Page 83 of The Shadowbound King

No, not Andrin. The man had Andrin’s face, but his hair was several shades darker.

“You had one task,” he thundered. “Keep my son safe. I should flay the skin from your back.”

The ground reared up as I bowed my head. “I am sorry, sire.”

Boots appeared at the edge of my vision as the man descended the steps. My stomach twisted as he moved around me.

“I tire of your apologies, slave.”

Something whistled in the air. My back caught fire.

“Mirella!”

The memory shattered. I gasped, my eyes flying open. Rane gripped my upper arms, his eyes wide and his dark hair streaming around a face gone pale.

“That man…” I gasped, struggling to catch my breath.

Rane dropped his hands, emotion flickering in his eyes. “Larinor,” he said quietly. “Andrin’s father.”

I suddenly recognized the flickering emotion for what it was. Shame. Rane knew what I’d seen. Because he’d lived it.

“He called you a slave,” I said.

Rane’s shoulders stiffened. “I was. Shadow Eaters were enslaved for centuries.” He lifted a hand, and a shadowy chain wove its way around his wrist, threading among the vines and flowers. “I was gifted to Andrin when we were both young men. I took an oath to protect him, to temper his light so he didn’t overextend himself. We grew close, and…” Rane drew a deep breath. “We fell in love. Andrin freed me when his father died. He freed Vivia and the others, too, giving them titles and honor. I haven’t been a slave for a long time, but…” He shrugged. “The memories remain.”

My chest ached. “But you’re so important for the Embervale. For Autumn.”

He stilled, and for a second he seemed speechless, as if he wasn’t quite sure how to respond. “Most people don’t feel that way. At least, they didn’t before the shadows took over the Edelfen. Shadow Eaters used to be common. There were so many of us in the old days…” He laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. “The priests used to complain about the cost of feeding us. We don’t make anything. We just pick up the garbage. When you pick up garbage all the time, you become garbage.”

My throat burned. I cupped his cheek. “Rane Laruthian, you arenotgarbage. You absorb the shadows so the light can shine.”

His nostrils flared. He reached up and covered my hand, holding it to his cheek. Then he dragged it down and held it between us, his forehead furrowing as he studied my knuckles. “I know you hate me for what happened at the Covenant. But I’d never see you chained. Marriage to someone you don’t want is just another kind of slavery.” He lifted his head, his eyes raw and unguarded. “And I won’t be part of that, Mirella.”

I drew a trembling breath. “You could have gone about it in a better way.”

His gaze dropped to my mouth. “Yes,” he said softly. “I could have.”

“Do you regret it?” I asked, my voice breathless in my ears.

He lifted his eyes. “I regret not tasting you.”

The scent of pine and cloves washed over me. My heart pounded so loudly that I wondered if he could hear it.

“I’m not going to kiss you,” I said, drifting closer.

“Of course not,” he murmured. Then he lowered his mouth to mine.

The kiss started gentle, almost tentative. He brushed his lips over mine as if seeking permission. When I didn’t pull away, he traced his tongue along the seam of my lips. And when I opened, he groaned and stroked his tongue into my mouth.

Pleasure crackled through my veins. His hands slid around my waist, tugging me against him as he deepened the kiss. The scent of cloves grew thicker. His hair brushed my neck, and I reached up, seeking and finding it. Silky strands slipped through my fingers as he splayed a hand over the small of my back.

Heat sank through my clothes.Hisheat. He’d touched me before, but never like this. Never with flesh meeting flesh, his body crowding mine and his tongue licking into my mouth.

Another groan left him, vibrating my lips. He slid his hand down and squeezed my ass, dragging me onto my toes. My pussy ground against his hard, rigid length, the feel of him shocking…and addicting.

He sucked at my tongue, then nipped and stroked, plundering my mouth as he kneaded my ass. Heat spread through me like warm honey. Dimly, I realized I rocked my hips against his, my body moving on its own.

Rane wrenched his mouth from mine. Then he gripped me around the waist and yanked me off my feet. He hooked his armsunder my thighs and marched me across the stable, thumping me down on a small stack of hay bales.

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