by Meg Anne
At the Holbrooke’s Estate, free time was a luxury she’d never had. There was always something to do or someone to take care of. From dawn to dusk she stayed busy, until it was time to fall asleep, so she could start all over again the next day.
It wasn’t until she joined the Kiri and her Circle that she learned how to enjoy the quiet hours of early evening. But even then, it was never really her choice on how to pass the time. The decision was made by one of the Circle, and they would have spent the free time sparring or telling stories around the fire.
Effie looked up at Kieran’s puzzled face and shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“How can you not know?”
“No one’s ever asked me before. I don’t even know what my options are.”
“We can do whatever you want.”
Effie gave him a pointed glance.
Kieran laughed. “Come on, you can’t mean to tell me you truly want to deal with visions all night. There has to be something else. We could go into the town or—”
“I want to train,” Effie interjected.
“Train?” Kieran sputtered, incredulously. “That’s neither fun nor relaxing.”
“You asked what I wanted, and I told you. Why ask if you’re just going to tell me why I shouldn’t want it or can’t do it?”
Kieran folded his arms, his face impassive. “So be it. Will you permit me to ask why that’s how you want to spend the evening?”
“Does it matter?”
“No . . . I just find it a peculiar request.”
Effie took a deep breath, looking everywhere but at his face as she considered her answer. “I don’t want to have to rely on anyone else to save me. I’ve already lost too many people in this war, and as it stands, I barely made it out of that jungle alive. If it hadn’t been for what I’d learned from Ronan’s drills, I probably wouldn’t be standing here right now.”
Kieran went very still as she continued.
“And if I’m being honest, I like training. Maybe not the fighting part specifically, but there’s a certain sort of peace in the ritual. My mind grows quiet and all the voices telling me—” she cut herself off realizing what she’d be about to admit. It was a confession she’d never made aloud, and one she didn’t intend to share now. She didn’t want this man’s pity, or anyone’s for that matter. Shrugging, she finally allowed herself to meet his gaze. “It probably sounds silly to you.”
Kieran regarded her with a look so filled with anguish that Effie’s breath caught in her chest.
He shook his head. “No, it doesn’t. It’s not silly at all, Effie. I know exactly what you mean. I spent many nights battling the demons in my mind while in a sparring room. Sometimes it’s the only way you can fight the monsters.”
Without conscious thought, Effie reached for his hand, squeezing hard as his fingers wove through hers. She may not know him very well, or at all, but no one could fake that kind of pain. Whatever Kieran had lived through left its mark. She knew better than to ask—some hurts were too personal to share—but she could still offer comfort.
She stared into his eyes and something shifted within her, settling into place and recognizing him once more as a kindred spirit. Perhaps Kieran was the perfect tutor, after all.
Smiling softly, she asked, “So you’ll train with me, then?”
“Of course. If it would not be an intrusion.”
The polite formality of the response hinted at the prince he’d once been, and Effie’s smile grew.
“Not an intrusion at all. It will be a nice challenge having someone new to practice with.”
They started walking out of the room and into the hall.
“I should probably warn you, I’m an excellent swordsman. I was trained by the most skilled warriors in Eatos. I’ll not go easy on you.”
Smirking, she replied, “Good. I hate being underestimated.”
He stopped her with a brush of his hand against her elbow. “I’ve never underestimated you.”
Effie swallowed, her stomach swooping before a flutter moved up into her chest. “I wish I could say the same.”
Her words were purposely vague, and Kieran’s answering smile told her he knew it. Lifting a hand, he traced his thumb along her jaw.
“Come on, then. Let’s go get sweaty.” He moved away with a wink.
Effie’s laughter rang through the hallway, following them the entire way to the training room.
They’d been at it for hours and her arms were screaming in protest. She’d hardly been at her peak to begin with, but lungs burning, Effie circled her partner, refusing to admit defeat.
Kieran spun his sword in his hand, gracefully sliding his front leg forward as he slashed out and tapped the tip of the blade against her upper arm. He was toying with her now. Showing her that he could end this anytime he wanted.
Effie blew a piece of damp hair off her forehead and tightened her hold on her own blunted blade. She was starting to pick up on his tells. He was an aggressive fighter, showering her in an explosion of moves that made it hard to predict which way his blade would swing next. Effie could understand why it was an effective strategy. She was often too busy reacting to get in any strikes of her own.
However, the men Kieran had fought were clearly much taller than she was. Otherwise, they would have noticed that by being constantly on the attack, the right side of his body was frequently unprotected. At least to someone at her eye level. For once, her height—or lack thereof—was a boon. Taller men would have to slash down or around Kieran’s sword arm to get to his exposed ribs, which did not make them much of a target. But for Effie, she only needed to swing up to land her blow.
