I glowered at him as my knees sank into the bed of clover under me.

Silence stretched until Kaed’s eyes shifted and he flared. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? What you have caused? You were not to leave the city!” His voice hollowed out the air around me.

“I was coming back!” I stood to be level with him. Kneeling felt too submissive. If he was going to roar at me, he could do it to my face. But on my knees, I’d been farther from him and his godsdamned chiselled chest.

I really hadn’t rid myself of that clenching ache between my legs …

“I don’t care if you were coming back! You broke our agreement.” Something flashed across his face, but it was gone before I could pin it down. “I should have locked you in a damn cell and saved myself the headache of you.” A snarl shattered from him.

“You’re an ass! Do you know that? I was coming back.” I was right up to his chest now. My feet carried on the anger that was bubbling inside me.

“You can think of me any way you want. But you’re coming back with me. Now.” His tone left no room for argument, but my body didn’t seem to care.

I groaned. “I know I’m going back! That’s what I’m saying. I wasn’t trying to escape! Can you listen to me?” I huffed. “You just left me there, in the hallway! And after that dream, you—You just left me feeling entirely wound up …” I tried to stop the words, but they’d forced their way into the space between us.

He blinked. Once. Then Twice. His face went still as ice.

He didn’t know about my dream.

Rutting gods.

And then his brow furrowed until the blue of his eyes was nearly swallowed by the darkness that clouded his features.

“And what would you have done if someone else found you?”

Denora’s lessons flooded my mind. I’d have managed. I was certain. Maybe …

I blinked. My thoughts raced back to that night on the docks, and my blood turned to frigid water.

“N-no one did.” I faltered.

“I was watching. I wouldn’t have let anyone do anything.”