Page 133 of Wolf Caged
“I am averygood king,” I purred. “Exceptionally skilled. Very attentive. Able to anticipate what my people need. Willing to give it to them. But then I thought you were aware of that, since you had first-hand experience.”
A blush climbed her cheeks as she backed away from me, and her eyes widened as her back met one of the bookcases.
I leaned in close, bringing my lips down to her ear as I caged her with my body.
“Perhaps you have forgotten how skilled and attentive I am,” I murmured against her skin, eliciting a shiver that I felt and savoured as her breath caught. “I am more than happy to remind you. You only have to ask, little wolf.”
“Kaeleron,” she whispered, my name a balm on her sweet lips but a shock that leaped along my bones too, sizzling like lightning through my veins, and angled her face towards me, bringing her lips closer to mine.
My breath caught.
The world narrowed down to her.
To those lips.
So close to mine.
I shifted my head slightly, a fraction closer, aching to know the taste of her lips.
“Kaeleron,” she murmured again, setting fire to my blood.
No female had ever uttered my name with such need.
“Yes, Saphira?” I traced my lips across her cheek, heading for her mouth.
“I want…” She placed her hands on my chest, over my thundering heart, “…to read now.”
She shoved me backwards.
I growled and she smirked.
“Wicked little thing,” I rumbled, watching her cheeks catch aflame to betray her true desire as I stared down into her eyes.
The one she had been too afraid to voice.
I bowed mockingly and lifted my gaze to lock with hers as I straightened, snaring her.
“Very well. Read all you like. I have business to attend to anyway. Unlike some believe, I am rather busy.” Not busy enough that I would not have blown it all off had she wanted me here, in the library. No, I would have indulged her just to see her shatter, to see her come apart in my arms, breaking for only me. “But as payment for your wickedness, I order you to join me for dinner…”
I faded into the shadows, relishing how she shivered as I disappeared from view, that flicker of heat still in her eyes.
“Where you will sit on my lap and tell me all you learned.”
Chapter 35
SAPHIRA
Kaeleron had failed to join me at dinner.
I had sat there staring at the empty chair at the far end of the table, mind filled with all the things I had noted in the books I had flicked through, a blend of interesting facts about elkyn, the history of the lich, and a history of mining in the Shadow Court. I had no clue how I had ended up falling into that book. Maybe it had been the mention of Falkyr that had caught my eye when I had been flicking through the pages, followed by something about dwarves that had roused my curiosity. Before I had known what was happening, I was devouring all the facts about mine shafts that dated back centuries, the dwarven clans who worked them, and the prized metals found in the heart of the mountains.
I had wanted to ask Kaeleron whether his black armour was crafted from such a fine metal.
Jenavyr had confirmed during our training session that her sword had been forged from it, a gift to her from her brother when she had gained enough skill with a blade that he had decided she was worthy of something a little finer than the swords the regular guards used.
She had also been the one to apologise for her brother’s absence last night.
Apparently, he had been summoned to the legion posted near Wraith Wood after there had been a report of people being spotted in the mountains that bordered the western fringes of the vast forest and hadn’t returned until this morning.
