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“I place a gentle hand on the small of Paedyn's back, prodding her forward.
It's a question, a tentative test, an innocent inquiry.
Is this okay?
I briefly wonder if she's considering breaking my wrist, maybe contemplating placing a dagger to my throat-
And then, she relaxes, easing into my touch.
An answer to my question without uttering a word.
Yes.”
―
It's a question, a tentative test, an innocent inquiry.
Is this okay?
I briefly wonder if she's considering breaking my wrist, maybe contemplating placing a dagger to my throat-
And then, she relaxes, easing into my touch.
An answer to my question without uttering a word.
Yes.”
―
“Do you wish it was you?" He blinks, dark lashes fluttering. "Do you wish you were the future king of Ilya? The heir?"
It's not at all the question I thought I would be asking, but here we are. "No," he states simply, holding my gaze.
I raise my brows in a silent question. When he doesn't continue, I say, "That's it? 'No'?"
"You got your answer, and I got my dance. That was the deal, darling.”
―
It's not at all the question I thought I would be asking, but here we are. "No," he states simply, holding my gaze.
I raise my brows in a silent question. When he doesn't continue, I say, "That's it? 'No'?"
"You got your answer, and I got my dance. That was the deal, darling.”
―
“Oh, and Kai?" she calls, her voice casual.
And then I'm ducking.
She spun, throwing the knife so suddenly that I barely had time to dodge it before it sank into the wooden target a few feet behind me.
"I don't want your mercy. Next time we fight," I can see her blue eyes smoldering from where I stand, "impress me."
A low whistle sounds from the crowd-Kitt, of course. Ignoring him, I shake my head, grinning at her as she turns away from me.
Vicious little thing, indeed.”
―
And then I'm ducking.
She spun, throwing the knife so suddenly that I barely had time to dodge it before it sank into the wooden target a few feet behind me.
"I don't want your mercy. Next time we fight," I can see her blue eyes smoldering from where I stand, "impress me."
A low whistle sounds from the crowd-Kitt, of course. Ignoring him, I shake my head, grinning at her as she turns away from me.
Vicious little thing, indeed.”
―
“I'm swept from my thoughts when Kai spins me and my eyes dart to his without my permission.
Mistake.
His midnight hair falls over his forehead in messy, silky waves. Smoky gray eyes meet mine, captivating, chilling. His set jaw loosens, pulling his lips into a cocky grin as he watches me take him in.
Dimples. Both of them mocking me.
"Like what you see, Gray?" he croons, knowing that will get a rise out of me. I huff, looking away from him to fight the flush that's finding its way to my cheeks. Rough fingers glide from my back to catch my chin, gently guiding my face back to his as he mutters, "By all means, carry on. I'll never deny myself the chance of watching you watch me."
"And why is that?" I ask with a nonchalance I don't feel.
His smile is wicked. "Because it is far more fun to admire you when the action is mutual.”
―
Mistake.
His midnight hair falls over his forehead in messy, silky waves. Smoky gray eyes meet mine, captivating, chilling. His set jaw loosens, pulling his lips into a cocky grin as he watches me take him in.
Dimples. Both of them mocking me.
"Like what you see, Gray?" he croons, knowing that will get a rise out of me. I huff, looking away from him to fight the flush that's finding its way to my cheeks. Rough fingers glide from my back to catch my chin, gently guiding my face back to his as he mutters, "By all means, carry on. I'll never deny myself the chance of watching you watch me."
"And why is that?" I ask with a nonchalance I don't feel.
His smile is wicked. "Because it is far more fun to admire you when the action is mutual.”
―
“I jump off the counter and give Gail a peck on the cheek. "Don't miss me too much."
Then, I turn toward Paedyn, who's leaning casually against the counter, a small smile tugging at her lips. I take a slow step toward her. Her head tips up to look me in the eyes as I close the distance between us, so close I can smell the lingering scent of lavender on her skin. I reach around her back, fingers brushing her tank.
Her breath hitches and I feel my lips tug upward. When she opens her mouth to tell me off, I pull my hand back slowly, holding an apple in front of her face. "Always feeding you, remember?"
She stares at the fruit before snatching it from my hand, huffing in annoyance. And then, she smiles, the dazzling action lighting up her face as she rubs the apple on my shirt, right above my heart.
She takes a bite, her eyes locked with mine. "And you said you weren't a gentleman.”
―
Then, I turn toward Paedyn, who's leaning casually against the counter, a small smile tugging at her lips. I take a slow step toward her. Her head tips up to look me in the eyes as I close the distance between us, so close I can smell the lingering scent of lavender on her skin. I reach around her back, fingers brushing her tank.
Her breath hitches and I feel my lips tug upward. When she opens her mouth to tell me off, I pull my hand back slowly, holding an apple in front of her face. "Always feeding you, remember?"
She stares at the fruit before snatching it from my hand, huffing in annoyance. And then, she smiles, the dazzling action lighting up her face as she rubs the apple on my shirt, right above my heart.
She takes a bite, her eyes locked with mine. "And you said you weren't a gentleman.”
―
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