Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
She wasn’t sure it had worked until she’d dropped out onto Broadway a fair distance from Ethan’s building to find Lorcan loitering against the brick wall next to the door. Her traitorous heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
He smiled, broad and predatory, as if he felt it. “Hello, little songbird.”
“Lorcan,” she said softly.
He dazzled in a summer gray suit. The jacket open to reveal a crisp white button-up with the top two buttons undone, his dark hair was windswept off his forehead. Those glittering blue eyes traveled over her like sunlight kissing across her exposed skin.
When Gen had suggested this, Kierse had thought this would be easy. That knowing she could manipulate him the way he had been manipulating her would make it so. Standing in the presence of the Oak King, she was less certain.
“You dressed up for me,” he said with a smirk as he eyed the short black dress and knee-high boots.
She cleared her throat. “Engagement party, actually.”
“Ah, your little wolf friend.”
“Indeed.”
“You thought you’d swing by before you go so I can see your outfit.” He twirled his finger in place as if he thought she might actually turn for him.
“Not exactly.”
“No?” He chuckled. “Well, you’ve been on quite an adventure.”
“Have I?”
He pushed off the brick and approached her. She had to tilt her chin up to meet his inimitable gaze. “Did you get what you were looking for?”
“Are you so sure that isn’t you?”
He laughed softly. “You never responded to my messages and have been dodging my surveillance.”
“We already had this conversation,” Kierse said. “If you want your men to follow me, then you’re going to have to send out better recruits.”
“You also recommended that I stop stalking you.” His hand swept up as if to brush her hair off her face. Fear racketed through her. What if he touched her and she couldn’t say no, couldn’t escape, didn’t have anyone there to stop him? His hand froze, his head tilting almost as if he could see the thoughts painted clearly on her face. “You think I would hurt you?”
“No,” she said. “Not on purpose.”
“Those are two different things.”
“I’ve known you to be the type of person who believes the ends justify the means.”
“Never with you,” he promised.
He dropped his hand and took a step back. The pressure in her chest dissipated so she could breathe. Had it gotten stronger?
“I wanted to apologize,” he said, meeting her gaze. “I never wanted you to find out about our soulmate bond that way.”
“Yet you didn’t tell me yourself when you had the chance.”
“I wanted to tell you when I first realized, but then you were gone to Dublin. When you returned…I didn’t want to unduly influence you.”
“That’s rich, coming from you.”
Lorcan straightened to his full height. “Why are you hell-bent on making me the villain here?”
“I’m not.”
He shot her a look. “I’ve been heavy handed, I admit, but I haven’t lied to you. As you are lying to yourself right now. As he has lied to you.”
Kierse bristled at the words. “Don’t bring him into this.”
“How can I not? You’re acting like he’s innocent. Like he didn’t hide your heritage from you and lie to you about your abilities and hold you back from progressing.” He spread his arms wide. “I’m standing here offering you all of that and more—a place among your family, safety, security, and all the knowledge I have of your people. If that’s not enough, we are magically bonded.”
“What’s the catch?”
“You have been so hurt all these years you cannot see that the people who care for you want nothing from you. Just you.”
“And that’s what you want?”
“I cannot deny it.” His hand landed on her chest right where the thrum was loudest. “And neither can you.”
The contact went straight through her. Her head felt fuzzy. Her body yearned. It would be so easy to give in to this feeling, to the need that shot through her body and burned her nerve endings and made her question everything she had done to get her to this moment.
“What would it have been like if you had found me first?” she whispered.
“Bliss.”
She believed him. It would have been everything.
And then he released her.
His fingers brushed her chin upward, and he pressed the softest of kisses into her forehead. His hand shook slightly.
“You can take Ethan tonight for your party,” Lorcan promised. He’d known all along. “Have him back before morning meditation.”
Kierse broke free from him, feeling shaky and uncertain. “Okay.”
“And Kierse,” he said softly, “come back to me.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Kierse met Ethan and Gen at the subway station. Ethan had changed into khakis and a green polo with the Druid acorn on the breast. She would have rolled her eyes at him if they weren’t in a fight.
“We’re all good.”
Ethan looked skeptical. “Lorcan just let you leave?”