Kaige

Solaris’s jaw dropped. Inside, I felt the exact same way. A long string of curses shot through my mind. Why the hell had I blurted that out? I was supposed to keep that from her. Now she’d never tell me the truth. Compulsion was my only hope.

“You’re one of the princes?” There was no denying the shock in her voice.

My teeth ground together. “Unfortunately.”

“Why aren’t you happy about that?” she asked. “You don’t want to be king?”

I sipped the tea, praying the valerian root would work fast. Thinking about my future created so many fissures in my control. “That is the last thing I want to be and the only thing certain in my life. I will be king.”

“We don’t get many choices in Imera either,” she mumbled softly. If I weren’t a nocturne, I wouldn’t have heard it. She cleared her throat, shaking off the somber moment. “Don’t you have a brother? Why can’t he be king?”

My fingers flexed on the mug. “Xander, my twin, wants to be king, but he won’t win the trials.”

A line creased her forehead. “Trials?”

“They’re a series of tests that will be held to determine who will be king. I’ll win.” I downed another sip.

“So you’re the future king of Draconis?”

Silence stretched between us and with every passing moment, my body stiffened more. Did she realize how much danger she was actually in? If she were involved in this possible conspiracy occurring between our worlds, she would know I’d demand answers. And I’d get them any way I could.

She finally blinked. “You think I had something to do with whatever you say you saw on that plane. Is that why you saved me?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t think I saw anything. There were crates marked by the Draconis symbol on a Collective plane.” My eyes narrowed. “And now I find out you are the daughter of Malcolm Levant. It doesn’t look good.” There was a chilling edge to my voice.

Solaris slowly put the mug of tea on the bedside table. Her face was a blank mask, but I could sense an entire mess of emotions running through her, confusion at the forefront.

“Have anything to say, little human?”

She glanced up, tilting her head as she surveyed me. What did she see? A monster? A killer?

Another tense beat passed. And then her head angled back, and laughter poured out.

That wasn’t the reaction I expected. Maybe she was in shock from the taranoi attack. Or maybe she was just as crazy as I’d thought.

My lips thinned. “I’m glad you find this so funny.”

She waved a hand in the air, covering her mouth with the other. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh, but this whole thing is ridiculous.” She motioned toward her chest. “You think I, Solaris Levant, am a part of some scheme with the Collective and nocturnes?”

“You were in a plane with the objects in question, flying near the border of Draconis,” I pointed out, placing my cup down. “It all seems very plausible.”

She shook her head. “No, it doesn’t, not if you knew me.” She stopped laughing and took a deep, calming breath. “I’d be the last person the Collective would include in some secret, illegal plot. To them, I’m just some reckless teenager that causes a lot of trouble. If my father weren’t Malcolm Levant, my butt would probably be locked in jail for all the crap I’ve gotten into.”

I chewed on her words, a deep line forming between my brows. Solaris did seem a bit rash and impulsive.

A laugh echoed in my mind. That was an understatement.

I leaned away from the wall. “So you’re telling me it was all just a coincidence?”

She nodded. “It looks like you committed treason for no reason, Kaige.” She blinked, and a sliver of fear shot through the bond.

She was afraid I’d kill her if I had no use for her.

Shouldn’t I? It would make things so much easier.

A fist tightened in my chest, threatening to squeeze my insides at the thought of stealing the fire from those brilliant green eyes. “I’m not going to kill you,” I blurted. Damn it. It was like this bond kept taking control of my mouth. And my body.

A sigh of relief expelled from her lips. She swallowed hard. “What are you going to do with me then?”

My feet inched closer. “I’m hoping my blood will dissolve from your system and I can compel the truth from you. Then I’ll know for sure.” Well, there it went again. Perhaps I should spill all my deepest, darkest secrets to her.

A tiny line formed between her brows as she thought. “You tried it before when I first woke up, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” The end of the bed brushed my knees. How did I get this close?

“It didn’t work because of your blood?” she asked.

I took a step back. “I’m not sure, but I don’t know what else would prevent it from working. I’m one of the strongest in Draconis.”

Her eyes drifted down my body, a light flush coloring her cheeks.

The edges of my lips twitched. “I wasn’t just speaking physically.”

She shifted awkwardly and cleared her throat. “After you compel me and see that I know nothing, you’ll help me get home?”

I ignored the ache her words brought to my chest. “Yes, once your leg is better.”

Solaris grabbed the mug of tea again, holding it between her delicate hands. “Okay. You can try to compel me tomorrow then.”

I scoffed. “I wasn’t asking your permission.”

She shrugged. “Well, I’m giving it to you.”

I shook my head. She was a funny little human. A pretty one too.

Shut up!

