Page 141 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Alright, she wasn’t. She was a crazy old lady who liked to collect acorns and got into a ridiculous amount of fights with squirrels. But I do have a good feeling about this.”

They both burst into laughter as Bastian reached for the handle of the door.

I sucked in a breath as I settled back into my body, ears picking up the deep laughter floating towards me moments before my eyes focused on the door Alouette had just opened. She raised an eyebrow in question before striding out, and I followed on shaky legs behind her.

They had stepped into the corridor the same time as us, and my eyes snapped up to be caught in Kaius’ steely gaze. I wanted nothing more than to cross the space between us.

Instead, I froze. Heart hammering as he moved towards me, and the corridor suddenly felt much too small for us to both be here.

Stopping in front of me, he leaned down, tucking a white strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers just grazing my skin before he was pressing his lips to my cheek. My skin flushed under his touch.

“Morning, Goldie.” His low voice rumbled and my lungs filled with the scent of him—cedarwood and petrichor. My magik sung.

“Morning,” I managed to mutter as he pulled back slightly.

“You good?” His voice was quiet, eyes focused intently on mine. If I wasn’t careful, I’d find myself lost in them.

“Yeah,” I managed to say, the soft caress of his breath from his answering laugh brushing across my lips before he straightened.

“You’re on your way to Arden, I hope.” A harsh voice pulled me sharply from my Kaius-induced daze, and my eyes hardened as I took in Bastian who unfortunately hadn’t kept walking and standing before me.

“Yes,” I ground out, hating I was doing anything he wanted, and wishing I could defy his demand with every second I was in his presence. “And after that, I’m getting those answers you owe me. One way or another.”

Knowing that getting the information I was so desperate for aided him was a double-edged sword I was going to have to swallow. That didn’t mean it went down any smoother, and the longer I looked into his cold, handsome face, the greater the urge to shove my metaphorical sword up his ass grew.

“Oh, are you?” His brow arched as he oozed sarcasm, tucking his hands into his pockets.

My hands clenched with the need to release magik. His eyes flicked down to them, the smirk on his lips growing wider.

Bastian stepped towards me with fire dancing behind his eyes. “Looks like you need some lessons in control, Princess.”

“Why’s that? Scared of me, are you, Big Man?”

“Of you?” His laugh rang through the hollow space, its barbed edges lodging inside me as he moved past without another look my way. His arm brushed against mine sending angry sparks of magik igniting over my skin.

“I’m getting those answers,” I shouted at his back as he strode away.

Kaius moved in front of me, hand tilting my chin up towards him and brushed his thumb against my lower lip. I opened my mouth on instinct, pussy pulsing as his eyes locked on the movement and flared with desire. His face dipped to mine as he pressed the lightest of kisses on my lips.

“You’re getting anything you want, Goldie.” With that, he turned, too, following his asshole friend out the hall.

51

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

ELODIE

The fire in Arden’s room burned hot as he ushered us into the circular chamber. I eyed the flames leaping in the grate, my notice falling again on the books sat within the flame-hardened bricks. I inhaled softly the sweet smell of incense that infused the air, moving towards the collection of armchairs grouped around a round table loaded with food.

I chose my seat wisely this this; a wide, green, velvet seat that sagged as I sat, the memory of yesterday’s attack still lingered in my body despite my magikal attempts at healing—and my time in the pool. Alouette followed, dropping into a teal chair covered in bright florals that was stuffed so tight she barely made a dent in it.

“You look much better today, Elodie,” Arden began as I settled back, quietly happy I had remembered to choose a softer seat. He took the same armchair he sat in last time I was here. A mustard, brocade, smoking jacket was belted at his waist, and emerald pinstripe trousers made his long legs look even more elongated. “The Fyria caves seems to have worked their magik.”

My face flared red as thoughts of my time with Kaius bombarded me, and I mumbled out a quiet ‘yes’. At the sametime, a snort of laughter flew from Alouette’s mouth. I shot her a look that I hoped translated as ‘I’ll fight you later’ before my eyes flicked back to Arden. I didn’t miss his small smile before he closed his lips over his pipe.

“Food first, then we can pick up where we left off yesterday.” He gestured at the food spread between us. Leaning forward gratefully, I picked up a pastry covered in melted cheese. My stomach groaned as I took a bite.

We ate in a companiable silence, the only sound the occasional pop of the fire, and the subtle ruffle of feathers from somewhere high above. Despite my continuous glances upwards, I saw no sign of anything.

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