Page 10 of A Kiss of Deception

“Allow me,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine.

I turn, ready with a sharp retort, but the words die on my lips. Milkor looms over me, his broad chest mere inches from my face. The empty bowl dangles from his long fingers, a flimsy excuse for his proximity.

My breath catches in my throat. This close, I can see the faint shimmer of magic that clings to his skin like a second aura. It’s mesmerizing, drawing me in despite my better judgment.

“I can manage,” I say, my voice embarrassingly breathy. I reach for the bowl, desperate for something to do with my hands.

Our fingers brush as he relinquishes the dish. A jolt of electricity races up my arm, and I almost drop the bowl. Milkor’seyes widen a bit, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he schools them back into that infuriating mask of indifference.

“Clumsy little thing, aren’t you?” he says, but there’s no bite to his words. If anything, he sounds... intrigued?

I scowl, turning to deposit the bowl in the washing basin with more force than necessary. “I told you, I’m not little.”

A low chuckle rumbles through the air. “No,” he agrees, his gaze raking over my form in a way that sends heat pooling in my belly. “I suppose you’re not.”

I grip the edge of the basin, my knuckles turning white. Milkor hasn’t moved, his body a solid wall of heat at my back. There’s this electric feeling in the air between us I can sense, even if I can’t explain it.

“Was there something else you needed?” I ask, proud of how steady my voice sounds.

“You sure you don’t want more?” I ask, my tone innocent.

A dangerous glint appears in Milkor’s narrowed eyes. “Don’t push your luck, girl.”

His proximity sends my senses into overdrive. The shimmering aura I noticed earlier intensifies, pulsing with an otherworldly energy that sets my teeth on edge. No dark elf I’ve ever encountered has radiated such raw power. What is he?

My eyes narrow as I study his face, searching for any telltale signs of his true nature. The sharp angles of his features seem to shift, like smoke caught in a breeze. It’s mesmerizing and terrifying all at once.

Before I can voice my suspicions, heavy footsteps from the bedroom shatter the moment. My father’s gruff voice precedes him, and I realize with a start that I had forgotten about the... activities... going on in there. My cheeks burn at the memory of those sounds, grateful for Milkor’s distracting presence.

The air ripples with energy. The sound of heavy footsteps jolts me. My father, Jarvil, stumbles in, face flushed, evidence of earlier distractions clear.

“That took longer than usual,” I mutter, disgust seeping into my voice.

Behind me, Milkor’s low chuckle sends chills down my spine. I catch his smirk, a first-time humor in this chaos.

Jarvil eyes us, gauging the dark elf. “Watch your tongue, girl,” he snarls.

Milkor’s presence cools the air, forcing Jarvil to reconsider. Jarvil steps forward, authority contested.

“Everything alright here?” Milkor’s voice is smooth yet dangerous.

My father pales at the unexpected challenge. “Of course,” he mutters, eyes downcast, bravado fading. “Just family matters.” There is a hint of embarrassment in his tone, but the underlying anger that he struggles to keep in check overshadows it.

Yet, Jarvil’s eyes flick back to Milkor, wariness still lingering in their depths. “And who exactly are you, elf?” he asks, the challenge in his voice not hiding the slight tremor.

“Merely a confident servant,” Milkor replies, amusement glinting.

Jarvil bristles as tension rises. I step between them, protective yet resentful of Milkor’s magnetism.

“Both of you, cool it,” I say firmly. The thick, heavy silence hangs as I hope neither will cross the line.

6

MILKOR

The scent of wildflowers and resilience clinging to Meetha teases my senses, an intoxicating blend. Humans usually don't intrigue me, but Meetha is an exception. Her fiery defiance draws me in—surprising and alluring.

I watch her move about the kitchen, the subtle lift of her chin when her father addresses her—a silent challenge that I’m eager to see her fulfill.

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