Page 152 of Wolf Caged
Crimson lightning.
It was both terrifying and beautiful as it struck at the world, illuminating it with bursts of blood red. Rain hammered the lands in thick sheets that obscured the mountains and devouredthe sea beyond them, and wind whipped through the garden, battering the castle with such force I feared the windows might shatter.
My eyes widened as the storm raged, ravaging the world, driving sheets of water across the garden paths and tearing at the cloth hangings in the gazebo and arbours, and I realised something.
People were out in it, servants who rushed to gather the wooden chairs that were being pushed around in the gale.
And they weren’t alone.
Kaeleron battled the wind, shielding his face with his forearm as he helped the servants chase down the unruly furniture and directed those without something to do towards the banners and hangings. Mad fools!
Thunder echoed around the black mountains. Waves crashed against the cliffs and the tower I could barely see beyond the docks, spraying white foam high into the air. Wind howled through the garden, battering the trees and making the water on the patios ripple violently before it slammed into the castle and rattled the glass before me.
I had never seen anything like this storm.
It was raw fury, pure power that made me feel small and vulnerable but bewitched by it.
Kaeleron almost lost his footing as wind ripped through the garden and sent one of the hangings from an arbour flying at him. It slapped against his side, plastered to him, and his face twisted as he struggled to peel it off him and fought to bundle it up.
I hurried down the steps, considering adding myself to the list of fools out in the rain, but when I reached the entrance to the garden, I almost ran into Kaeleron as he jogged inside.
Looking more like a drowned rat than a noble king.
He smirked at me, water rolling down his face from his soaked black hair, his tunic and trousers stuck to his skin. “Did I provide adequate entertainment?”
I looked beyond him to the almost empty garden. All the furniture and hangings were gone, and even some of the planters had been moved to more sheltered positions.
“I’m surprised you didn’t just teleport straight inside and let the servants deal with it alone.” I looked from the storm battered garden, watching the wind catch the rain as thunder boomed overhead, closer now, and I did my best not to shrink into a small ball as it shook the ground beneath my feet, refusing to let Kaeleron see how easily it shook me.
His silver gaze narrowed on me as he canted his head and ran long fingers through his hair, tousling it further. “Would you, if you had already been out there?”
I had been about to go out to help, even though I had been dry, and he knew it.
I shrugged. “I’m not a king. I’m just a wolf.”
“Just a wolf,” he echoed, sounding as if he didn’t believe that for some reason, and then he beckoned me to move closer, a wicked light in his eyes. “You had your entertainment and now I shall have mine.”
My lips flattened as I glared at him, aware where this was heading.
“I will give you a choice. Stand out in the storm for a full fifteen minutes, or help me out of my wet clothes while you run me a bath.”
I huffed. “That’s an easy decision to make.”
I went to pass him, heading for the garden, but he snagged my arm and his skin was so cold my entire body locked up tight as goosebumps broke out across my skin. He was freezing, his skin paler than usual, and I looked him over and then beyondhim to the storm that continued to rage, sheets of rain dancing across the garden as thunder rolled.
“Do I get a bath to warm up afterwards?” I asked as I looked from the storm to him.
“No.” His smile was feline. “Not even a handsome king to remove your wet clothes, unless you ask me nicely.”
I weighed it up. Freeze my ass off in a storm that was getting worse because I was feeling stubborn, or undress him.
I had done worse things and I had already seen him nude, so it was an easy choice to make after all.
“Fine.”
Darkness devoured us both.
And Kaeleron’s husky chuckle as I quickly clung to him caressed my cheek and teased my neck.
