Page 142 of Kingdoms of Night

She giggled. It had been an explosion. Her body had taken on movements of its own. And now everything felt loose and happy. If she could preserve this moment, she would always return to it. Cherish it. Dwell in it.

What the future held, she couldn’t really see. But it felt possible. Somehow they would find a way to be together. They’d rescue the girls, and they’d figure out what they could do. Maybe he’d come on an adventure with her or maybe she’d go to Emaurria with him. It was a hazy future with a shape she couldn’t yet make out. But in this vague distant form, she could see it was beautiful.

Puck had been right. They were a good match. No. Not a good match. A perfect match.

She’d never planned on opening up to anyone romantically or sexually ever again. Especially not before she figured out what she’d been made for, what she was supposed to do now that she could no longer be the Master of Venom and Poison.

“You are good at this, too,” she said softly. She pulled his arm down from his face and let his hand fall to his chest as she stroked a line down his cheek. “I’m glad I drank the tea.” He was worth every drop of bitter oak gall, acacia, and juniper. Especially if what had happened tonight was any indicator of what was yet to come.

A smile curled over his sensual lips. “You and tea,” he mumbled. .

She kissed the corner of his mouth. Maybe she was rushing things, but he had given her this incredible night. He deserved honesty.

Her stomach fluttered with nervous energy. “I feel so close to you. I’ve never felt this close so quickly. And usually that would terrify me. But—” She dropped her hand over his. “The fact that someone like you exists? It makes me feel like anything is possible.” She wrapped her hand around his thumb and kissed the back of his hand. “Especially when I’m with you.”

His eyelids flew open, his entire body tensing. He jerked away and stared down at his hand. “I shouldn’t be doing this.”

“What?” Her entire body turned taut as a bowstring as she picked herself up. The cold of the night crashed in on her, bitter after the warmth.

He blinked. “I can’t. I just can’t. I have to—I’m supposed to be alone.”

She pulled away. Of course. How could she have been so stupid? She’d gone too fast. Again. Assumed. Again. Failed. Again!

He didn’t want her. Why would he want her? He never had. He’d even said that he just wanted her to feel good. He’d pitied her!

The blood thundered in her ears and pulsed throughout her body with a vicious beat. Of course. How could she have thought otherwise? What a fool she’d been! Worse than a blood beetle. She had slipped again. Started to fall for someone who couldn’t and wouldn’t love her the way she wanted.

Tears misted her eyes as she grabbed for her clothes.

Feron continued to stare at his hand. “We need to go. If you’re able. We shouldn’t...”

“Yes, we need to get to the girls.” She combed her fingers through her hair. “They’re—we shouldn’t have lost focus.”

Heat pounded in her cheeks like a beacon of condemnation. Blushing on top of everything. At least it was dark. He wouldn’t see in the moonlight. Hopefully.

It took her only seconds to straighten her vest and skirt and then put on her cactli. Her skin burned, and the tension throughout her body threatened to wreck her. How could she have been so stupid?

It had been obvious.

He had been clear.

Right from the start. And she’d jumped the bridge. Again!

Why would he want a relationship with someone like her? He wouldn’t. And she had even said she wasn’t looking for one. So here she was getting feelings. And she was a fool. A fool! A total fool. She had literally bared herselfagainto a man, only to learn he didn’t want her. Oh unlike Naatos, he was more than willing to show her what she was missing. To make her writhe and climax and explode. Somehow Naatos’s cold confusion no longer stung quite so much because he had only seen the start of her longing instead of its full pathetic revelation.

She choked back the tears. The pressure in her throat and behind her eyes intensified, her chest cramping. No matter what, he wouldn’t see her cry. He wouldneverknow how much this hurt.

More lights winked on and off in the meadows. They all but called out “come follow us,” but she had no time. Hefting up the bag, she turned toward the castle. The gentle silver-white moonlight provided enough visibility to spot it. And the terrain wasn’t difficult from here.

“Idalno, wait up,” Feron called out. “I haven’t finished dressing.”

Halting, she stiffened. When he’d said her name before, she’d practically melted. Now everything within her chilled to an icy point. She turned to face him.

He continued to fix his own clothes, struggling to get the shirt tucked in.

She set her jaw and waited until he had caught up with her. “We might be able to get to the girls before sunset tomorrow.” He gestured toward the bag. “Do you want me to carry that?”

“No.” She smoothed her hair back and then began plaiting it in a single off-the-shoulder braid.

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