Page 25 of Saved By the Headless Horseman
“When I came to, cursed to be this monster, I was alone.Your betrayal consumed my thoughts.The magic had blighted who I used to be.The anger I died with molded me into this.It tainted every memory—casted every moment into a new light that made your rejection of me make sense.”He swallows thickly.“I wanted you to suffer as I had.My need for revenge warped the years we spent together and made me see you as my enemy.”
His hands pause on my back, and I take that as a sign.My breath turns sharp in my legs.
“I see,” I say, taking a small step back.
Krane’s eyes widen as I hold my hands out to my side.Lifting my chin, I meet his gaze.
“If my death will bring you peace, then by all means.I won’t stop you.Death would be better than living with your hatred.”
Krane growls as green flames lick up the walls.They burn brighter until they are hard to look at.Krane shifts a gloved hand through his flames as if they were hair.An old habit that makes my heart squeeze.
“Nothing makes sense to me now.I want to believe you, but I?—”
“You can’t,” I answer for him.
He is silent for a moment.The sharp line of his mouth turns down.We stare at each other, the room thick with smoke and indecision.My chest rises and falls under his stormy gaze.He seems so far away, yet he stands barely an arm’s length away.A sea of distrust crashes between us.
There is only one thing left to do.It is my last-ditch effort—my final card to play in the hopes of changing his mind.I lick my lips, taking a small step closer.
“If you won’t believe my words.Maybe you’ll believe this.”
He eyes me warily as I curl my fingers into his coat.Tugging him forward, I press up onto my toes and seal our mouths together.It feels like coming home.Everything clicks into place inside of me.This is Krane—my Krane.If I had not felt his soul before this kiss would surely solidify who he is to me.
Lips of flames are still against mine.Behind my closed eyes, I can see the flickering of his fire.His face does not burn me.It licks against my skin, warm and inviting as ever.I half expect him to shove me away.To accuse me of using this as another distraction to divert my guilt.His hands remain at his side, and I’m not sure he’s breathing.
In an instant, everything changes.
Krane comes alive against my mouth.Snarling into our kiss, his hands grip my back.His fingers tease and trail along the curve of my spine.They sink into my ass, and I gasp against his mouth.
The wet slide of a tongue startles me.Its warm glide along mine causes me to moan.His hands squeeze my flesh.Breaking our kiss, his head falls to my neck, biting and tasting along my sensitive skin.My head falls back, urging him to explore more.How I’ve missed this—us.
Each touch is familiar; he knows my body better than I do.A thought that is reaffirmed when he nips at my pulse point.My eyes grow heavy, and my mouth opens on a keening moan—moisture slides from me, dampening my inner thighs.
“I’ll prove myself to you,” I vow.
He groans against me, licking a path up my jaw.His mouth returns to mine as if he can’t stop.We’re both overcome.My hands sink beneath his coat, gripping his undershirt.I pull at it, desperate to feel his flesh against my hands.His lips leave mine again to pay attention to my cheek.I rub my legs together, desperate for friction.
“I’ll earn your trust again,” I sigh as he nips my ear.“Together, we’ll kill them.They’ll confess to their treachery, and you’ll see I had no part in any of this.”
“Yes,” he groans.
Our mouths meet again, biting and devouring each other whole.My body is pressed flat against him, and a seeking hardness strains against my stomach.I moan into our kiss and rub myself against him.I’d gladly let him take me on this stone floor, the rats as our witnesses.I’m overcome.I need him more than anything—without him, I have nothing.
“We’ll start with Bram,” I say when we break apart again.His fiery eyes flicker.“Then we will kill my father.”
“Would you be able to do that?Truly?”
I fuse our mouths, tasting the smokiness in our kiss.His cinnamon scent is spicier than before—wilder.It fills my lungs and my heart.Pulling back, I let him see the truth in my eyes.
“Yes.”My edict is final.“For what he did to you.For what he stole from me, his life is forfeit.”
With one final searing kiss, Krane pulls back from me.He nods at my words as he rubs a hand through his flames.My lips feel tender.Gently, I lick the bottom one, and I watch his gaze go there.I can see the apprehension back in his eyes.A wall is erected between us, but only this time it has a dozen fractures cracking along it.
I can only hope given more time, I can shatter it fully.We were never meant to be kept apart.I am more certain of that than ever.Krane has lost so much because of me—his life, his humanity.Revenge will be my gift to him.I will do whatever I can to see Bram and my father pay for their crimes against my love.
It will be our duel revenge.They stole my future the moment they cut him down.I could’ve had everything had their greed not taken it from me.Rage burns inside of me, melting the ice in my veins.
“Tomorrow.”Krane’s voice cuts through my thoughts, causing me to look up.“Tomorrow, we go after Bram.If what you say is true, I will get him to admit it.Scarlett, I want to believe you I?—”
