Lex touched her mouth. “Why did you kiss me?”
Garrin froze. Why had he kissed her? Lex tasted like the finest sweet brune, her lips infinitely soft and pillowy. He’d been drawn to her from the very beginning, but now that she was sheltered and hale, he’d done what he hadn’t dared do in the Land of Ice.
That one soft kiss had made his blood stir. Lexandra didn’t know how desirable she was.
Only that wasn’t what he said. “We are to be married. If our first kiss is to look real, we should practice without others around.”
Lex’s shoulders sank, and Garrin wanted to immediately take back his words. He hadn’t lied, but he hadn’t told the whole truth. He’d kissed her because he wanted to.
“So, my first kiss…was from a guy who had to do it?”
“First kiss?” That couldn’t be. Lex was a beautiful woman, even before her true appearance was revealed.
“Yes, you jerk,” she said, and swatted his arm.
He lifted his eyebrow. “Was that an attempt to injure my person? Because I assure you, it caused as much damage as a butterfly flapping its wings.”
“You saw what I looked like on Earth. I was a giraffe no one wanted to be close to.” She pointed a finger at his face. “What you did is cruel.”
He leaned closer, her light, airy sent tickling his nose. “Humans are fools. Believe me, kissing you is no hardship.” He narrowed his eyes and thought back. “That Jasper creature wanted to be close to you.”
Garrin’s annoyance rose from thinking about the Fae who’d nearly prevented their escape. Jasper had put all of them at risk by surprising Garrin and his men inside the cave.
Lex’s nose scrunched. “Jas is like a brother to me.”
Garrin saw the way the Fae had protected Lex. And he didn’t like it. Though he had to admit, grudgingly, that he appreciated Lex having a guardian on Earth until Garrin could reach her.
She might not see it that way, however. “I’m sorry that your first kiss wasn’t with someone you care for.”
Her mouth softened and she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I never said that.”
“Then you are attracted to me as I am attracted to you?”
Her gaze shot to his. “You’re very direct, you know that?”
He leaned closer, giving her time to move away. When she didn’t, he touched the underside of her jaw and kissed her the way he’d wanted to moments ago, with his lips and tongue.
Lex’s hands slid up his chest, and Garrin gently eased her closer until her body was flush with his.
The electricity that sparked whenever they touched turned white-hot. Every stroke of his tongue against hers had Garrin’s primal instincts firing. Especially after she let out a light moan.
He trailed his mouth down her smooth neck, leaving soft kisses behind. “Lexandra,” he murmured, shocked at the desire that turned his voice gravelly.
“I think I like kissing,” she said. “Should have been doing this a long time ago.”
He grunted in agreement. Then pulled back abruptly. “With whom?” The words came out sharper than he intended.
She dragged his head back to her chest, where he’d been kissing her decolletage. “With you. Stop talking and get back to that thing you were doing with your tongue.”
Garrin grinned and resumed kissing and lightly tasting her soft skin, her scent drugging him into a contentment that probably wasn’t wise.
“Much as I hate to, we should stop,” he finally murmured, forcing his mind back to more prudent matters. “The king will not wait long before he insists on an audience with you.” He kissed her jaw, then the corner of her mouth. Then he was tasting her again, the fire inside him building.
She pulled back, panting. “That’s how you stop? By making my body shake with the need to be closer? And what’s with that? Why do I want”—she stared at his clothes as though frustrated and waved her hand up and down—“all of this out of the way?” She looked at him skeptically. “Are you doing this? Making me want you?”
“No,” Garrin said, and ran stiff fingers through his hair. “I don’t know what’s come over me.”
Garrin had never allowed pleasure to come before duty. His search to find the one had been his sole purpose. He’d never felt the need to protect a woman more than his kingdom. Yet he was feeling it now.
“Your mother must be mistaken about the past,” Garrin said. “But I agree with her on one point; until I know the truth about what transpired, we cannot risk your life. We must tread carefully where your powers are concerned. And that could take time.”
