Page 35 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Because I am his Lord.”

What is a Lord doing kidnapping me then breaking into my room to soothe my nightmares?

“AmIsupposed to call you my Lord?” I asked, opening my eyes and raising an eyebrow in his direction.

“Would you?”

“No, I wouldn’t,” I replied, trying hard to stifle a yawn as my lids pressed closed again.

He huffed out a quiet laugh. “I didn’t think so.”

I could feel his gaze lingering on my face.

“Stop staring at me or I’ll punch you, too,” I mumbled.

He laughed softly and my stomach done a lap of somersaults at the sound.

“Goddess themselves, I wish I’d had more time to soak in that moment. No one except me has taken a swing like that at Bastian for a very long time.”

“He deserved it.” I was being pulled too swiftly into sleep to say much more.

“He did.”

The bed shifted slightly as Kaius moved closer, his fingers sweeping gently over my hand before I curled my own around his, feeling the soft hum of my magik as our fingers joined.

“We didn’t even ask your name,” he murmured to himself, sweeping hair away from my face with a featherlight touch.

“Elodie,” I whispered, unsure if he heard me as I felt myself slipping away into sleep. “My name is Elodie.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Elodie.”

“I know.”

I could hear the smile in his answering chuckle, and I allowed myself a smile too, the warmth of him next to me settled into my body as I closed my eyes.

And right then, I wasn’t afraid of what was waiting for me.

16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ELODIE

There is always that moment, that pause of time before you wake, before your mind catches up with all the things that sleep allowed it to forget. I wanted to stay in that moment. Where I was still in my own bed and there was a warm spot beside me where Titan was curled up.

As I blinked away the heavy haze of sleep, adjusting to the brightness of sunlight that filtered through the window, beams of light fell across the bed cutting through any delusion I was home.

With an aching body, I sat up slowly, the soft covers bunching at my waist as the dust motes swirled in the air around me, their lazy dance the opposite of my racing mind.

My nightmare, being kidnapped. My nightmare finding me in reality.

Walking through the wall and punching Big Man in the face.

Walking to the palace with Marcellus, being put into this room.

Banging my fists on the door, Marcellus placing me on the bed.

My family burning alive, Kaius holding me close.

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