Page 62 of Song of the Shadow Prince
I choked on my spit. “Are you kidding me? I don’t expect to be here even a month, buddy!”
He smirked. “Now, kitty cat, I need you to be more realistic. You won’t be able to leave herethatquickly.”
My stomach bottomed and the blood drained from my face. “What do you mean?”
He sighed and narrowed his eyes. “Fine. You drive a hard bargain, kitty cat.Fiveyears.”
I frowned, suddenly nervous. “Am I really going to be stuck here that long?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know.”
No. No way. That was impossible! There was no way I could be stuck in this world for years. I couldn’t. I would go crazy.
“One year,” I said, my voice ringing clearly. That was the longest I would consider staying in Elaria. If I didn’t find a way to leave by then… Well, I didn’t want to think about what I’d do if I went past the year mark.
“Deal,” Klaus quickly answered. He stuck out his hand to shake and seal our bargain.
I bit my lower lip and stared at his delicate hand, wondering if I should shake it. If I was going to be stuck in Elaria, I wouldneed some protection of sorts. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad deal, after all.
Hesitantly, I reached out and slipped my hand into his. I expected him to shake it, but instead he pulled me toward him. My chest slammed into his as his free hand snaked into my hair and grabbed the back of my head. Before I could process what was happening, the bastard kissed me.
His lips were soft yet insistent, molding perfectly to mine as if they were made to fit together. His kiss wasn’t just a brush of lips; it was an assertion, a statement, a melding of warmth and coolness that matched his enigmatic presence. His tongue sought permission at the seam of my lips, teasing them apart gently but confidently, exploring my mouth with an expert mix of exploration and familiarity.
The world seemed to still, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and our mingled breaths. My initial shock melted away as I found myself responding to his kiss. My body relaxed and my hands moved of their own accord to grip his shirt, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened and Klaus’ flavor—a mix of mint and something wild, like the forest itself—made my head spin.
And it all felt wrong.
Like I was cheating, but the only person I would be cheating on was Fernando’s duplicitous ass, so honestly, screw him. But still, it felt wrong in so many ways. Suddenly, a pair of obsidian eyes crossed my mind. Damien’s eyes.
What the fuck?
I had to stop myself from snorting, because that would totally ruin the moment. Why did I feel like I was cheating on Damien, of all people? What the hell did he have to do with any of this… with me? Fuck. Why was my life so damn complicated, even in this world?
When we finally broke apart, breathless, a cheeky grin played across Klaus’ lips. His eyes sparkled with delight and a touchof arrogance, as if he knew just how disarming he could be and relished it.
“There! Now we’ve properly sealed the deal,” Klaus murmured, his voice low and husky. His breath mingled with mine, creating a shared space that was intensely intimate.
I frowned and touched my lips with trembling fingers. A zap of electricity shocked me when I felt my lower lip. “What did you just do?”
Klaus smirked. “That is how we fae make deals with you humans.”
“Even if I was a man?” I gasped. I mean, I wasn’t opposed, but the whole ordeal was quite bizarre.
He shrugged. “Does it matter whether you’re a man or a woman? Only humans care about those labels.” I went to slap his face, but he quickly grabbed my wrist before I struck him. “Easy there, kitty cat. I just did you a favor.”
“You just kissed me without my consent!” I screamed. “Now my lips are all tingly and shit, and I feel like something is seriously wrong with me!”
Klaus grinned. “Nothing is wrong with you, little human. The deal is merely taking effect. Relax. You’ll be fine in a few seconds. As for the kiss… well, you’re welcome. It was simply an added benefit.” He winked. He actually winked!
I scoffed. “You really think you did me a favor? You’re a real bastard!” I ripped my arm out of his grasp. “I swear, if we were in my world, I’d… I’d… sue you!”
He nodded. “I’m sure you would, little human.”
His condescending tone only infuriated me. In my impotent rage, I pulled at the roots of my hair and screamed into the void of the forest until I was hoarse. Not only was I mad at him for kissing me, but I was mad at Damien for intruding into my thoughts while Klaus kissed me. I was a complicated woman.
“You’re quite odd.” He gazed up at the canopy-covered skies. “The daylight hours are dwindling, kitty cat. You might want to go before it gets too late. You don’t want to get caught in here by other fae,” he said, his tone more serious than I’d heard since meeting him.
I looked over at him dryly. “Who could be worse than you?”
