Chapter 22
Ryzen
My throat closed up.
Lyn; a vision, so kind and so graceful. And me, the most despised man in all of the Southern Isles.
I think I’m starting to have feelings for you.
My mouth suddenly couldn’t form any words.
“You need not say anything now,” she said quickly, as though she was already realizing that this was a mistake. “I know it’s a little bit of a shock. To be honest, it was to me too.” She let out a nervous chuckle.
“Why me?” It was the only thing I could think to ask.
She took small, tentative steps toward me, her eyes clear and wide. Like mine.
Gulping slightly, she took my hand. Her skin was so soft, flawless.
“I know… I know you think that there are people who are not fond of you and that may be true but…” She looked up to meet my burning gaze and said, “I will never be one of them.”
“Lyn,” I whispered, my eyes shut tight.
The need to tell her about the curse was overwhelming. But still, I didn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to form the words.
When I opened my eyes, she had a soft smile on her face. I realized, so did I.
“I’ve wanted to do this since the moment I first laid eyes on you,” I breathed, our voices so loud in the sudden silence that encompassed us. My fingers raised to brush the hair away from her neck, letting them graze over her alabaster skin. Her breath hitched.
I gave her no warning as I brought my lips down on hers.
Soft. So utterly soft that I felt myself melting against her as she gripped my arms tight, as if she was afraid this wasn’t real. I felt the same way.
It wasn’t a tentative kiss, no, not as I tangled my hand in her hair, pulling her impossibly closer, as though I could meld her body to mine.
A groan erupted from me and I slipped my hands around her waist, so perfect. I crushed her against me as her hands snaked around my neck.
Stop. Not like this.
I pulled away and found her frowning at me, chest heaving.
“Why’d you stop?” she murmured, her cheeks flushed.
I grazed my thumb over her cheek with a subdued smile.
“I want to do this properly,” I said, my own breathing a little ragged. “You deserve that much.”
~
“So we really have nothing?” I overheard my brother say as I walked into the throne room.
Gladys stood there with him, the only two people in the colossal space, their voices reverberated off the bluestone walls.
“No,” she replied, her eyes downcast. I tried not to look at the shining silver of her gown that gathered all the light in the room.
“And where have you been?” she questioned as I strode in, my hands in my pockets.
Snogging Ms. Alcoff, is the reply that came to my mind but didn’t voice.
A genuine smirk on my face, I stood beside Rorcan, who raised an eyebrow at me. I grinned wider.
“What’s seems to be the problem now?” I sighed.
“Gold’s gone,” Rorcan stated bluntly.
I whipped my head towards him. “What do you mean ‘gone?’”
“I mean that our Treasury is done,” he said, his arms crossed. “We have no more gold.”
I immediately turned my glare towards Gladys and then said with a hateful smile, “Well, now there seems to be only one option. Increase the tithe.”
Gladys snapped her eyes to mine, anger in those soulless black pits.
“That could be problematic,” Rorcan said with a grimace. “We need to come up with something else. Not to mention Ms. Alcoff.”
I faced Rorcan with a mysterious smile. “You don’t have to worry about her.” He raised a questioning brow. “You’re the smart one brother, I’m sure you can come up with something.”
I turned around to leave just as he opened his mouth to say something and I didn’t miss Gladys’s widened eyes.
~
“What did you do?”
I smirked at my brother, nearing laughter at his angered face.
“You mistake me Rory,” I drawled as I took off my jacket, followed by my shirt, thinking of doing something special for tonight’s dinner. “I haven’t put a spell on her or something. If anything, she’s put a spell on me.”
Arms crossed, he stood there, his eyes narrowed, his breathing even.
I stared right back.
“Well, do you plan on putting on some clothes?” he asked pointing to my bare chest. “Or are you going to take her to dinner half naked?”
I grinned.
To be continued…
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