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Despite the pain I was feeling, Kierdenhadbeen good to me. He hadn’t—
The door opened again.
I blinked, wiping the water from beneath my eyes once more.
Kierden stood in the doorway with a bag thrown over his shoulder and steel in his eyes.
I blinked again.
He stepped inside.
Bright slipped out, knocking the door shut behind her and murmuring,“Good luck.”
My throat swelled with emotion.
Why had he come back?
Neither of us said a word as he dropped his bag and then crossed the room in three massive steps.
He sank to his knees in front of me. The man was so insanely large that even kneeling while I sat on the bed, his eyes were only a few inches below mine.
He took my face in his hands, his grip firm and strong, but gentle too. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low and honest. “I’msorry, Nissa. When I first took you from your town, Ididuse you for your magic, and I am sorry for that. But I’m not your mother. I revel in the fire burning in your chest and the way you argue with me, as I always have. I care about your comfort, your health, and your happiness—and I have never tried to use you for sex, as you know well.”
My eyes started watering again.
Dammit, he was right.
He hadn’t tried to use me for sex.
It was an easy excuse to make, but not an honest one.
“It hurt you when I told my people I would mate with someone else,” he said.
I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, trying not to let my face contort with emotion. “It did.”
His forehead met mine, the pressure comfortable. “I have never lied to you, and I never will. It didn’t occur to me that my words might hurt you, but if I had told my people that I would mate with you to hunt down my killers, they would’ve realized what you mean to me already. I wasn’t willing to take the chance that they could use it against both of us.”
He admitted, “I don’t know who the killer is; it could be anyone in my whole damn kingdom. If I give away my emotions, I put you at risk, and that’s not something I’m willing to do at this point. Perhaps we’ll decide to mate to hunt down the killer, and perhaps we won’t. Either way, it will beourdecision. Not theirs. I assumed you would see the deception for what it was, knowing that I care for you, and I’m sorry that I didn’t make sure you understood. That was my fault, and it won’t happen again.”
My eyes stung. “That was a lot of apologies.”
He gave me a rough, rueful chuckle. “I suppose I have a lot to apologize for.”
“So you’re not really going to mate with a fae woman after the eclipse is over?”
“No. I’ve been with my people for centuries, Nissa. If I were interested in pairing off with one of them, I would certainly have her in my bed by now.”
My lips curved upward, just a tiny bit.
He hadmein his bed. Which meant he was interested in pairing off with me, if his previous statements were to be trusted. I didn’t know whether they were or not, but I still liked the sound of it.
“I have no experience with romantic relationships,” Kierden squeezed my face between his palms lightly. “If I do something wrong, I need you to tell me so I can fix it. I won’t get everything right the first time—veil, at this rate, I’ll probably get everything wrong the first time. But I am trying, Nissa. I swear that to you.”
“Is that what we have?” I asked him, still feeling vulnerable. “A romantic relationship?”
“Yes.” He didn’t have any doubt, and that made me feel a little more secure. “Though I seem to be failing at it, if you aren’t sure. Perhaps I should spend more time in the nude so you can see exactly how you affect me.”
My lips curved upward, slightly. “I’m sure that would help.”
