Page 84 of Shadow Kissed
“Possibly. I’m sending more soldiers to assist, including yourfriend,”he says. “Either that or I choke him to death for touching you.”
Is it wrong that part of me heats at the way he gets so violent at the idea of someone else touching me? I look down at my tattered skirts as he moves towards me. He places a finger under my chin and forces me to look at him.
“Fraternising with a Shadow Kissed is punishable by death. You need to make sure he doesn’t touch you again. Had anyone else witnessed him kissing you today, I would have had no choice but to punish him.”
I gulp. I knew the laws forbidding soldiers from having any kind of sexual contact with a Shadow Kissed once they were at the mansion. Damn Arkynn for being so stupid and reckless. I nod my head in response. The next time I see him, I need to make it crystal clear that there is no hope of anything romantic between us.
“What am I going to do? The mistress will know I’m missing by now?” I’ve no sooner said the words when there is another rap on the commander’s office door. He curses. “Why can’t I have privacy when I desire it?” He strides over to the door and opens it a fraction, ensuring whoever is on the other side cannot see me.
“Good morning, Commander.”
“What is it, Orym?” Raegal demands, keeping his body firmly in between the doorway.
“There’s a Shadow Kissed missing, Commander. Her mistress is worried the rebels have taken her. Shall I organise a search party?”
Raegal shakes his head. “There’s no need. The missing female is here, in my office.”
There’s a silence. “She is? Oh, oh, I see, sir. What would you like me to tell the mistress?” I don’t miss the tone of understanding in the soldier’s voice. My cheeks heat in mortification.
“I expect your discretion, Orym. If you can tell the mistress that I caught Miss Lockwood attempting to sneak into the barracks and I’ll be escorting her back to the mansion myself shortly.”
“Of course, Commander,” he replies. “Your secret is safe with me. Good morning, miss,” he says into the room and my cheeks flood with blood in mortification.
“Err, hi,” I reply, wanting to curl up and die.
“That will be all, soldier,” Raegal barks as he steps back and effectively pushes the door closed in the soldier’s face.
“You couldn’t make up another excuse?!” I exclaim, feeling completely mortified. “He thinks we were in here; you know…”
Raegal smirks as he watches me, his hand leaning against the closed door, his other on his hip. He tilts his head. “No, I don’t know, Terror. You’ll need to use words.”
I cross my arms over my chest, forgetting they were holding up my tattered skirts, which fall to the floor again at my feet. His nose flares as his eyes move up my bare legs. He strides towards me, and I gulp in apprehension. When he stops in front of me reaches out and grips at the back of my neck, forcing me to look at him.
“We were doing exactly what he thinks we were doing. Better that than he suspects you and your boy are lovers. I’m the commander, it’s expected that I take liberties.”
I scowl at him. “I’m glad you find the matter so trivial. It isn’t your reputation I’m bothered about in the slightest. He thinks we were in here having sex!”
Raegal’s lips quirk as he fights a smile. “And he wouldn’t be far wrong, and we both know it.”
I swallow deeply. “I thought you didn’t touch my kind?” I ask him, feeling cornered and confused.
His eyes study my face as he strokes his thumb across my jawline. His eyes linger on my amethyst necklace. “It seems I have an insatiable hunger for you. And when I do bed you, Terror, it will be in a bed and when I have the time to keep you there for days on end.”
My cheeks redden as I hold in a breath. “This is a mistake.”
He nods in agreement as he runs his thumb over my bottom lip. “Agreed. A terrible and stupid mistake, but I fear there’s no turning back.”
I reach out and tentatively place my hand on his chest. “Raegal, what do you know about this connection between me and the mutts? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
He considers my question for a moment as he cups the back of my neck in his hands. “When I know, you’ll know.”
“But you have your suspicions, right?”
He nods. “But that is all they are right now, Terror. I need one last taste of you before I take you back,” he whispers as he closes the distance between us and kisses me like I’m the air he needs to breathe. I melt against him and meet his eager kisses with my own, all the while the heavy sense of guilt sits uncomfortably in the pit of my stomach.
“I’ll make a deal with you, Terror,” he says as he reluctantly pulls his mouth away. “If you can beat every contender in thecombat class this afternoon. I’ll take you home to see your brothers tonight.”
I still at his words. “But it isn’t allowed.”