Page 63 of Shadow Kissed

The words are out of my mouth before I can think better of it. “Do you want to escape for a while and feel the wind in your hair?”

Her eyes widen with excitement, and she sits up on her knees. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

I smirk. I am out of mind. “Then get dressed.”

26

RAEGAL

Thirty minutes later, she wears pale grey riding breeches and a black tunic. Arawn help me because those breeches mould her buttocks perfectly.

“Are you sure you think you can handle her?” I ask her, leaning against the stable wall watching her pull the female mare, Qeyna, under her spell.

She pulls her attention from the mare, continuing to stroke her and lifts her chin my way. “I can handle her.”

“Okay then, let’s get her saddled up. Keeping up with me will be a whole other story,” I tease as I reach for the saddle with my shadows and bring it to the mare.

“Arrogance is an unattractive trait,” she says, giving me a pointed look before turning her attention back to her ride.

I grin and move up behind her. “I’m told Asen women like a man who isn’t afraid to show what he’s good at.” She jumps, having not heard me sneak up on her. I can’t resist. I cup her waist when I make to move around her and put the saddle on the horse. I smirk even more when her breath hitches at my touch.

“It depends what Asen women you refer to, Lord Commander. If you’re talking about the women at the inn that Jasiel likes to frequent lure them into his bed at night, then I’m sure they do. The rest of us females, not so much.”

I dismiss her comment with a shrug. “Women like a man who knows what he wants and goes and gets it.”

“And what is it you want?” she asks me, with a sideway glance, her hand slowing as she strokes down the horse’s mane.

I study her for a second or two. Interesting question.

We want her. Myshadows whisper in my head and I scold myself for giving into this need to be near her.

“I want to end this war and return home,” I reply rather more harshly than intended. My conflicting thoughts angering me.

“And will you take a Shadow Kissed at the reaping and take her home with you?”

I’m behind her in a heartbeat. Moving as fast and as silent as the light. “Why? Would you want me to choose you?” I ask, leaning into her. She jumps again, but with nowhere to go stuck between me and the horse, she snickers.

“Of course not!” Her voice is uncertain and shaky. “If I had my way, I’d get on this horse and get as far away from Shadow Valley as I can get. I’d rather die than marry one of you.”

Anger coils like a tight spring inside of me. “I won’t be taking an Asen wife at the reaping. Want to know why?” I don’t wait for an answer. “Because, like you, I’d rather die than tie my life to an Asen woman.”

I shadow leap away from her to put some distance between us and saddle up my mare. Why does she press my buttons, and both enrage and enrapture me at the same time? Perhaps returning home and seeing my father with his Asen wife will be the cold sharp blast of reality I need to snap myself out of this.

She follows me out of the stables, her smile gone and an angry frown marring her pretty face. My shadows chastise mefor being the one to cause it. Well, she asked, and I gave her the truth.

“We’ll ride out across the valley plains towards the onyx mountains,” I say gruffly, warring with my shadows’ need to touch and soothe her.

“Sure. It’s not like I know where that is, having lived my sheltered life as a precious Shadow Kissed. It must be nice to be free to explore my beautiful realm.” Her bite back is cold and cutting.

I watch her as she eyes the distance between her saddle and the ground. Her gaze flicks my way, like she is debating whether to ask me for my help or not. She clearly decides against it, a determined frown on her face as she places her left foot into the stirrup. I shadow weave to her side and place my hands on her waist as I lift her up into the seat.

“I don’t need your help,” she snaps, glaring down at me.

“Yes, you do,” I say dryly. “Without my help, you’d have been on your backside in the mud. Let’s ride.” Whatever possessed me to volunteer to spend time with this frustrating woman today?

‘Ours,’my shadows whisper and I send a sharp order to be silent their way.

I climb onto Nuri and guide us out of the stable and out onto the main road out of the valley. When we reach the large imposing stone gates, her neck stretches as she takes in the height of them and her gaze flicks across the intricate carvings of Arawn in his full armour piercing the heart of a flame dragon.