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Kieran stiffened and nodded at his siblings. “You two better go.”
Wanting to give them privacy, I made my way up the stairs. At the top of the second floor, I glanced down to see Nolan and Brianne leaving. Kieran wasn’t in view.
My heart ached, and I rubbed it, trying not to think about the person who caused it.
When I reached my door, I removed the key from my bra. Before I slipped the key into the lock, I glanced behind me to find Curry’s door shut. I exhaled.
My eyes were starting to close, and I was ready to crawl into bed and let exhaustion take over.
As I turned to shut the door, the cold against my neck flashed, and within seconds, Kieran stood in front of me, kicking the door shut with his foot. His eyes scanned my body.
Before I could take a breath, he’d closed the distance between us and was pressing his lips to mine.
His tongue slipped into my mouth, and his cinnamon taste filled me. I opened my lips wider, wanting more of him, as my hands reached between us and fisted his suit. Skin buzzing, I wanted more.
Then, the memory of everything he’d said crashed over me. Instead of pulling him closer like I wanted, I pushed him away.
He stumbled back, his eyes opening, and he frowned. “Are you rejecting me because of him?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Isaw red. Or maybe his face was turning scarlet from his anger. Either way, none of this sat well with me.
I pushed my finger into his chest, hitting hard muscle while a jolt shot through me. “Are you fucking serious?”
“I don’t know what fucking means, but I’m deadly serious.” His nostrils flared as his jaw clenched. “I saw the way you two hugged one another.”
“Let’s say you’re right.” He wasn’t, but I refused to back down. He had decided we shouldn’t be together with no consideration of what I wanted. “Why does it matter to you? You said we couldn’t be together.”
“Why are you being so summerheaded? Especially after everything.” His jaw clenched, his muscles working.
I hated that he was so damn sexy. My draw to him had me stepping closer when I should’ve pulled away. “You said we couldn’t be together! You decided that without any input from me. Am I supposed to die in two days without looking for some happiness?” I hated how vulnerable he made me feel. Everything inside me was laid bare in front of him, and he had the power to ruin me worse than death ever could.
“Alina,” he growled, the sound angry and sensual. “You’re pushing me.”
“Me?” I laughed bitterly. “You’ve been in control of whatever this is between us since I came here. You knew what we felt for each other in my past life, and I had no clue what was going on. I still don’t understand how I’m so in tune with you, Kieran, but stop playing head games with me. All my life—at least this one—I made sure to stay away from people who can hurt me, and you threaten everything I’ve worked hard to protect myself from.”
He exhaled, his shoulders slumping. “I’m trying to protect you from when this ends. I need you?—”
“I don’t want your protection!” The words flew from my mouth before my brain understood what I was saying. “All I want is you. Even if it’s just for the next day.”
His face twisted in agony, but his icy eyes burned hot. “Those are dangerous words. You don’t know how much I want it as well.”
“Then why fight it?” I was ready to throw caution to the wind. Though I’d fight like hell to win the next trial, I wanted to be with him. Our time was running out, and desperation had my heart clenching tightly, making me feel as if I could break so damn easily. “Haven’t we done that enough?”
“If we complete this bond … we’ll be hurt worse during the final trial,” he gritted. “I don’t want you to have to experience that. Losing your fated mate?—”
“Fated what now?” I’d never heard that term before, but something inside me tugged hard, and I stepped closer to him, our chests brushing.
He cupped my face, and my body moved of its own accord, pressing against him. I tilted my head, wanting every inch of his skin to touch me. He whispered, “You don’t remember that?”
“I remember how strongly I felt about you, and I know what I feel for you is stronger this time.” I placed a hand on his chest, the sensation changing from a buzz to a jolt. “I don’t understand it. Though I’m not certain what a fated mate is, fated is exactly what this feels like.” I’d denied that it felt as if we were meant to be together because it was hard enough to accept how intensely I’d been drawn to him before I’d seen the good and protective side of him.
“It means we’re two halves of the same soul.” His thumb brushed my bottom lip, and the spot on my neck pulsed coolness through me. “Fate chose us for each other, knowing we balance each other and make the other stronger when we’re together. Why she would choose us—a Summer and a Winter Court royal—baffles me, but that is what we are to one another.”
I closed my eyes, enjoying the soothing sizzle between us. His words solidified and made me understand our connection, but I was terrified. There was no way to get out of this unscathed. “Is that why this place on my neck always cools when you’re near?”
His gaze lowered to the spot the sensation came from. He swallowed. “It’s our fated-mate mark.”
