Page 65 of Spirit Rites
His intensity ratchets up another notch. “Yes, we’re back to this.”
“I don’t get it. What are you so upset about? Nothing happened.”
He swallows so hard, I can see his Adam’s apple working overtime. He closes his eyes a moment. When he opens them, his green eyes are more intense than ever. “I heard you scream.”
I frown. “I didn’t scream.” At least, I didn’t think I had. It was possible in the midst of the insanity maybe I had.
“I heard you scream, and I was nowhere near you and couldn’t get to you.”
Oh.Ohh. “That’s what you’re upset about?”
“I heard you scream, and I wasn’t there. When I did get there,” his eyes darken. “You were just about to get burned alive.”
His words paint a picture that is not exactly warm and fuzzy. “I wasn’t going to—”
“The guivre opened its mouth right at your back.”
I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Finally, I ask, “Is that why you shoved me to the ground?” He nods. “I, I didn’t know.” I think about how the ground in front of us burst into flames, and it all suddenly paints a picture. A very terrible picture. I’d almost been burned alive. If not for Kaldar, I would have been. I stare up at him, suddenly feeling like I’m going to throw up.
“That. That right there is how I felt.” He tugs me into his arms and against his firm chest. I close my eyes and listen to his steady heartbeat.
“Thank you,” I whisper against his chest.
His large hand comes up to cradle the back of my head. “You took years off my life today, Angel.”
I’m still trying to recover from the shock of what almost happened today to call him on the endearment. “I didn’t mean to.”
He sighs, and I can feel it in his entire body. His body is so tense, but the longer he holds me, the more I feel his muscles begin to ease and maybe even begin to relax. “Why didn’t you just stay inside?” His voice is quiet.
“I couldn’t. The guivre was coming towards the Grove. Some of the little ones couldn’t be quiet, and they were leading itright towards us. If it had blown its dragonfire, it would have consumed the doors and then who knows how many people would have gotten hurt.” His arms tighten around me, and I feel his body tense again. “There were children in there, Kaldar,” I say softly. “I couldn’t let that happen.” I listen to the beating of his heart for a few moments. “And just so you know, Reika really did try to stop me. And I wasn’t reckless. All I did was get on the other side of it and yell to draw its attention away from the door. Oh.” The thought hits me suddenly. “That’s probably what you heard.”
He blows out a breath, and I can feel it on the top of my head. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He pulls back and looks down at me. “But please. No more heroics. I need you alive.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Says the man who carves out the hearts of guivres.”
Chapter 31
“It’s the best way to kill them.”
I take a few steps back, needing to clear my head. “So, why is Evren on your security team when you don’t trust him?”
He crosses his arms over his chest and leans one shoulder against the wall. “I don’t have any say in the matter.”
I study him. “You’re the king. You don’t get to choose who’s on your team?”
"I chose Taren, Jorren, Reika, and Arielle.” He says her name without any emotion, but I wince at the sound of the fallen warrior. “But my uncle pushed for Evren to be on my team.”
“And he won?”
Kaldar laughs humorlessly. “You will come to see that my uncle usually gets what he wants.”
I take a guess. “Your father’s brother.” His nod confirms it. “What’s the story?” I sit on the bed and watch him.
“He was my father’s older brother.” My brows rise at that. “Exactly.” I stay quiet. “Normally, the oldest is chosen to be king. But my grandfather chose my father to be his successor.” I didn’t have to guess where this story was leading. “My uncle has always wanted the throne. When my father died, he made a play for his son to be the king. The council voted against him; which is saying something.”
“Why?” I can’t help but ask.
“My uncle is head of the council.”
