Page 78 of The King of Frost and Shadows

“I’m better than perfect,” he answered, his lips brushing my earlobe.

Azingshot down my spine, and warmth flared between my legs. Definitely a reaction I didn’t need to have with him. My heart hammered, and I took a step back. His actions were not in line with his usual behavior, so something wasn’t adding up.

I scanned the room and saw one clear container that held water and a second that was half-empty, holding red liquid that reminded me of wine. “What is that?”

“Spirits.” He smacked his lips and leaned back. “Sweet, but I bet you taste even better.”

My face burned from embarrassment. “Maybe we should sit down.”

“Or we could lie down.” He waggled his brows, reminding me of Finnian.

I snorted and quickly covered it with a cough. “Why don’t you go do that, and I’ll grab myself some water?” Even though the bath had made me feel substantially better, my throat remained dry.

“No, I should take care of you,” he insisted, taking my hand and leading me to his bed. “Sit and allow me to do this for you.”

Before I could argue with him, he soared to the table where his chessboard had sat beforethe incident. Knowing there was no point in arguing, I sat on the edge of the bed.

He filled a glass to the brim with water for me then filled a second one with spirits.

Something he’d clearly had enough of already.

He hurried back to me, liquid somehow not sloshing over the rims. His pain-in-the-ass self would still be careful, even when plastered. That sounded about right.

“Here you go, sprite.” He held out the water glass.

I gladly took it and drained the liquid in four large gulps. Just like in the bath, my throat immediately tingled and felt better. “The water here has to be full of magic.” That was the only explanation.

“Your magic must be returning.” He took a large sip and plopped beside me. “Your wings coming out is a big deal. It makes things more complicated.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “What do you mean?”

“This was the point, the reason I’d intended to take you back to Gleann Solas, so I could drain you of your blood in front of your people to take down the veil.” He lifted his glass and watched the liquid swirl around it. “But I can’t do that now that you’re part of the gauntlet, and I’m relieved.”

I arched a brow as anger heated my blood. “You’rerelieved I’m stuck playing a game where all the competitors want to kill me, and you want to drain my blood.”

“Yeah, I need your blood to take down the veil. It’s the only way to save my people. And Lorne didn’t want to kill you tonight.” He wrinkled his nose. “That wildling will die for touching you like that. You’ll see.”

I stood, ignoring the way my feet twinged. “Are you fucking serious? You want to kill him for saving me? If that’s how you feel, why keep me in your room and help me bathe to feel better?”

“Don’t be foolish, Lira.” He lowered his glass to the bed. “I’m not upset with him forsavingyou. Nobody touches you butme.”

“You mean gets to kill me.” I crossed my arms, hating the way so many emotions were surging within me, making me feel off balance.

He sighed and hung his head. “No, for touching you. I blasting don’t want to kill you. Not anymore.” He looked up at me through his lashes and messy hair, which had fallen over his eyes. “I wish I’d never brought you here. You don’t deserve any of this. But I’m also glad I did because I got to spend time with you again.”

I swallowed, my pulse pounding hard. That damnyankin my chest fired, trying to pull me toward him. “Tavish, you’re drunk. You don’t mean any of this.” I reached over and took the glass from him. “It’s best for us both if you stop drinking.”

He surprised me when he yielded the glass without a fight. As I walked to the table, he said, “Don’t pretend you don’t feel the same attraction. Do you know how hard it was to walk away when you were naked in front of me?” He laughed. “When I say hard, I mean it was inallways.”

The image of how he’d moved strangely while leavingthe bathroom suddenly took on a whole different meaning, and desire pooled in my stomach.

Smirking, he stalked toward me, reminding me of the night we’d met on Earth. I felt like the prey, but the thrill had my pulse beating quicker.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulled me flush against his body. His eyes homed in on my lips, and he lowered his mouth to mine.

Everything in me wanted this to happen, but I found the strength to lean back and place a hand on his chest. “No. Not like this.”

His irises darkened, and he frowned. “Why? Is there someone else?” His arms tightened around my waist. “Is it Lorne?”

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