Page 64 of Crown of Iron
The flapping of wings in the pit of my stomach has every inch of my skin raising in goosebumps. My heart pounds wildly in my chest and thebeauty of the Omnis fades until it is just Kyron and me.
Our gifts swirl around us, mimicking every sensual stroke and gentle tug. I pull harder at the unseen power, willing it to dance over my arms and legs. Kyron trembles against me and moans into my mouth. The merging of our gifts heightens our passion.
Lust and joy consume me in an unfamiliar way. It's an ache, a hunger, a need to be wanted, to belong. I've never toyed with Kyron's ability as a Cognus, not wanting to impede on his emotions, but there is no denying these are his feelings. I release the reins I hold so tightly on my own emotions and pray he feels them just as intensely. That it’s a fair give and take.
He places his hands on my cheeks and, with several soft, sweet kisses, looks down at me. “I've waited a very long time for that.”
The romantic daydreamer who I locked deep inside, rushes to the surface, freed from her chains. “So have I,” I whisper.
With blushing cheeks, Kyron kisses my forehead.
I take the shackles left behind by the daydreamer and bind the logical, responsible future queen. She wails for me to keep my head on straight, to realize Kyron can never be mine. As she screams that I'm acting like a selfish child, I close and lock the door of her cage.
Her time will come again, but for now, I'll pretend I can always have what I really want.
Twenty-Three
Wood scrapes along the floor, disrupting the silent room. I plant my finger on the yellowing page before me and glance up under my lashes. Leif flips the chair across the table from me around, straddles it, and rests his arms on the back.
“I recall someone saying she swore she wouldn't step foot in the palace library once she finished her studies with Borin,” he says. The candles on either side of the table flicker with a faint orange glow, brightening his lopsided grin.
I close the tattered tome I've spent hours reading, rest my elbow on top, and prop my chin in my palm. Ihadvowed never to return to the library again, and I had every intention of keeping that promise. This was where I spent almost all my childhood days, deep in studies with Borin. He sent me off on assignments through the maze of floor to ceiling bookshelves, searching for the answers to his impossible questions. When I grew tired of his scavenger hunts for information, I'd find a book about mythical creatures and lands far away and hide in corners and under tables, losing myself in other worlds.
Today I've skipped my favorite fictional stories for reality.
I tap my fingers on the golden embossed cover of the history book recounting Micah's and Esmeray's days leading up to the separation of thePliris kingdom. “And I would have kept that promise if pieces of all those long-winded lessons weren't conveniently left out.”
“Do my ears deceive me or did the great Raelle Mansi just admit she doesn't know everything?”
“Idoknow you're annoying.” I toss one of the many balls of paper with my discarded theories about what Esmeray wants at his head.
“Speaking of people being annoyed.” Leif tosses the paper back at me before continuing, “Borin came into the billiards looking especially irritated last night. He and Micah spent a few minutes in a whispered exchange. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?”
I brush my blue feather quill over my lips and look up at the second-story walkway circling around the study area. “Borin and I had it out about Kyron after my family left. He has it in his head that something is going on between us.”
Leif leans in and drops his voice, saying, “Well,isthere?”
“No. Yes. It's really complicated.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “I know firsthand that anything involving you is complicated.”
“Yeah well, kissing Kyron last night didn't help matters.”
“I knew it!” He slaps the top of the table, and the ancient archivist in the corner glares at us over his thick-rimmed glasses. Dropping his voice, Leif continues, “Your little cozy ride in the carriage and the way you two kept flirting at dinner, it was bound to happen.”
I blow out a long, slow breath. “I don't know if it was the best idea.”
“You regret kissing him?”
My mind wanders back to the Omnis and the touch of Kyron's lips on mine. That single, soft kiss breathed new life into me. Everything was brighter and smelled sweeter. The brush of his thumb over my knuckles as we walked back to the garden was like tiny zaps of electricity in my veins. And when he wished me goodnight, his voice was a warm rumble vibrating in my chest until I fell asleep.
“No, I don't regret kissing him,” I say. “It was amazing, more than amazing. It's the first time I've felt an intense spark kissing someone. Not knowing that feeling made it easy to do the things I have to do. I was blissfully ignorant, but now I don't think I can live without feeling that for the rest of my life.”
Leif places his hand over mine, squeezing my fingers. “You knowyou don't have to go without it. I want you to be happy, just like you want me to be happy. You can fulfill all your commitments and still be in love, Elle.”
“Whoa,” I hiss pulling my hand away. “I didn't say I was in love. But I do have a strong need to kiss him again.”
“Call it whatever you want. All I'm saying is that you don't have to forfeit your happiness.”
