Page 34 of The Stygian Crown

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Kara. Jon’s lucky to be alive. If I’d been keening—”

“But you’ve already taken care of that, haven’t you?”

Logan drug his fingers through his hair.

Good, he was flustered.

“What are you talking about? I rode like hell across the Karashae for you, because I promised you I’d make it back. I didn’t make that promise lightly, Kara. And when I returned, not only did you not recognize me—you asked a complete stranger to keen with you. Then I find you half-naked in my best friend’s lap, kissing him?” His voice was ragged.

“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t recognizeLord Melbournewith the beard, the fake accent, and the mask covering his entire face.”

“I knew you from the moment you walked in the room.”

Kara despised the tingle that ran through her. “I didn’t expect you to come back at all after what I saw! I had to figure out something.” Some part of her subconscious had to have recognized him, but maybe she hadn’t wanted to acknowledge how inescapable her feelings for him were.

Logan moved toward her. Kara stepped backward and ran into a bench. She resisted the urge to reach out into the darkness and touch him.

“What did you see, Kara? Who have you been spying on?”

If he accused her of being disloyal to the clan, she would stab him where he stood.

“You kissed her. Or she kissed you, but you did nothing to stop it, Logan.” Her voice broke on the words, her chest heaving from the struggle to hold it all in.

His breath faltered. “How?”

“Serena loaned me a lover’s bowl to scry for you in.”

Logan cursed. “Well, that explains some things.”

“This isn’t funny, Logan.” He’d shattered her. She never wanted to give anyone that power again.

“Darling, please let me explain.” He stepped toward her, and she had nowhere to go. His heat crowded around her.

He reached for her, and she flinched. He hissed through his teeth and stepped back to allow her more space.

“Fuck,” he growled. “She flirted with me from the moment we collected her. I paid it no mind, hoping she’d grow tired of it. It’s not unusual—sheltered noble girl looking to rebel wants to cavort with the dangerous mercenary. Looking for one last gasp of excitement before they saddle themselves to a sedate noble for the rest of their lives. I ignored it. It was bloody annoying. I think she knew I had eyes for another, and that made her all the more determined. The princess is unaccustomed to not getting what she wants.

She complained about her impending betrothal to Prince Rand. How she’d never been kissed and would like to try it before being locked in for life. Jon offered to kiss her, of course. Hell, half the party did, even Faedra, but at that point she had it stuck in her mind. The game was too easily won if it wasn’t me, as I’m the only one who told her no.”

Kara had expected to be mad at Logan’s recounting, but she just felt hollow. If she hadn’t broken out Wesley—hadn’t been kicked out of the clan to begin with, she would have been with them.

“She was growing bolder, and I—well, she’s still the princess of the realm. Could be queen one day. I couldn’t tell her to go to the goddess with the livelihood of the clan currently riding on Calim’s contracts. When she came into the tent that night, I was bloody sick of it. I thought if I let her take her one kiss, she’d be satisfied. So I let her do it. It meant nothing to me, Kara. It was flesh, pressure. Air.You. You mean everything to me.”

“What happened next?”

“Your little bowl didn’t tell you that?”

“Ask that to my doorframe.”

Logan grunted. “When she didn’t stop after one kiss, I stopped her myself and removed her from my tent, much to her disgruntlement. I asked Jon to sleep in my tent with me for the rest of my trip, just so she didn’t get any ideas. She was beginning to piss me off, and I wanted to maintain the peace. He’ll attest to that.”

“If that’s true, why are you humoring her now? You lookedthroughme last night, Logan.”

“I have a role to play, Kara. Just like you. And I was still fuming, trying to get over my anger.Marriage mart?”

“It was Serena’s idea. It’s not as if I actually intend to marry anyone.”

Logan’s voice went rough, low. Thunder rippled along his throat. “Why did you kiss him?”

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