bugs, biting into her skin.
“Alexia?”
She opened her eyes. A blurry outline hung above her, silhouetted by a leafy awning and snatches of sky. She squinted against the light. An arm slipped around her back and neck, lifting her upper body.
His countenance solidified into a straight nose that flared erratically, high cheeks, a jagged white scar.
“Alexia.”
That this angelic being spoke her name made her happy, and then she remembered he was hers.
She threw her arms around his neck and he enwrapped her. Her entire body hummed for joy. He squeezed too tightly. She tugged at his shoulder, and his lips pressed into the crook of her neck. Alexia sucked in a breath, startled by the sudden intimacy and sparks of desire launching through her.
Lester harrumphed. She blinked up at him, standing a few paces back, scowling. He kicked at the forest shrubbery, rubbing his neck. Ethel stood beside him, both her hands clasped tight together, brows high in worry.
Alexia’s entire body heated. She pushed Kiren back, but he caught her face, cradling it, rubbing her blazing cheeks, eyes consuming her in the pressing waves. They choked out all but the heat of his flesh pressed to hers, and a deepening need so vast it made the ocean feel small.
She smiled at him in confusion. He pressed his mouth to hers, bruising her, parting her lips.
She gasped. This was no innocent thing, but a kiss meant only to happen behind closed doors. She wanted to stop him, too aware of their audience, but he delved deeper and suddenly she no longer cared. She wrapped herself around him, fingers gliding up into his hair. The tension eased out of his shoulders as he rounded into her, pressing her closer.
He pulled away. Bright red smears stained the ivory embroidery of his suit coat and frock.
Her fingers flew to her neck. She drew a hand down her neck and bodice, horrified by the sticky dampness on her fingers, her wedding dress ruined, her very life almost...
Alexia turned her head. She couldn’t face him, not in light of what had just transpired. “The pendant...” she whispered through a raw throat.
He caught her cheeks, turning her to him.
She focused on his ruined shirt, searching with her fingers for the chain that should be hidden there. No metal links bulged beneath his soiled vest. She bit back a cry. “What have you done?”
Kiren traced Alexia’s jaw, mouth stretched tight in a frown.
She grabbed his hand and turned it over, her own blood glistening across his palm. “This is my doing—”
He lifted her to her feet, his breath hot across her cheek, lips tight and angry. They parted, and she expected chastisement, but he closed them again. His eyes softened into a starry night sky so tender, she was afloat. “No worries, love. Everything will be set aright.”
She was grateful for the words, but her heart swelled with guilt. It was only because of her he was in this position. If she had been strong enough to do something more than stop time...
And what of the others they’d abandoned? “Father. Where is Father?”
“Safe in Nelly’s care,” Lester growled.
“We are best on a quick offensive.” Ethel’s fingers writhed together. “They are only a few miles out.”
“You have an army in yer pocket?” Lester’s head shook. “We ain’t so invincible as before. We should bring in Elizabeth North and Mi—”
“Agreed.” Kiren lifted a hand. “And if Elizabeth proves stubborn, remind her that she owes me a life debt.”
Lester saluted. “On my way.”
“Ethel, you will assist Lester.” Kiren met the woman’s stare.
“Of course.” She dipped in a shallow curtsy before swirling into a cyclone of mist and disappearing.
Alexia took a deep breath, raking at the rawness of her airway. “This is because of me. I will help you retrieve the medallion, no matter the cost.”
He crossed his arms.
She grabbed his shoulders. “I will not be your weakness. Do you understand me?” She shook him. “Either you
“Alexia?”
She opened her eyes. A blurry outline hung above her, silhouetted by a leafy awning and snatches of sky. She squinted against the light. An arm slipped around her back and neck, lifting her upper body.
His countenance solidified into a straight nose that flared erratically, high cheeks, a jagged white scar.
“Alexia.”
That this angelic being spoke her name made her happy, and then she remembered he was hers.
She threw her arms around his neck and he enwrapped her. Her entire body hummed for joy. He squeezed too tightly. She tugged at his shoulder, and his lips pressed into the crook of her neck. Alexia sucked in a breath, startled by the sudden intimacy and sparks of desire launching through her.
Lester harrumphed. She blinked up at him, standing a few paces back, scowling. He kicked at the forest shrubbery, rubbing his neck. Ethel stood beside him, both her hands clasped tight together, brows high in worry.
Alexia’s entire body heated. She pushed Kiren back, but he caught her face, cradling it, rubbing her blazing cheeks, eyes consuming her in the pressing waves. They choked out all but the heat of his flesh pressed to hers, and a deepening need so vast it made the ocean feel small.
She smiled at him in confusion. He pressed his mouth to hers, bruising her, parting her lips.
She gasped. This was no innocent thing, but a kiss meant only to happen behind closed doors. She wanted to stop him, too aware of their audience, but he delved deeper and suddenly she no longer cared. She wrapped herself around him, fingers gliding up into his hair. The tension eased out of his shoulders as he rounded into her, pressing her closer.
He pulled away. Bright red smears stained the ivory embroidery of his suit coat and frock.
Her fingers flew to her neck. She drew a hand down her neck and bodice, horrified by the sticky dampness on her fingers, her wedding dress ruined, her very life almost...
Alexia turned her head. She couldn’t face him, not in light of what had just transpired. “The pendant...” she whispered through a raw throat.
He caught her cheeks, turning her to him.
She focused on his ruined shirt, searching with her fingers for the chain that should be hidden there. No metal links bulged beneath his soiled vest. She bit back a cry. “What have you done?”
Kiren traced Alexia’s jaw, mouth stretched tight in a frown.
She grabbed his hand and turned it over, her own blood glistening across his palm. “This is my doing—”
He lifted her to her feet, his breath hot across her cheek, lips tight and angry. They parted, and she expected chastisement, but he closed them again. His eyes softened into a starry night sky so tender, she was afloat. “No worries, love. Everything will be set aright.”
She was grateful for the words, but her heart swelled with guilt. It was only because of her he was in this position. If she had been strong enough to do something more than stop time...
And what of the others they’d abandoned? “Father. Where is Father?”
“Safe in Nelly’s care,” Lester growled.
“We are best on a quick offensive.” Ethel’s fingers writhed together. “They are only a few miles out.”
“You have an army in yer pocket?” Lester’s head shook. “We ain’t so invincible as before. We should bring in Elizabeth North and Mi—”
“Agreed.” Kiren lifted a hand. “And if Elizabeth proves stubborn, remind her that she owes me a life debt.”
Lester saluted. “On my way.”
“Ethel, you will assist Lester.” Kiren met the woman’s stare.
“Of course.” She dipped in a shallow curtsy before swirling into a cyclone of mist and disappearing.
Alexia took a deep breath, raking at the rawness of her airway. “This is because of me. I will help you retrieve the medallion, no matter the cost.”
He crossed his arms.
She grabbed his shoulders. “I will not be your weakness. Do you understand me?” She shook him. “Either you
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