Page 96 of The Bound Blood
“That wasn’t an option.” The words come out with quiet certainty, no edge, or apology. “You needed silence more than healers.”
A flutter rises in my chest.
I shift under the shadow blanket, and it molds to my movement with gentle insistence. “You didn’t sleep well,” I say, taking in the tension around his shoulders, the faint crease between his brows.
“I tried.” His voice is low. “The shadows woke me every time you moved. They don’t… settle unless they’re sure you’re safe.”
The warmth in my throat becomes something tight and aching.
“I thought you controlled them,” I say.
He huffs a humorless snort. “I control them in most instances. But apparently, when it comes to you, I have no control at all.”
That feels like it means more than he’s saying, and my brain jumps straight to questions I definitely shouldnotbe asking this early in the morning—or while wrapped in his shadows.Why do you keep pulling back? Why are you holding yourself together like you’re afraid you’ll crack if you get too close to me?
Instead, all I manage is a quiet, brilliant, “Oh.”
I shift again, and the shadows move with me, adjusting so I can sit up. When I swing my legs over the side of his bed, Kael’s gaze flicks to one of his shelves. I follow it and spot an old hand clock I somehow missed before.
“It’s mid-morning,” he says. “I’m surprised Raiden, Nolan, and Tamsin haven’t pounded down my door for you yet.”
My heart flips. Right. I told Raiden I’d meet him after the rounds last night. He’s probably spiraling.
“I have to go,” I say, pushing up from the mattress. The moment I find my feet, the world tilts. I sway, vision blurring—Kael is there in less than a heartbeat, one arm around me, steadier than the floor itself.
“Easy,” he murmurs, catching me before I can fall back. “You used a lot of magic last night. You need rest.”
His shadows coil around my ankles like they agree.
His arm stays around my waist a moment longer than necessary, steadying me until the floor stops behaving like a boat on waves. When he finally eases back, the loss of his touch feels immediate.
“I’m fine,” I whisper.
His eyes say he absolutely does not believe me.
Before I can insist again, his hand lifts—slowly, like he’s giving me time to pull away if I want to. I don’t. Icouldn’tif I tried. His fingertips brush my cheek, the barest graze of skin, but it sends something warm and electric racing straight to my chest.
“Kael…” My voice breaks on his name.
His shadows still—waitingfor his next move as much as I am.And Kael leans in, just enough that I feel his breath warm against my lips. My heart climbs into my throat, pounding out one impossible truth:
He’s going to kiss me.
His gaze drops to my mouth. He inhales, slow and quiet. The space between us narrows to a single breath. A heartbeat.
A silent, yes.
My eyes drop shut, and I lean forward. Then—a sharp knock rattles his door. Shock filters through as my eyes pop back open, swinging to the door behind him. Kael’s jaw tightens. The shadows around us flare in irritation.
“Lindsay?” Raiden’s voice filters through the wood, tense and worried. “Are you in there? Are you okay? Kael, open up!”
I close my eyes, mortified and frustrated and something else entirely.
Kael doesn’t move away immediately. His hand lingers at my cheek, thumb brushing once more in a motion so gentle it feels like an apology for the kiss that almost happened.
Then, reluctantly, he steps back.
“Your guard dog is worried,” he says quietly.