I spun around and grabbed the other bag, laying its contents on the small round table. “I brought you some clothes and food. You must be hungry.” I held up a wrapped sandwich.

A grimace curled her lips. “That sandwich isn’t, like, slathered with some kind of bloody synth sauce?”

I made a face. “Uh, no. Just mustard.”

She slumped against the headboard. “Oh good. I wasn’t sure I could handle that.” A shiver rippled down her spine. “I don’t have a taste for blood.”

“You seemed to like mine just fine.” I pulled up short. Did those words just cross my lips?

Memories of Solaris cradled in my lap, drinking my blood sped through my mind. Heat flooded my veins as forbidden thoughts swirled between the images. I wasn’t allowed to go there and yet it was happening right in front of her, the girl I shared a blood bond with.

I prayed she couldn’t feel the uninvited emotions simmering through me.

When I finally lifted my gaze to hers, she was wearing a curious expression. An ache suddenly shot through my fangs.

“Your eyes are doing that silver thing again,” she pointed out.

I turned my back on her and took several deep breaths. Too bad those breaths were full of air scented by her and her blood. This was a disaster. How was I going to make it another day with her in the confined space of this cabin?

Solaris cleared her throat. “Maybe I should get cleaned up first.”

I nodded and motioned toward a door. “There’s a bathroom in there. The shower should be working, I mean, if you can manage with your leg.”

“I traipsed through the forest and fought starving taranoi, remember? For a shower, I can manage all right.”

I reluctantly turned and started for the bed to help her up, but she held her hand up.

“I got it, prince of darkness.” She stood, wobbling on one leg.

I shot her a wry look. “Prince of darkness? Really?”

Her mouth tipped up in a crooked smile. “Technically speaking, you are.” She motioned toward a window. “It’s always dark in Draconis.”

It was hard to fight the smile trying to break free. It was lame. But cute.

While Solaris was getting cleaned up, I kept myself busy by changing the bedding. I was the prince of Draconis, and I was cleaning up after a human. My father would be so proud. I crumpled the bloodstained sheets and tossed them in a bag. Hopefully the scent of her spilled blood would evaporate.

I found an old t-shirt of mine in a cabinet. It was a bit snug, but it was better than walking around half naked in front of Solaris.

The edges of my lips twitched. She didn’t seem to mind though.

Pain suddenly sliced through me just as a gasp echoed from the bathroom. I barreled through the door, my heart ramming against my ribcage. Solaris’s leg had given out as she stepped out of the shower. Her towel-wrapped body was already falling backwards, her head on a one-way collision course toward the edge of the porcelain tub.

My arms reached out, and I snatched her out of the air. “Are you all right?”

Her body was crushed against mine, her tiny hands gripping my shoulders. “Y-yes. I’m fine.”

Thank the gods she was in a towel.

My gaze flickered down. Just a towel. Her golden hair was wet, trails of water running down her skin. I licked my lips.

She caught the movement, a flush coloring her cheeks. “Thanks. I thought my leg could handle it.” Her voice was a breathy whisper. “It feels better.”

“It does look good.” I wasn’t looking at her leg.

She was so warm and soft. I liked the way she felt. Small and fragile, but a fire blazed in her, one that demanded attention. Solaris wasn’t as breakable as she looked.

A nervous laugh bubbled up from her. “I think I’m good, Kaige. You can—”

“You took a shower and you still smell like that?” I blurted.

Her lips frowned. “Like what?” She sniffed her shoulder. “I don’t smell anything.”

“Honey and jasmine.” My head dipped, my nose running along her cheek. “It’s all over you, covering every inch of your skin.”

“Oh, uh…” Her pulse spiked, but fear wasn’t the cause behind it.

My nose wasn’t the only thing touching her skin now. My lips brushed along her jaw. I licked them, tasting her sweet scent.

She shivered in my arms.

My fangs were out again as my eyes lingered on the artery throbbing in her neck. How had I managed to get this close?

“Kaige,” she whispered, “you should probably go.”

It didn’t exactly sound like she wanted that.

Sense slapped me in the face as I realized what I was doing. I snapped back, holding her at arm’s length. Her eyes were wide and cheeks rosy. “S-sorry. I didn’t…” I shook my head.

“Uh, yeah. Can I get dressed now?” Her arms were holding up the towel as if her life depended on it.

I dropped her roughly onto the closed toilet seat and shut the bathroom door behind me. I shot out of the cabin and leaned back against the door, gulping fresh air.

This was bad. This was so bad.

Had she felt what I was feeling through the bond? Did she know what I had wanted to do?

I jammed my fingers through my hair, yanking on the roots so hard every strand could have ripped out. I had to get Solaris out of here and far away from me before I did something I couldn’t take back. And I wasn’t only talking about sinking my fangs into her neck.