Page 37 of The Kingdom of Ruin

I shake my head. “It’s a surprise.”

Her jaw tics, the sternness in her eyes darkening. “A surprise that could be dangerous? Do I have to be alert? Is it casual? I don’t know what to wear or if I need weapons.”

It’s my turn to be surprised. Those aren’t the kind of questions I usually get. The clothing, yeah, maybe, but danger and weapons? That’s not something girls usually ask about. Although, I’ve never taken a fae girl on a date before, so maybe it’s common with them. I don’t know.

“You can wear whatever the fuck you want, but we’re leaving campus, so do with that what you wish,” I offer, not really sure what situation would require her need for weapons, but as intrigued as I am, I keep my mouth shut.

She somehow manages to narrow her eyes further, muttering under her breath before she slams the door shut. She is feisty. I like it.

Glancing at the clock, I wonder whether I should have arrived earlier. As if sensing my thoughts, the door whooshes back open, stealing my next breath along with it.

Holy. Fuck.

She’s…understatedly stunning.

Blonde curls float around her shoulders, with a braid still keeping her hair off her face. A black jacket sits open on her shoulders, revealing a cropped white tee underneath with a fitted bodice cinching in her waist. It’s draped in silver, leaving my fingers itching to reach out and gloss over it. Fitted black combat pants make her ass look like Heaven, and they’re tucked into heavy, heeled boots that lace up the front with a shimmer of silver at the sides. My head inches closer, a thought coming to mind as the silver seems to dance in the light.

Flicking my gaze back to her bodice, I notice it’s the same there. The silver isn’t just detailing; they’re…daggers.

She’s practically fucking draped in daggers.

“You are no cupcake. You’re a goddamn dagger queen,” I rasp, meeting her gaze in time to see her roll her eyes at me.

“So dramatic,” she grumbles, stepping into the hallway and shutting her bedroom door behind her.

“And you’re hot as fuck.”

The smile on her lips is hard to miss, but she still tries to tamper it down. “That’s almost flattering. Now, magic my room. Please.”

“No way, Dagger, we’ll do it when we return.”

“You can do it now,” she insists, and I shake my head. She has me doing it so much that I’m going to end up dizzy.

“And have you step back in and leave me all alone? I don’t think so,” I retort, knowing her thoughts, and when she sighs, she only confirms it. Before she can try to continue her argument, I take a step toward the stairs. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”

“For what?”

“For our date.”

She falls into step with me, and as we reach the stairs, I take a step back, letting her lead the way, which she does with a heavy dose of reluctance.

“The date I wasn’t aware of,” she points out, not looking back at me, so I wait until we’re at the front door before I respond.

“When are you going to get past that? Now, or later? It’ll be more fun now, but that’s just my opinion.”

She searches my eyes for what feels like an eternity before she gulps. “Fine.”

“Good,” I reply with a grin, reaching for her hand, but she whips it out of my reach before I can feel her skin against mine.

“That’s not necessary.”

I grin, stepping around her and through the front door. She follows a moment later, but the second I turn to her with my palm up for her to take, she pauses.

“It is.”

She shakes her head, disagreeing when she doesn’t know what we’re doing next. I take a step toward her, and she mirrors it, edging backward from me. My dick stirs to life. I love a good cat and mouse chase. She’s only making me more eager with every step she takes.

One inch forward for me, a whole inch backward for her. All the way until her back hits the wall beside her front door, giving me the opportunity to crowd her space. Her gulp is audible as I come chest to chest with her. I don’t move any closer, acutely aware of the metal that clings to her waist and boots.

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