She crossed her arms. “I won’t stay inside that vipers’ den. Your women want to eat me alive.”
He raised an eyebrow, finding pleasure in her jealousy. “First my harem is the equivalent of Earth lions, and now snakes? I doubt that very much; Fae don’t eat their kind.”
Lex tilted her head. “What kind do they eat?” She covered her stomach. “Oh God, I ate the food without thinking, and now you’re telling me it was something weird?”
Garrin sighed. This wasn’t going the way he’d planned. “I don’t know what my court offered you, but our food is much like yours. You are perfectly safe.”
“And the meat?”
Garrin glanced to the side. Their animals were not at all like Earth animals. “Perhaps we should discuss your ability further.”
Lex’s eyes widened, but she seemed to think better of it before asking more questions. She nodded, her pretty mouth burnished from his kisses.
His gaze snagged on her lips, and he dragged his eyes away. He had to focus on his purpose.
But it was no use, because he felt her. Imagined her back in his arms…
Garrin looked to the ceiling and clenched his jaw. He’d need better control if he was to keep her safe.
He leaned over and braced his forearms on his knees, careful to not look at Lex’s mouth and flushed cheeks. “Someday you will master your abilities, but not until we know there is no danger in doing so.”
Her hands clamped together, fingers twisting. “I don’t know what my ability is.”
“Your mother said you magnify others’ abilities. She said there was no one like you, but I’ve heard of individuals with similar powers. They are so rare that some believe them myth. They are called ‘puppet masters’ for their ability to pull the strings of other magic-wielders.”
“I have no idea how I gave my mother her magic. I don’t even remember it happening.” She sat straighter and compressed her lips. “If I can do this, though, it would give me a leg up. Because I don’t feel safe here.”
He reached for her hand, wanting to do more but not daring. Garrin had a court full of women, and he would have protected every one of them, but he’d never considered any woman his. Until now. “No harm will come to you while I draw breath.”
Lex slid her hand out of his. “You said that before, and we both almost died in the ravine.”
Garrin swallowed. He’d overestimated his ability to protect her outside his kingdom’s walls. He wouldn’t allow it to happen again.
He rubbed his brow and grudgingly stood. “I must go.”
Lex frowned and climbed to her feet. “Why?”
“Remain with the women in my court. They will protect you, as will my guards.” He had made certain the women in his court were trained in battle, as every Fae should be.
She crossed her arms. “You expect your lovers to protect me? Have you lost your mind? Forget it.” She turned away. “I don’t know why I thought I could trust you. I’ll figure out my magic, with or without your help.”
Okay, so she’d been rude. Lex was a willing participant of those kisses. What had she been thinking? The man had two dozen girlfriends!
Garrin’s gaze softened. “Lex, I know this is different than what you are used to, but please do not attempt to conjure magic while I am gone. It is for the best. As soon as it is safe, I will let you know.” He sighed. “I must leave now. You said Em was kind to you. Shall I send for her?”
Lex waved her hand, not looking his way. “Whatever.” Most dangerous word in the female language, and Garrin seemed to know it.
He sighed. “Give me time. I will do what I can to make things right.”
He hesitated, but when she didn’t turn around, the sound of him leaving followed.
Tears burned her eyes, but she wouldn’t allow them to fall.
What was wrong with her? The man had given her a peck on the mouth and claimed it practice. She should leave it at that. But the kisses that had followed didn’t feel like pretend.
Lex paced the room, her long gown flowing behind her. She was in no position to become infatuated with Garrin Branimir, even if it was too late. At the very least, she couldn’t act on her feelings.
A rustling came from outside, and then Em slipped into the room. “His Highness sent me.”
And that was how Lex came to be stuck with Garrin’s harem for the night. Fortunately, she only had to spend time with Em, who slept in the room with her.
“Do you have magical abilities?” Lex asked Em as they readied for bed.
