Page 56 of Cold Hearted
To say Nysa and Alexandria were surprised when I woke them to let them know I was headed back to Noreum with Zander would be an understatement. I felt horrible about it, but I danced around the truth, letting them know I’d had an audience with Lord Stryker that night and so my mission was complete. I could clearly see the questions about Zander in their eyes, but I hadn’t confessed to them that we were bonded mates. I’m sure the way we kept stealing glances at each other tipped them off that something was going on between us though.
Before departing from them, I hugged Alexandria tightly, not sure if I’d ever see her again. She was going to return to her village to let her family know she was safe but assured me she’d come to Noreum after.She’d never visited the Northern Kingdom, so she was excited to do so. I nodded, my smile wobbly, but kept my mouth shut because I wasn’t sure how long I would even be in Ethereum.
Yes, I’d quickly accepted that Zander and I were mates, but what did that truly mean? I knew I couldn’t take an Ethereum lord’s heart back to Faerie, but I was still the future ruler of the Summer Court. I had to go back eventually, didn’t I? After we broke the curse, surely there would be a way to return that didn’t involve carving out Zander’s, or any of his brothers’ hearts. I didn’t have my sunstone dagger but there had to be another way to create a portal back to my world. I wasn’t letting go of that hope yet. The thought of being separated from Zander caused acute pain, like a knife to my heart. Everything had happened so quickly we hadn’t had time to discuss the logistics of what the future looked like for us yet beyond the need to find another way to stop the curse. But I hoped it included a way to get me home to see my mother again.
Nysa had regarded Zander with quiet respect, but there was a touch of distrust in her eyes, which didn’t surprise me at all, as I’d come to realize Nysa didn’t trustanyoneeasily. When I told my new friends I’d be traveling back with Zander to his kingdom, she was quick to remind me she still had to repay what she considered was a life-debt to me. It took a little bit of convincing to assure her that she didn’t need to accompany us back to Noreum. She insisted for a while, but I was relieved when she finally relented, saying that she would accompany Alexandria to her village to make sure the young fae would be safe, then they’d both head to the Northern Kingdom for a visit. That plan felt right to me, as I didn’t think either one of them should be traveling alone.
Zander gifted them both a special bronze coin with an imprint of a snake eating a skull, the symbol of the Northern Kingdom, when we departed, saying that they only needed to show it to one of the castle guards when they arrived and would be granted an audience with him right away.
Our goodbyes were bittersweet. A piece of me didn’t want to part from them. After everything we’d been through, these girls felt like sisters to me, but it would take two days by horseback to reach the capital of the Northern Kingdom and I selfishly wanted the time alone with Zander.
After an emotional goodbye, we mounted Omen and started the trek back to Noreum. This time I sat in front of him rather than behind, snuggled up against his chest. I much preferred this seating arrangement to the last. Being wrapped in Zander’s embrace was quickly becoming one of my favorite things in the world. When I was safe in his arms, I could almost forget that Faerie was still very much in danger and that I was no closer to saving my people than I had been the very first day I arrived in Ethereum weeks before. Although Zander and I had agreed we’d find a solution together, we didn’t even have a starting point.
Guilt flashed through me, but I shoved it away, telling myself that there had to be another way to save my people. Zander and I would figure it out, together. We’d already overcome so much that I was sure everything would be okay. Or at least that was the only possibility I let myself consider.
We spent hours riding, yet I still couldn’t stop looking over my shoulder and up at Zander behind me. As I glanced back at him again, my gaze caught on the stubble on his chin and trailed up to his mouth.A flash of heat shot through me, and I remembered how soft and unyielding his lips were.
Zander wasn’t my first kiss. I’d stolen my first from a stable hand I’d had a crush on when I was thirteen. I’d overheard enough whispered gossip from my maids and friends at court that I wanted to know what the fuss was all about, so I’d gone up to him one day and planted one right on him. The kiss had been short, we’d knocked teeth before getting the hang of it. It wasn’t an awful experience, but I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as pleasurable either.
My second and only other kiss had been with a visiting duke from the Winter Court the year before last. Three years my senior, he’d been far more skillful than the stable boy, and that’s when I’d discovered how enjoyable a simple kiss could be. But all that was between us were a few fleeting moments in the library, and after he’d returned to his court I barely thought of him again.
I didn’t need to be experienced to know the kiss Zander and I had shared was special, more powerful than just a simple kiss. And I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t long for the feel of his mouth against mine again. I desired to know if he would taste as heavenly as I had remembered, or if the same icy fire would shoot through me like it had before.
I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t realize I was still staring up at Zander’s mouth until his chuckle vibrated against my back, giving me delicious shivers.
“If you keep looking at me like that I’m going to be forced to dismount Omen and do something about it.”
Rather than look away in embarrassment, I licked my lips, secretly hoping he’d make good on the threat.
Zander didn’t miss the motion and his eyes darkened, the black pupil overtaking the blue that ringed it.
He pulled back on Omen’s reins until the horse came to a stop. Anticipation sprouted in my chest as he lifted a hand and traced a finger from the corner of my eyebrow over my cheekbone and down to my mouth, running the pad over my overly sensitive lips.
I sucked in a breath, surprised that such a gentle touch could ignite so many feelings and sensations. Twisting in my seat so I faced Zander more fully, I leaned closer, my eyelids dropping in invitation.
Suddenly Zander was gone, having quickly slipped from Omen’s back, and I lost my balance. I started to pitch forward but didn’t have the chance to tip over before his hands latched on to my waist and he hauled me down from the saddle.
The front of my body slid against his as he took his time setting me on my feet. He didn’t let go when I was standing, and the heat of his hands seeped through my clothes where he was gripping my sides.
Omen huffed in annoyance before drifting a few feet away to start grazing on the green grass beside the trail. I didn’t pay him any mind though because the man in front of me demanded all my attention.
The sun was setting, sending shafts of burnt orange across the horizon.
Zander remained silent, but the look on his face was hungry as he stared down at me. I wet my lips again, another not-so-subtle invitation, and waited for his mouth to descend on mine. But it didn’t happen, and every second Zander drew out this moment made me more and more impatient.
I opened my mouth, no longer willing to quietly wait for what I desired. “Kiss—”
“Marry me,” Zander demanded, stunning me into silence.
My eyes widened, almost sure I’d misunderstood, or that he was playing with me, but Zander had never looked more serious.
His gaze traveled over my face, searching for my answer on my features, but when I remained mute he must have thought I needed convincing and went on. “Dawn, you are my soulmate, the other half of me, the air I breathe, the nourishment for my soul, the very blood running through my veins. From the moment I met you, part of me knew you were the one being in this realm, or any other, whose pieces would fit perfectly with my own.”
One of his hands moved from my waist to my neck, and his thumb began to lazily stroke the column of my throat. It felt criminally good, and I had to force myself to concentrate on his words. “I know this isn’t your land or your people, but from this day forward I can’t bear to be parted from you. I know it’s selfish of me to wish it, let alone ask, but I don’t want you to go back to Faerie. I want you to stay here, with me, as my partner, as my confidant, as my wife, and rule over the Northern Kingdom by my side. If you would only—”
“Yes.” The word was barely a whisper on my lips, but with that one utterance the anxiety that had taken over my heart since the moment we left Stryker’s castle disappeared.
There was no question in my heart where I belonged. I loved Faerie. I loved my people. But as soon as Zander asked me to stay I knew with certainty that I’d never experienced before that this was where I belonged. Here in Ethereum with Zander. Because as much as I loved my homeland and everyone in it,I loved Zander more. He was my home now, and whatever life would throw at us in the future, we could only overcome it together.
