Page 91 of Kiss the Filthiest King

I’m about to turn back, giving her space, and watch at a distance, when she talks. “You don’t need to leave.”

Her eyes are still closed, and she’s facing the other side of the lake. That she’s recognized my presence in the shadow is nothing short of bewildering.

Then again, I sensed hers as she left, evading every other gaze.

“And here I thought that you escaped your hall to be left alone.”

She turns, smiling. “It’s getting a little crowded in there. Rain means well, but she’s so enraptured by this world. I want to scream, shake her, make her reallylook.” Shaking her head, she asks, “She and Rachel need to stay in my apartments for their own protection. No one will bother them there. But I figuredIdidn’t have to remain. No one paid attention to me in this.”

She points either to her ears, or strawberry blonde waves.

“Be that as it may, while so many courtiers whose intentions you doubt remain in your hall, you should be careful. Just because they don’t recognize you as the queen doesn’t mean you’re beneath their attention. There’s a number of things the folk enjoy doing to irrelevant mortals.”

She shrugs. “I know, but they’re staring at Rachel’s tits and ass like they’d like to take a bite. Me?” She glances down at herself, and grimaces. “I’m hardly what one would call buxom. Let’s face it, the main reason any folk is interested in me is because of my bloodline, not my looks. I mean, on Earth, they think I’m pretty, and they also value flat, rail-thin girls. Not here.”

She’s matter-of-fact while painting a poor picture of her appearance, which is ludicrous.

I don’t know how to make her understand just how wrong she is. “Darina, the only possible way anyone would have looked away from you is because you willed it. It doesn’t matter what shape you take. You shine like a single rose in a desert.”

She snorts. “Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but I honestly don’t mind. It is nice to not look all that different from everyone else.”

“Darina? You’re beautiful,” I state plainly.

“I don’t think I’m ugly?—”

“Stop arguing.”

“It’s just…”

My finger’s pressed against her lips, and the moment I touch her, my entire body craves more. So I take it. I don’t have long to enjoy this. To pretend she belongs to me. I press my lips to her throat. “You.” Her shoulder. “Are.” Her hand. “Beautiful.” My eyes seek hers. “The single most beautiful thing alive in this world, to my eyes. You have all of your mother’s grace, and something more. An enticing, distressing appeal I can’t quite account for.”

I’ve bared more honesty than I would have liked, so I make myself sit back, and direct my stare away from her to the faraway shore she was staring at.

We’re silent for what feels like hours and seconds all at once.

Then she clears her throat. “So what now? I have the crown. They’ve more or less accepted it. What’s next? Loch fills me in on the day-to-day, but I don’t get the bigger picture. Do we stay here? Can I return to see my friends sometimes? Rain needs to go. This world will rip her apart. She’s just too…confident to be cautious.”

I nod. “Rainandyour sister ought to leave, yes. If you insist on keeping Rachel by your side, you will need to ensure she’s continuously guarded. Don’t let time make you complacent on that point. I will leave Caenan at your disposal. He seems rather fond of the human. Better still, he’s ruthless and can select and train your own guards.”

“Leave him?” She frowns. “You mean you’re going away?”

I mark a pause. “I have my own lands to manage, and half of the courts in this world answer to me. Besides, it might be safer for both of us to keep our distance.”

“I—” She blinks. “You’re leaving me?” she repeats, slowly.

Everything inside me immediately protests the notion, a great surge of rage roaring against it.

I make myself talk. “I can’t do this. This…dance between us. It’skillingme, Darina.” All of a sudden, I get a clear picture as to why my soul couldn’t be so far away, battling demons up in the sky while she was here.

Fuck.

Can I leave?

I have to at least try.

“You’re new to this world. You don’t understand what this bond is,” I say, fingers tracing her wrist where the marks slither languorously, echoing those around mine. “And that’s just fine. I don’t blame you for any of this. You were torn from your world days ago, thrown into this battlefield, and you’re doing so, so well. But no matter how it came about, this binds you to me.”

I let go of her hand.

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