Page 16 of A Kingdom of Shadows

Asset to me.

The words echo even as everything goes dark, and I'm... free.

Chapter Seven

As I cough and hold my hand to my neck, water sputters from my mouth. I jolt up from the ground, taking a deep breath of fresh air. My corset is ripped in half to my side as my gaze travels to Darius kneeling with my blade in his hands.

"It's a good thing I decided to go after you," he says. "Seems like I can't leave you for more than a minute; otherwise, you're getting yourself into trouble." No teasing voice, no humor. He's annoyed.

I watch as he runs his hands through his wet hair. I must look confused as my eyes dart around, listening to the waterfall's delicate patter against rocks.

I don't remember much.

Hell, I hardly remember jumping into the lake.

Could it have been Sirens?

It can't be, though. They're known to reside in Undarion.

I look at Tibith's worried-filled eyes beside Darius and think how badly I underestimated the forest regarding my abilities as a trapper.

Then again, this forest isn't normal.

"I t-told you Miss Nara is always drowning, Darry!" Tibith's feet pad along the grass as he walks up to me. "I think you need swimming lessons, Miss Nara."

A startled laugh escapes me at the seriousness in his tone. "I think so, too," I whisper, lowering my head toward him. As my eyes lift to Darius, I notice his brows narrow, and his gaze is fixed on the ground. A flicker goes off in my stomach, much like nerves. "Thank you—"

"What were you thinking?" he asks quietly.

I nibble on my bottom lip as a mouse would to their food.

If Darius hadn't come, I might be nothing more than flesh and bone waiting to decay at the bottom of the lake by now.

"I wasn't," I answer, and his eyes flash to mine.

He waits for me to go on, but I don't know what else to say. Not when he's looking at me as if I meanI can hardly feel my legs as I push myself off the ground, and Darius lurches toward me, holding my forearms to maintain my balance. Spotting Tibith chasing a few fireflies in the background, I tell Darius, "There's no point turning back. By resting, we are just taking up more time."

He scans me from top to bottom and raises a brow in concern. "You're also soaking."

"As are you."

A slight chuckle. "For a dragon, that's nothing." He sighs after I shoot him a glare. "Look, you're cold, and I can help you warm up."

"I don’t need a dragon shifters body heat to help me dry. I can warm up just fine on my own.”

"Clearly," he murmurs in a taunt as he watches me wrap my hands around my body, shivering, and with a huff from his nose, he steps forward. My heart drums, and I almost want to step back, but I don't. Ironically, I'm frozen on the spot as his hand tentatively reaches out and slips under my shirt.

I let out a little gasp at the tender touch of his palm. He pauses as I drag my gaze up at him.

"I can stop if you really don't want me to." I don't think he meant to whisper those words, but he did.

I consider his suggestion but find myself shaking my head instead.

He places his other hand on my skin, gliding both up to my sides. It is the first time I feel conscious of my curves which I never had before.

Our eyes remain on one another as his thumb curls under my breast. Goosebumps pebble my skin, and a shivering laugh climbs up my throat. "You're going a little too north, don't you think?"

He stills; a faint turquoise glow from the lake lights half his face. "Would you rather I go south?"

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