Page 44 of Destiny of a King

Nightfall

Dravic’s lips settled softly on hers, warm, tender, then with a slightly more pressing need. It lingered for a few heartbeats. Long enough for the warmth between them to deepen into something neither had expected.

Adira’s breath caught. Every touch they had shared until now had carried comfort, protection, or reassurance. This carried something else. Something that stole through her with startling surprise, leaving her wanting… more.

Dravic felt it too.

He had meant only to silence the longing that had overtaken him. Instead, the kiss awakened something far stronger.

Reluctantly, he lifted his head.

Neither moved.

Dravic stared at her, every instinct demanding he step away.

What had he done?

He had kissed her. Not as her king nor as her protector. Simply… as a man.

Adira slowly lifted trembling fingers to her lips and looked at him with quiet wonder. She had never imagined she would ever experience a kiss, and never had she imagined it could feel so magical.

Nor had he.

Dravic took a step back. The distance between them felt both welcome and unwelcome.

He pointed to the bed.

Adira’s fingers lingered against her lips one last moment before she nodded and hurried to obey him. She settled herself beneath the blankets and looked at him.

He turned away from her.

It stung her heart that he turned his back on her. But what had she expected him to do? He was the king and she had embarrassed herself in front of him.

Would he punish her?

The sudden thought had her turning her back to him. She did not want to look at him any longer. She did not want to see or feel his regret or anger for kissing her.

The chair creaked softly beneath him as he sat and stared at the fire.

What had possessed him to kiss her?

It was not a stolen kiss meant to amuse himself nor one born of passing desire. It was a kiss that had stirred something deep within him. Something he had no intention of allowing to happen again.

He dragged a hand over his face. Nothing good could come of it.

He was king and she was… Adira.

He turned to look at her. She had turned her back to him. He had no idea what she thought, though he had seen no embarrassment or regret in her eyes. Only a quiet wonder that had nearly undone him.

He looked away again.

She suffered enough, locked in a world of constant silence. She deserved more than becoming a king’s convenience. More than whispered visits in the night. More than being hidden away while another woman wore the crown beside him.

Anger flared in his eyes. He would never do that to her.

Yet marriage… was impossible.

The thought had scarcely formed before Tavish’s voice answered it.