Page 159 of The Forbidden Fae King

Chapter 40

Aldrin

Relief crashes through my body so hard I think it will knock my feet out from under me. Keira is here, in my arms, gripping my waist tightly, as though neither of us could stand without the other.

Still, I cannot believe it.

Her body is so soft against mine, and I want to lose myself in every luscious curve of it. An earthy scent rises from her hair, like crushed leaves, and I pick some of the offending vegetation from it, smoothing those golden red curls.

I have dreamt about this reunion for a long time. Almost three months, though it has only been a few weeks in her world.

Keira is everything.

I cannot exist without her.

I don’t want to.

Those calls she made, filled with raw emotion and pain that poisoned my very soul, I could not ignore them. But if she asks me to leave, I will.

I am not the wild, possessed fae they believeme to be.

Insane?

Probably.

Lovesick and foolish? Most definitely.

But not toxic. Her needs will always be put before mine.

I finally loosen my hold on her. There is so much we need to talk about and we have very little time to do it. Those stunning, hazel eyes look up at me with awe, and my heart lurches because I have missed them so damn much.

I begin to say something, but all thought flies from my mind.

A ring of purple-black bruises wrap around her throat, the size and placement of a man’s fingers attempting to choke her. It drives maddening rage to rear up within me like some ugly, feral beast.

I was not there to protect her.

“Who did this to you?” I growl, as I trace my fingers along her throat. “I will kill that princeling with my bare hands. If he hurt you, I will hunt him across this realm.” I shake with the effort of keeping all that rage inside.

Keira’s hand flies up to the cursed marks. “Yes. Finan did this. You will be proud of me, Aldrin. I tossed him across the room and left him gagged and tied him up in ropes of air.” A slow smile fills her face.

“He deserves to be cut into tiny pieces.” I have to force my gaze away from those marks, otherwise I will tear my way out of this temple and find him, but a sense of pride at her strength fills me.

It is not an easy thing, standing up to someone who has power over you.

“I created a mess, Aldrin. I’m in a lot of trouble with the crown.”

“Self-defense should never create trouble for a woman.” I tenderly run a hand across her cheek. My blood runs hot as a fire of rage flares bright within. “I’m going to kill him. I’ll rip him from limb from limb, nice and slow, so he can’t ever hurt you again.”

Keira reaches up on the tips of her toes and kisses me. Her lips are warm and soft as they press against mine. I lose myself in the sweetness of them, forcing them open and sliding my tongue between her teeth. I run my hands through her hair as her lips move against mine.

Gods, I have wanted only this for so long.

She pulls her body closer to mine and I lift her off her feet, her legsimmediately wrapping around my waist. Our kiss deepens with urgency, as my hands run over every curve.

My heart feels like it will explode from tasting her again.

All I know is that I need more and more. It will never be enough. I could have a lifetime of this, and I will always want more.

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