Page 170 of Fearless

I stare down into my rippling teacup. A forgotten princess stares back, abandoned for power and hated for surviving despite it.

I blow out a breath while my mind struggles to connect all the pieces of my fragmented life.

Iris Moyra lived within this very castle, smothering her love for a man she could not have. They hid their affections like a thorny wall of roses, both beautiful but dangerous. Today, I watched the man my mother loved in secret bleed out before me. I hadn’t felt grief at his death. No, I felt a shiver of ghostly similarities between my mother and father’s doomed love. Their notes, their stolen love—it is Kai’s and my life mirrored. And if the Enforcer will someday meet the fate Calum has—

I cut the thought off before it has time to fester.

Perhaps Iris loved them both—the king and his Mind Reader. Perhaps in very different ways.

I think of Kitt and the blood we share. I think desperately of a way to undo this binding of our souls, one that does not rip the growth we have made for this kingdom out at the root. My chest tightens, the teacup rattling in my hand atop its saucer.

How am I going to find a way out of this?

A shifting shadow below catches my eye. I set my cup aside and squint into the growing darkness. The figure walks smoothly to a stop beneath my balcony and calls, “Guess who, Little Psychic?”

My heart stutters, yet I somehow manage to keep my voice steady. “Someone who has already forgotten my new title?”

Kai’s dry chuckle drifts into the breeze as I stand to lean over the railing. “Majesty, I have many titles for you. Not all are appropriate to shout.”

I roll my eyes. I can’t help but leap at the distraction he offers frommy spiraling thoughts. “What do you want, cocky bastard?”

“You forgot the ‘my’ in front of that endearing nickname.”

“You shouldn’t be here,” I challenge. “AsmyEnforcer.”

His tone echoes my own. “Then command me to go.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

“That would only be fair.”

I stare down at his shadowed form. “You’re deflecting.”

“Maybe I’m stalling.”

My eyes narrow. “And why is that?”

“Call it a desperate attempt to steal more time with you.”

I hide my smile with a duck of my head. “Do you intend to stand beneath my balcony all night, then?”

“No.” His gray gaze has faded away in the darkness, but I can feel it on me all the same. “We are going to visit your mother’s chamber.”

CHAPTER 64Kai

Gail places the plate of sticky buns between us, warm as the smile on her face.

“Look at you boys, back in my kitchen and begging for food.” Gail says this with so much endearment that she nearly chokes. She presses a hand to her heart. “Oh, how I missed this.”

Kitt nudges my shoulder with his own, looking happier than I thought possible after a day like this one. “Just like old times.”

My teeth sink into the honeyed dough. I nod. Swallow. “It would be more like old times if I threw you over this table.”

“Absolutely not,” Gail warns. “The both of you are much too big for that now—my kitchen can’t take it.” We smile at her scolding before she adds, “Where is Paedyn?”

Kitt takes a breath. Then he clutches his chest and coughs. “Is our company not enough for you anymore, Gail?”

“Don’t be smart with me, Kitt.” She plops her hands on full hips. “Forgive me for asking where your wife is on your wedding night.”

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