He stiffened. “So you’ve actually met with them?”
“Yes.” And the meeting had enraged her.
Years ago, the three hags told her she was destined to cause her mother’s death. All she’d managed was a few gasps before they’d shooed her away, but from that moment on, Josephina had begun to fear hurting her beloved mother in any way, and had overanalyzed her every word and action.
Josephina had stopped eating, stopped sleeping. She’d stopped visiting her mother, too afraid of what damage she might cause. After a while, the fear had become infectious. Her mother had begun to worry over Josephina’s health, and had mourned over Josephina’s perceived defection. Glorika had lost weight, energy and vitality—and soon, the king’s favor. She was cast out of his bedroom and back to the servant quarters.
There, she was treated more shamefully than ever. She was shunned by the women and secretly harassed by many of the men. The queen had taken great pleasure in humiliating her at every turn.
In the end, Glorika had killed herself. All because Josephina had stayed away from her. So, yes. Josephina had helped destroy her. Had she never worried, nothing bad would have happened to either of them. Her mother would still be alive.
“The best decision you’ll ever make is to forget what the Moirai told you,” she said.
He shook his head, dark locks of hair falling over his brow. “I carry the demon of Disaster. How could I notcause an apocalypse?”
She heard the dread in his voice, the torment. “Think about it. You’re doing everything in your power to stop yourself from causing an apocalypse, aren’t you? And yet everything you’ve done has only exacerbated the problem.”
“So I should do nothing?”
“No. You should live. Truly live. Stop looking over your shoulder, expecting disaster. Stop planning your next step based on the demon’s actions.”
He pushed out an angry breath. “I’m not sure whether you’re wise, as I first assumed, or the dumbest woman on the planet.”
Dumb? Dumb! “Well, you’re definitely notthe sweetest man.”
“I never claimed to be.”
“Because no one would have believed you!” Surely that wasn’t hershrieking at him?
He massaged the back of his neck, not seeming to notice her outburst. “The Moirai told me something else. They said I’m destined to marry the keeper of Irresponsibility...or White, the girl you met in the club.”
What he didn’t say, but she heard: he was to stay away from a Fae blood slave. “Don’t let the hags decide your bride, Kane. You decide. Wed for love, or don’t wed at all.”
Kane leaned down, putting them nose-to-nose. He whispered, “I used to be, you know.”
He was so close, his clean, soapy scent thick in her nose. Heat radiated from him, enveloping her, and the tremors within her increased. “Used to be what?”
“Sweet.”
She reached up, shifted the strands of his hair through her gloved fingers. How badly she wanted skin-to-skin. “You still have your moments. But what changed?”
“Me. Everything.” His gaze dropped to her lips, and lingered, his pupils expanding. “I shouldn’t want to kiss you again, but I do. I want it. Not because of the Moirai but because of you. What are you doing to me?”
Her heart skipped a treacherous beat. “I’m not doing anything.”
“Oh, you’re doing something.” Slowly he lowered his head...coming closer...closer still. “I already stole your first kiss, and I shouldn’t steal the second.”
What if I give it away?“Are you afraid?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you.”
“Not even Synda?” she managed to respond, breathless.
“I understand why you’re so insecure about her. Your family has always picked her over you. But that isn’t the case with me. I have wanted you since moment one. I have never actually wanted Synda. She’s a means to an end, nothing more.”
A means to an end—not a bride. He wouldn’twed the girl. And he’d wanted Josephina since moment one.
Her.
Overcome, Josephina threw her arms around him, and pressed her lips against his. He moaned, his tongue thrusting into her mouth, demanding the very response she yearned to give. He was a master, sublimely skilled, every stroke propelling her need higher, and maybe she gave as good as she got, because his control seemed to be fraying at the edges, little growls rising from him, his tongue thrusting harder, faster.
Then he straightened, a funny look on his face as he traced a fingertip over lips now swollen and tingling from his possession. “You make me burn, Tinker Bell.”
“Kane,” she said, then gulped.
“Yes.”
“That’s not me. You’re actually on fire.”
Frowning, he glanced down at his shoulder. The ends of his hair were tipped with flames that had jumped from the lamp on the nightstand.
Josephina patted the strands, dousing the fire.
“Stupid Disaster.”
“I’m not afraid of him.”
He toyed with the collar of her shirt, making her skin tingle. “Still want me?”
“More than anything,” she admitted softly.
Tentative, he licked the seam of her lips. When nothing terrible happened, he gave her a wicked grin.
“Gonna make you so happy you said that.”
He tugged at the cover, pulling it down, down, down her body, baring her legs, his heated eyes never straying from hers...even as he reached for the hem of the shirt. He crawled onto the bed, graceful as a panther, and straddled her waist.
Breathing was impossible, her insides so keyed and ready for whatever he planned, she could only pant as he continued lifting her shirt, baring her breasts to his view.
He paused to look his fill, his pupils so large his irises were devoid of color.
“You are so beautiful.”
She trembled as he reached out and cupped her, kneaded her.
“So perfect.”
She was shaking too badly to reply.
His fingers slid down her belly, stopped at the top of her panties. He traced the band, and she quivered.
He stilled, frowned. His ears twitched. “Someone’s coming.”
No! It was just getting good!
Kane jackknifed to his feet, and Josephina sat up, smoothing her clothes in place, trying not to huff her disappointment. No longer was her warrior vibrating with arousal. He was eerily still, a living blade, ready to slash.
Four guards burst into the room, Leopold at the helm.
The prince scowled when he spotted them. “Josephina Aisling. The princess has been charged with baring her body to outsiders. Now that you’re awake, you are to be taken to the throne room to hear your punishment.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
AS THE GUARDS approached the bed, Kane growled from deep within his chest. A feral sound. A primitive warning—uncontrolled danger awaited. The males weren’t getting near the girl. If they insisted, they would die. He’d taken care of her all four days. He’d left her side only once, to visit the king. He had bathed her. Had poured water down her throat. He and he alone had done everything that needed doing to ensure she survived.
She belonged to him, and he took care of what was his. Even though he’d decided to leave her to save her from Disaster.
That was still the plan. Hadto be the plan. But she’d woken up, looked at him with those haunting crystal eyes, her cheeks hollowed, the fever-flush finally gone from her skin, that mass of dark hair tangled around her delicate shoulders, and all of his possessive instincts had risen with undeniable fury.
Mine,he’d thought, even as Disaster had screamed in denial.
Kane withdrew a bloodstained dagger.
The guards stopped to eye the prince, silently asking for direction.
The prince watched him, daring him to act. With only a word, the man could have Kane on his knees, pain consuming him, leaving him helpless. Exactly what the male had to want. Kane could be carted to the dungeon, leaving Tink to face the punishment alone.