Page 34 of Hidden Kingdoms

“What was the dream about?” he questioned, a look of genuine concern transforming his face to a raw need to help me, as though he had been scraped down to the bone like I had been.

“I don’t remember,” I answered automatically. l was lying.

I remembered every terrifying, painful second.

If I thought about it too long, focused enough, I would feel the flames still burning their way up my body. Hear the screams of the people l loved harmonising with my own.

Grey eyes delved into mine with a raging sadness, their stormy depths swirling with emotion and I knew he could sense my lies like I could his.

Tonight, neither of us were offering up our secrets.

Raking a hand through his dark hair, he sighed heavily before slowly getting up from my bed. The absence of his warm body next to mine affected me more than it should, and I fisted my hands in the tangled blankets to stop myself from reaching for him. I watched him, greedily studying the tattoos that decorated every inch of exposed skin as he crossed to the table. Pouring out some of the water from the pitcher into a cup, he held his hand over the top, a soft glow surrounded it before he came back to the bed.

This time he didn’t sit, instead holding it out for me to take, and magik leapt through his fingertips as they grazed against mine.

The cup was warm in my hand, but his body had been warmer.

I stared into the clear liquid. I didn’t think he would poison me—what would be the point of getting rid of me just yet?I ran my finger over the rim knowing I was still somewhat taking a risk before I tentatively took a sip. It was hot and sweet with a herbal taste that was familiar. I swallowed some more, sighing as it soothed my aching throat.

“Did you really think I would poison you?” He chuckled softly from too far away.

“Can never be too careful these days,” I replied, my throat working hard despite the tonic. “One minute you’re in bed asleep with your dog, next minute you’ve been kidnapped.”

It was a cheap shot but it was the truth, and the thought of Titan made me both angry and heartbroken in equal measure, so I pushed it firmly away. Now wasn’t the time. He winced at my words but didn’t deny them. I liked that he didn’t try to deny me my truth.

“This tastes familiar.”Like something Nanna made for me when I was younger,I said changing the subject, for whose benefit I wasn’t sure—maybe it was for both of us.

His head tilted slightly to the side. “Is it working?”

I nodded taking another sip, it tasted like home and as the burn of tears threatened to spill, I blinked them away.

Kaius stood in silence and watched as I finished the whole cup. Having his entire focus on me was something I found I liked. Once empty he took it from me, setting it on the table.

Our eyes met and a vice seized my heart, freezing me in its intensity. Kaius’ body tightened, every muscle locking as his hands fisted by his side. It lasted no more than a few secondsbefore I could suck in a deep breath and both our bodies relaxed, relief flashing across his face. Kaius reached up to run a hand through his hair, his top riding up his tattooed stomach giving me a flash of the deep V-shaped muscle carved there. My eyes flicked back to his face, but it was an effort to keep them there.

“I’ll leave you to get back to sleep. A new guard should be posted outside already. If you need anything,” he said reluctantly, turning slightly in the direction of the door but not making a move to step away.

Andmaybeit was because I was still raw from the nightmare, and I didn’t want to sleep alone after everything I’d been through over the last day.

Maybeit was because I knew I had to figure out a way home, and playing nice with Kaius seemed to be going well for now. It wasn’t exactly hard to do, since he didn’t seem like an outright monster and I would take full advantage of any kindness I was offered.

Maybe I just didn’t want him to leave.

“No, wait. Stay. Just... just until I fall asleep.” The words left me before I decided my reason behind them, and I didn’t care to figure it out right now.

I hated the vulnerability I was showing, but I couldn’t deny I was terrified of what waited for me when I closed my eyes. Him being here might help somehow.

I wanted him to stay.

“I’ll stay,” he whispered without hesitation, and I let out a ragged sigh of relief as he faced back to me, but I was too tired in this moment to analyse the emotion in his eyes.

Head drooping with fatigue, I laid down and let my eyes close. Kaius’ soft steps approached the bed and he pulled the tangled blanket back over me, mattress dipping as he sat on the edge.

“He called you ‘my Lord’, that guard before.” I kept my eyes closed though I was sure a growl came from his direction at the mention of the guard.

“He did.”

“Why?”

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