Page 6 of The Fated and the Damned
Our lips were a breath apart and I longed to close that gap, to steal her kiss and drown myself in her. The sharp inhalation of Kitarni’s breath was enough to tell me her body wanted that too. For a moment, the world seemed to still—nothing but the heated air between us and the tingle from every whisper of our bodies pressing together.
“I will never give up on you,” I said quietly. “We can’t keep doing this, Kitarni. How long will you continue to ignore me? I need to explain, I need to tell you—”
“Don’t,” she snapped, her eyes searching my own, her torso shaking as it brushed against mine. Her hands crashed against my chest, sending me back a step. “I gave you so many chances. What is there to say? You betrayed me. Betrayed us. What can you say that will make me forget that?” She shook her head, her jaw hardening. “I will not yield, Dante. I won’t.”
She kneed me between the legs and I gasped, doubling over as pain wracked through my body, unable to do anything but watch the rigid line of her back as she stormed into the castle. Perhaps trying to talk to her through sparring wasn’t the best idea, but damn it all, it was worth a shot.
I wasn’t stupid, I knew it would take work and perseverance. I’d have to try harder, but I wouldn’t stop. Not until I had her once more.
Not until she was mine.
THREE
Kitarni
“It’ssogods-damnedgoodto see you.” I crushed Eszter in my arms, smiling at the familiar floral-and-honey scent of her hair. She laughed, the sound muffled as she buried her head in my shoulder, nuzzling in.
I hadn’t realised until now just how much I needed this. Needed my family. Mistvellen was my home now, but there was nothing so comforting as being reunited with my sister and mother. It helped to have some time away fromhim, too. After that heated little moment in the sparring ring a few days ago, I’d needed an escape. Returning to my village was the next best thing, even if it was mostly to oversee operations here.
“I missed you too,” she whispered, pulling back with a wide smile. “The house has been so much quieter without you in it. Everything has just been …” Her voice trembled, and I tugged her closer again, propping my head atop her own.
It had only been a few months since I’d seen her, but she seemed different somehow. Grown. The softness to her face had hardened ever so slightly, the gentleness of her eyes now bearing the weight of a woman who’d known hardship.
“I know, little one,” I said gently. “I know.”
We stayed like that for a while, just soaking each other in, enjoying the embrace between two sisters. Two souls whose threads bound them together.
A soft rap at the door had us both swivelling to find a mop of glistening blond hair and green eyes. I grinned, beckoning our guest to enter. “Eszter, I’d like to introduce you to my friend, András.”
Eszter untangled herself from my arms and dipped into a small curtsy. “It’s a pleasure, Lord …?”
I snorted. “Lord of Being A Pain In My Ass.”
András ignored me, his lips widening with amusement. “See what I put up with? A rare treasure, your sister,” he said to Eszter. He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “The pleasure is entirely mine.”
He peered at her with intrigue, eyes glimmering with the kind of shine that promised mischief. My eyes darted between them. “Oh no. Absolutely not. Eszter is off-limits, so keep your filthy paws away.”
“Kitarni, you wound me. I am nothing if not a gentleman.” He placed a hand over his heart, shooting me an affronted look.
I laughed, Eszter chuckling her amusement too as her eyes swept over András from head to toe. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was interest in her gaze, though from her letters I knew she was head over heels for Lukasz. I might have warned her aboutSándormen, but she seemed so happy, and hell if I was going to be the jealous, overbearing sister.
“I’m a big girl now, Kit, I can handle myself.”
I blinked. “Please tell me you didn’t grow uptoomuch while I was away.”
Eszter’s cheeks turned bright pink. “Gods, Kitarni,” she grumbled, knowing exactly what I meant by that. “Not one minute through the door and you’re prying already.”
My smile turned devilish. “Just doing my duty. I don’t think Lukasz would be too happy to hear you’re flirting with another táltos.”
András stiffened. “Lukasz is courting you? No one tells me anything,” he groused.
I smiled victoriously. “Did I fail to mention it? Well, now you know.” I padded to the table, taking a seat and plopping my boots on the back of another chair. I cast a sideways glance at my sister. “So, have you kissed him yet?”
“Kitarni!” she chided, her cheeks turning a shade of beetroot as she ducked her head sheepishly.
“Oh, don’t mind András,” I said, waving a hand. “He loves the gossip.”
He grinned, sliding into the seat beside mine. “It’s true, I feed on court gossip like the village drunk on that swill you call ale here. I already know we’re going to be good friends, Eszter.”