If she could distract him long enough to strike first.
Ronan had taught her to pay attention to her opponent. To watch the barely discernable shifts of weight or direction of their eyes. It was a lesson that had come in handy more than once on the battlefield. Effie was not exactly what she would call a skilled fighter, not compared to the warriors she’d fought beside, but she was an excellent student, and she knew how to use a blade.
She continued to mirror Kieran’s steps, blocking what she could of his attacks when it happened: a minute shift of his hips as he changed his weight. Effie didn’t wait. She swung hard and fast, slamming the flat side of her sword into the space just above his ribcage.
Kieran grunted, surprise flaring his eyes wide as he lost his grip on his sword. It fell to the floor with a clatter and Effie lunged, ready to unleash her killing blow. Kieran was lightning fast, ducking and spinning around her in a flash of golden hair.
Pain flared up her arms as he knocked the sword from her hand and pulled her arms back and up behind her body.
Momentarily stunned, it took Effie a heartbeat to register what happened. Kieran’s body was pressed against her back, and the heat of his breath tickled her ear.
“Submit and I’ll let you go.”
With a laugh, Effie lifted her foot and Kieran thrust her away, bending over in a ninety-degree angle in an attempt to protect his manhood.
“Dirty trick,” he panted.
Effie turned to face him with a shrug. “It worked, didn’t it?”
He looked up at her through long strands of golden hair that had fallen free from his braid. “So it did.”
He lunged, hitting her with his shoulder low in the belly and knocking her to the floor.
She hit the ground with an oomph, the air whooshing out of her lungs. Tiny stars exploded behind her eyes and she blinked rapidly trying to clear them. Effie lifted her hips, intending to buck Kieran off of her, but he was faster.
Grabbing her wrists, he pinned them to the ground on either side of her body, settling on top of her body and bending down until his eyes were the only things she could see.
“Submit,” he growled.
Goosebumps erupted all over her skin as she realized the erotic way her body cradled his. Not the time, Effie. But it was too late. Once the thought was recognized, Effie couldn’t he
lp but notice the full weight of him pressed up against her.
Her hips shifted, rocking up into his and Kieran groaned low in his throat, his eyes flashing a bright green.
“That better not be another of your tricks. It won’t work.”
Licking her lips, Effie gave a quick shake of her head.
Kieran’s eyes dropped to her mouth, tracking the movement of her tongue.
“Tease,” he murmured, his husky voice wrapping itself around her.
Effie shivered again, not sure how to navigate this unexpected turn of events. She’d never had a sparring match turn into . . . this. Whatever this was.
The change in energy between them was palpable. It was charged, like the feeling of a thunderstorm before the first drop of rain broke free from the angry clouds. The tiny hairs along the length of her arms and neck stood on end, waiting for the storm to be unleashed.
More of Kieran’s hair slipped free, surrounding them both in a golden curtain. Her heart thundered in her chest, although with the way he was pressed against her, it could have very well been his. Silence swelled around them until all she could hear was the harsh panting of her breath mingling with his.
Kieran’s hooded eyes lifted to hers and the heat in them seared her. No one had ever looked at her that way. Like they were ready to devour her whole.
His hands loosened on her wrists and slid up until his fingers curled against hers. The intimacy of the move, the slip of skin against skin, sent off new sparks along her body. Heat pooled low in her belly. She was stunned by the sudden need for him to shift the angle of his hips and press them into her. How could something so simple cause such a reaction within her?
Sliding his nose down hers, his head dipped, his mouth hovering just above her own.
“Wait,” she whispered. The word closed the hairsbreadth between them so that her lips brushed against his.
“Why?” he groaned, his voice tortured.
“We shouldn’t do this.”
“I disagree,” he purred, this time pushing up enough to look at her. “We should most definitely do this.”
Temptation swirled within her, and for a second Effie wanted to give in, to submit, but she couldn’t ignore the warning bells clanging in her mind. “Please,” she whispered, not sure if she was begging him to kiss her or take mercy on her and let her go.
Kieran’s eyes glazed as he held himself suspended above her. “For now, little one, I will let you run from me.”
Relief turned her muscles to liquid and Effie melted into the floor. Her relief didn’t last long.
“But only because I know the day will come when you are the one chasing me.”
Effie gulped. Mother have mercy on me. Is that what he’s Seen? No wonder he’s been relentless. He thinks we’re inevitable.
Kieran turned his head until his lips moved against her ear. “When you’re begging me not to stop, but to finish what we started.”
Her eyes fluttered closed and Kieran kissed the skin were her neck and jaw met.
“Run, little one, but know that eventually I will catch you, and I won’t even need to chase you. You will come willingly. And when you do, there is no turning back.”
