Page 119 of Chosen By the Fae King

A slow smile stretched his lips. “You look pensive. Should I be afraid?”

I huffed a laugh, squeezing his hand. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“My life.”

“Sounds serious.”

He sat up, resting his back against the wall of pillows between him and the headboard. He pulled back the blanket and patted the space beside him.

I joined him without question.

“Tell me,” he said, pulling my hand into his.

“Short command for an extremely tall order,” I joked.

We sat in amicable silence for a minute. Nox was giving me time to gather my thoughts.

“So much has changed in such a short time.”

“Is that a bad thing?” he asked softly.

I shook my head. “No. Yes. Sort of ... ugh. I'm jumbled. Again.”

His thumb brushed over my knuckles back and forth. “Let's start with the good. I hope I'm on that list, especially with that performance in the shower with only one fully functioning leg.”

My face blushed as it so often did when he made me think of sex. “Yes, definitely good. The best kind of good. Well, aside from still being alive and Sofiya being safe.”

“I'll regret putting you in danger for the rest of my life. But please keep talking.”

“I'm starting to feel responsible for protecting others.”

Nox laughed. “I hate to be the bearer of obvious news, little menace, but you already had that feeling well before you arrived.”

“Yes, I know. But today all I could think about was keeping you safe. Of putting a stop to those who betrayed you and your family.”

He twisted and picked me up far easier than anyone should be able to, situating me to straddle his lap. “And all I could think of was keeping you safe, little mate.”

“And destroying your enemies, I hope.”

Nox's hands cupped the sides of my head. “No, kitten. I had a driving need to rip Portia and Rodrik apart because they were an immediate threat to you. My father? The attempts on my life? None if it ever entered my thoughts, not until you were out of harm's way.”

“Oh.”

He brought his face to mine and kissed me softly. “What else?”

“I realized I feel responsible for more than you and Sofiya. And the threat to you is really a threat to all of Falcondale. I don't want anyone else to get hurt. I don't want to feel useless and on the sideline while you fight, both figuratively and literally. And …”

“And?” he prodded.

“I don't want you to be in a position not to trust my gift, and I really don't want to be on the receiving end of that lack of trust.”

“Aeryn—"

My hand covered his mouth. “Let me finish.”

Big hands landed on my hips as he sat there staring at me, an apology in his eyes. Anxiety had my hands playing with the ends of my hair.

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