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“She’ll be back,” I said. “I don’t know when, but she will. And if I’m still here, I’ll have to fight her again, not to mention whatever reinforcements she undoubtedly brings. I’ll have to protect everyone.” It was too much weight on my shoulders. I couldn’t handle it. I should’ve stayed in busy London where nobody noticed me.
Kane’s expression was nothing short of fierce. “No.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “No, Your Highness?”
“No,” he repeated firmly. “Let her come. Let them all come. You’re not going to do this alone.We’llbe ready for her.”
Behind him, Ray nodded. “We will.”
“Thanks, Ray.”
Kane’s gaze flicked to the space Ray currently occupied. “Would you mind asking your roommates for a moment of privacy?”
Ray and Nana Pratt disappeared.
“They’re gone,” I said.
He edged closer to me. “I’m asking you to stay.”
“It isn’t safe for you.”
“I climbed the ranks to become a prince of hell, Lorelei. I can take care of myself.” His thumb grazed my lips, tracing their contour. “Stay.”
“Is that a royal command, Your Highness?”
“It’s a personal request.”
“Now that you’ve collected my secret, I assume you’ll lose interest in me.”
“Do you really believe that?”
No, I didn’t. Whatever we felt for each other was real. The goat had only been an excuse to act on it, and we both knew it.
“You’re powerful, Lorelei. More powerful than you’ve let yourself be. Your grandfather trained you to survive, but that doesn’t mean that’s all you should do. You deserve a life much fuller than that.”
“Not at the expense of others.”
“It won’t be, I promise.” He cupped my face in his hands. “Stay.”
I took a step backward. “Sooner or later, there will be fighting. It might be in a year. It might be in two months, but it will happen.”
“Then I guess I’d better polish my sword.” A sly grin emerged. “I might even let you help with that.”
I clutched my chest. “Such a generous offer, Your Highness. How can I possibly refuse?”
He grabbed my shoulders and pressed those velvet lips to mine. My body felt like a pinball machine as my insides whooshed, snapped, and zipped in response. Another second of this and I’d beg him to play me right here on the island. Kane was proving more of a threat than music ever was.
I extracted myself from his grip before I lost control. “We need to take things slowly. I’m talking glacier speed.”
“Then allow me to be your iceberg.”
I leaned my head against his rock-solid chest. I was going to need all the strength he had to give if I expected to survive what was coming.
“All right,” I said. “I’ll stay.”
