AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I choked on a laugh, wanting to kiss the ridiculous scowl from his face. But in his current state of everything-is-all-my-fault he might not return the sentiment, “Come on, lets go home. We have an offering to make ready.”
Chapter Three
Liana
It was widely known that the Wraiths of the Varinian Sea were enamored by all things fine. Pearls, jewels, gold. Finn had given them an offering of a black pearl necklace after they’d saved his life. It was said they had a trove of such treasures somewhere deep in the ocean. In a chasm that had no bottom.
“What about this?” Finn suggested, holding up a chain of pure gold. It was a fine piece of jewelry, but it wasn’t enough. It was no small undertaking we were asking of them. It would take all of them working together to find the Mad King’s fleet—if he did in fact have one—within such a short amount of time. Which was why we were raiding the palace treasury instead of my own dressing table. We needed somethingbig.
Alaric and Kade were less inclined to trust the Wraiths and were getting precautionary weapons ready. Spears and bows, apparently. In case the wild creatures turned on us. There was no talking them out of it. Stubborn males.
“This?” Finn asked again, digging into the open maw of an aged wooden chest. He pulled out a length of fat pearls.
They were beautiful, but, “No, still not enough.”
“What do you propose then,” he said, cocking his head at me. In the torchlight I noticed the slight stubble on his jaw. Kade occasionally let his grow to stubble, but never Finn. It was odd seeing the shadow on his cheeks and under his chin. It made his features more rugged—less sharp. It suited him.
I looked around the grand room. There were shelves upon shelves of treasures. Chests of gold pieces and jewels. Tables laden with every manner of fine jewelry. But it was a bright red glow across the chamber that caught my eye.
It stood proud atop a stand of polished silver. A stone the size of my fist, red as blood and cut so it reflected light. “What about that?” I asked Finn, pointing to the giant gemstone.
Finn looked at me as though I’d grown another head, “That ruby is worth more than my entire village—no, actually it’s probably worth more thanallthe villages in the north combined.”
“It’s perfect.”
“You’re insane.”
I smirked at him, and walked over to the table, admiring the way the gen fractured the light into a gauzy red glow. “It’s heavy,” I said in surprise as I lifted it from the silver stand. It was so large, I couldn’t even wrap my fingers around it.
“Don’t tell the baron of finance about this?”
Finn’s eyes widened, and he barked a nervous laugh, “No, don’t think I will. He’d have my head on a platter if he knew I let you take that.”
I stepped in close to him, slipping the ruby into the pocket of his jacket, “Our secret, then.”
“You’re wicked,” he said, and drew my body against his. His eyes glazed with lust.
My pulse sped, forcing a blush up my neck. His hands brushed the curves of my back—my waist, and his breathing became labored. I brushed my lips against the soft skin of his collarbone, and his body shook. I wondered how long it’d been since he’d lain with a woman.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered against his skin, and he shivered even more.
He took my chin into his hand and narrowed his gaze at me, “No you’re not.”
I shook my head, smiling, “No—you’re right. I’m not.” And then I kissed him, taking in his parchment and clove scent and the intoxicating feel of his cool fingers as they ran through my hair, and gently stroked the sensitive spot under my jaw.
I had meant the kiss to be playful, to take some worry from his shoulders—but it wasn’t playful. It was scorching hot. And freezing cold. So sweet and tender, but also insistent and frantic. When he finally pulled away from me his eyes were vibrant gold, shining with untamed desire, and something like fear.
“You will be the death of me,” he breathed, and brushed an unruly strand of hair away from my cheek.
I kissed him again, this time on the cheek, “I certainly hope not.”
Coming back to himself, he noticed the golden chain had fallen to the floor and stooped to pick it up. He moved to put it into a chest, but I stopped him, pulling the chain from his fingertips. It was well-crafted, strong, a necklace fit for a king. I struggled with the clasp but was finally able to unfasten it.
“Turn around,” I said to Finn, who had his hands held up as though I was mad.
“What are you doing?” he asked, trying to back away. But I grabbed hold of his outstretched hands and pulled him close, fastening the chain around his neck in one quick movement.
“There,” I said, admiring my handiwork. The chain looked so much smaller around his neck than it had in my small hands. It brought out the gold in his eyes, and the umber tones of his skin.
