Page 15 of The Poison of the Earth
Lonan
My hand hesitates, turns, cupping the maid Allie’s cheek without my conscious decision.
I cannot lie, I have always enjoyed chasing tail. Even in the midst of a war.
But the pull I feel for Allie is not the same. I want her yes, but it’s more than that. The energy I feel when I’m near her.Gods, to wake up next to her, her face lax and peaceful in sleep.
Normally, I don’t dally with the help; as I generally am a one and done kind of man. I don’t like the mess of having to see a former bed partner in my home.
Allie though... it all feels so different. I’m befuddled by her.I don’t even know her!
And that is what aggravates me at all hours of the day and night.
“My lord,” she pauses as if out of breath.Can she feel it too?“I could never. It would be... improper.”
Her gorgeous, unusual eyes drop to her hands, holding the knife and herbs.
“Why improper, Allie? Do you not trust me?” I stare at her as if I could see into her flesh, see her secrets. I want to know her.
“I trust no one, Sire.”
The words drop like stones into still water. My stomach drops. What has happened to her in her past?
The door is thrown open.
Kai.
I sigh inwardly. I’ve told him a bit of my obsession. Not the true depths.
“Commander,” his voice is ice, which is quite hard for a fire Fae.
My eyes dart to Allie. She is frozen, barely breathing. A protectiveness I’ve never felt wells up inside me and I turn to my best friend and lover of decades.He doesn’t mean her any harm, he’d never hurt an innocent.
Except maybe he doesn’t consider her innocent.
“Yes,General?” I arch an eyebrow.
“You’re needed.” His glare brokers no argument.
I turn, blocking Allie from his view. Something burbles in my stomach at the idea of his anger directed at her.
“By whom?” I ask, arching my eyebrows.
His ire is clear in his face. “By the Ordained.” He leans his head so he can see Allie, “Why not bring the maid? Let her proclaim herself to the soothsayer.”
I glower. “She’s busy.” I turn, eyes trying to meet hers but she won’t look at me, won’t look up. “Think on my offer, Allie Landsend.”
I turn on my heel, taking Kai’s elbow and guiding him out the door.
It shuts behind us and he immediately turns to me.
“We talked about this.” His dark red eyebrows are drawn and I can tell he’s attempting to repress his temper.
I raise an eyebrow. “No.Youspoke of this.Ilistened. And, matter-of-fact, did not agree to anything, Kai.”
We stride down the hallway, side by side.
I can feel his anger and I’m confused about it.Aside from his valid point on a power-imbalance, given she’s kind of my prisoner.