The young woman looked over from folding what appeared to be a flimsy nightgown and set it on Lex’s blanket. Did she expect Lex to wear that thing? “Yes, of course. We all have powers.” She looked quizzically at Lex. “Don’t you?”
“Oh.” Lex coughed. “I do, but I seem to have lost my ability to tap into it.”
“I suppose that can happen,” Em said, though her furrowed brow said she didn’t believe it. “I don’t know anyone from Sunland. Maybe things are different there? It’s most unfortunate, though.”
“So unfortunate,” Lex agreed. “Which is why I was hoping you could help me find it again.”
Her mother didn’t want her to practice magic, and neither did Garrin. Not until he’d assessed the danger. But without her magic, how was she to survive in a land like this?
For some reason, Lex trusted Em, who came across as guileless. And besides, what was one more Fae using magic inside the palace? Garrin had made sure her power level looked normal.
Em shook her head adamantly. “I’m no alchemist. They are most knowledgeable about magic, aside from the elders. You should speak to one of them.”
“I don’t know the alchemists or the elders. I only know you. Won’t you help me?” Lex opened her eyes wide, hoping she looked innocent.
“I suppose I could try,” Em said slowly.
Lex smiled. “Wonderful!”
A rap sounded at the door, and Em strode across the room and opened it. A servant carried in a tray of food. Or, at least, Lex assumed he was a servant. He didn’t dress fancy the way Garrin and his soldiers did. He wore simple clothes in shades of brown and ecru, with fine tailoring but none of the embroidery and details Garrin’s court clothes contained.
The man placed the tray on a small table off to the side and lifted a metal dome. The scent of roasted meat and spices filled the air.
Lex walked closer and saw a slice of meat and what appeared to be something made from allon leaves. The same darn leaves she had subsisted on for months.
She thought she’d never want another allon leaf in her life, but these were prepared with care and somehow more palatable-looking. The meat, though—she had no idea what that was. By the taste of it earlier, it wasn’t chicken. Not beef, either. Something in between, and wasn’t that a scary thought?
She was still starved even though she’d eaten her weight in food when they fed her hours ago.
Lex and Em sat cross-legged facing each other on queen-sized poster beds that took up half the room, with the tray of food on the table between them.
“How do you get your magic to come to you?” Lex took a bite of vegetables while waiting for Em to answer. The flavors burst on her tongue. A bit salty, with a chestnut aftertaste, but not bad. She took another mouthful.
“You mean calling to it?” Em’s lips twisted as she chewed her food and considered. “It’s rather instinctual. I suppose if I had to define it, I would say it begins with a tingling sensation.”
A tingling. Nope. Lex didn’t remember any tingling. Then again, she’d been out of it when she somehow gave the others back their abilities. “Is there anything else?”
Em shrugged. “I’m sorry I’m not more help.”
The conversation moved to court clothing—all of it apparently flimsy for the younger generation—and they soon tucked themselves into bed, Lex wearing one of the nightgowns Em had set out.
A thought struck her, and she pushed the thick covers back and sat up. “How do you and the others stay busy while the prince is gone? You said you entertain yourselves.”
After kissing Garrin so they’d feel comfortable doing it in front of others, Lex could imagine how these women preferred to pass the time with him around.
A sick filling gripped her stomach. Fake relationship or not, she didn’t like thinking of him with anyone else.
“The prince is very busy,” Em said. “When he is away, we entertain ourselves with battle play.”
Lex’s eyes widened. “What is battle play?”
Em rolled onto her side and faced Lex, her head perched on one hand. “This Sunland must be a very strange place. You do not practice your fighting skills?”
“Um, that would be a no.”
Em’s mouth held a silent O. “Well, perhaps you can practice here? The ladies and I find great joy in honing the battle arts.”
What in the… That sounded like a terrible idea.
Then again, Lex wanted to be less dependent on others. “Sure,” she said. “What could it hurt?”
