Page 129 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Because I have answers.”

His brow furrowed slightly at my words.

“All of them?”

“No,” I admitted.

“Then it still stands.” Kaius moved forward, the water rippling around him meant that all I could see was the blurred shape of his body. I was only mildly surprised by my disappointment at not being able to see more.

If you can see him, then he can see you.

That is unless he already can, because he has some sort of super Fae eyesight, which would be pretty unfair right now.

Despite the heat of the water, a shiver ran through me at the thought of his eyes on my naked body.

“I’ll get you the rest like I promised.” I nodded as the pulsing red lines that crossed above us, mirrored the blood that was racing under my skin.

“What answersdidyou get from Arden?”

“He tested my magik.”

“Smart. The outcome?”

“That I’m Fae.”

“Obviously.” His mouth lifted in a cocky smirk, and I rolled my eyes at him, preparing myself for the next part.

“And an Anomaly,” I breathed out, studying his face for any reaction, but his eyes just sparkled as he looked at me. The tiredness I had seen in him earlier erased, replaced by an emotion I didn’t want to put a name to.

“You knew?”

“Of course not, but it’s not surprising; there’s nothing average about you, Goldie.” Water flowed around him, distorting the surface as he moved, making any image of him fracture and warp.

I took a step back, causing the level of the water to drop so that the swell of my breasts were no longer hidden, and his eyes flicked down from my face. Gaze heating as he continued his torturously slow way to me. Water droplets trailed over his hard body, curving over the planes of his muscles. I wanted to run my tongue along his skin, taste him in my mouth. Feel his body flex under my hands like the water that got to touch his body could.

Was I really jealous of water?

Step by delicious step, more of his tattooed body rose from the water until only his waist was submerged. Kaius was close enough now that if I had looked down, I would have seen his cock as clear as anything, but I forced myself to keep my eyes above water. Given the beauty of this man, it wasn’t as hard as I would have thought. The pendant hanging round my neck heated against my skin the closer he got, as if it was responding to his nearness.

Much like myself.

White strands of my hair floated in the water around us, and he twisted a lock in his fingers before letting it go. The energy between us crackled in the calm of the cavern. I could have sworn that faint shadows danced around us just outside of my eyesight.

“Kaius.” My voice was barely a whisper.

“Yes?”

“I don’t blame you. I’m sorry for what I said yesterday.” I held my breath in anticipation of his reaction. I didn’t want to break this moment—whatever this was—but I needed him to know that I was just scared and lashing out.

“I should have done more.”

I started to respond, but my mouth snapped shut as he spoke first.

“No. Ishouldhave done more. I should have been here.”

“Where were you?”

“Nowhere that matters when it comes to your safety.” He frowned down at me, but I could tell it was directed at himself. A sweep of magik washed through me, over the pink scars on my back, and the muscles loosened deep within my body. I hadn’t even tried to fight it.

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