Dazed, Effie remained motionless, not trusting herself to respond in case the words that came out of her mouth were surrender.
With a sigh, Kieran let go of her hands, his fingers trailing over the skin of her forearms and inner elbows.
The crash of metal against wood broke the heated moment, and as one Effie and Kieran’s heads twisted to the door. All she could make out was the ripple of a black cloak as a man exited the room.
Effie blanched, horrified that someone had been watching her and Kieran. She hadn’t heard the door open, had no clue they were no longer alone. She’d probably been too shocked by Kieran’s words to hear anything but his voice as he delivered his warning against her lips. But it didn’t matter that she hadn’t seen who was there.
Effie didn’t need to see the man’s face to know who had returned.
Chapter 19
“Mother’s tits,” Effie swore.
Kieran smirked in amusement at the vehement curse. “Seems that your Guardian has found his way back.”
Effie looked up at him, panic making her eyes appear wild. “Get off me,” she snapped.
Pushing to his feet, Kieran held out a hand for her, but she slapped it away, choosing to stand on her own.
“Now look what you’ve done,” she groaned.
“What I’ve done?” Kieran asked, lifting a brow. “Pray tell, little one, what exactly did I do?”
Cheeks still flushed with desire, Effie was damn near irresistible. It had taken more control than he knew he possessed to resist taking her then and there. Only the knowledge of what awaited them allowed him to rein himself back in. But only just. Need still pulsed through him, urging him to close the distance between them and carry her off to his room.
Her eyes were a tempest as they met his. “We’d only just started to get along. Now he’s going to think I’m some strumpet and stop treating me like an actual person.” Effie frowned, biting down on her full bottom lip.
Kieran used her distraction to discretely adjust himself. Elder’s sagging sack. This is getting ridiculous. “Stop,” he groaned.
She blinked up at him. “Stop what?”
He chuckled, shaking his head at her utter obliviousness. She hadn’t the foggiest clue what she did to him. “Your Guardian will not think you are a strumpet.” He struggled not to laugh as he used her word. “You’re a woman, Effie. It’s natural for you to experience desire, to take a lover if that is your choice. He has no say in the matter.”
Effie’s cheeks turned crimson. Her voice was high when she snapped, “I’m not taking a lover.”
Kieran couldn’t resist baiting her. “Not yet.”
Eyes wide, Effie shook her head. “You’re impossible.”
Needing to touch her, Kieran stretched out his arm, running his finger along the bottom of her chin. “Admit it; you love me.”
It was the wrong thing to say.
Effie’s eyes narrowed and she scowled, jerking away from his touch. “You wouldn’t know the first thing about love.”
“Come on, you know I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Maybe that’s the problem, Kieran,” she said, side-stepping his attempt to grab her arm. “You never really mean anything.”
“What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” he asked, annoyance eating away any remaining desire.
Her voice was low and cutting as she answered. “Everything is about you. You couldn’t care less about who you hurt in your efforts to get what you want. Did you ever stop to think about how your selfish actions affect others? Do you have any idea how important being here is to me? What a distraction you are to my purpose?”
Kieran’s mouth fell open in shock. All he’d done since he left home was think about her. He’d changed the entire course of his life to find her. How dare she accuse him of being self-centered. Before he could defend himself, she continued.
“You’re so focused on claiming me, like I’m some sort of prize. I’m not a possession, Kieran, I’m a person. It’s going to take more than a few sexy words to fool me into giving you my heart. And I promise you, no matter what you think you’ve Seen, I will never beg you for anything.”
With a final scathing glance, she shouldered past him.
“Wait just a damn minute,” he said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her around. “You don’t get to say all that and not give me a chance to defend myself.”
She pulled her arm out of his grasp. “Words are cheap, Kieran. You want to prove me wrong? Do it with actions.”
Kieran watched her walk away, stunned at how quickly things had turned around on him. One second, she’s practically writhing beneath him, and the next she’s hurling accusations at him.
He ran a hand over his head, staring at the door as he tried to make sense of the last few minutes.
“What just happened?” he asked, his voice echoing around the empty room.
Effie stormed down the hall, her emotions a maelstrom within her. No matter how fast she walked, she couldn’t outrun them. Guilt, shame, remorse: each one tore at her.
Whether there was truth in her words or not, Kieran hadn’t done anything to deserve what she’d said to him. Not really. It was wrong of her to lash out at him because she felt guilty for wanting what he offered.
It was so easy to forget with him. That she wasn’t just here to learn, but that she had an obligation to the Kiri and her Circle. That her heart was freshly broken.
Darrin.
The reminder gutted her, and Effie fought back a sob, throwing out an arm to catch herself as her knees gave out.
How could she do this to him? What did it say about her that she was already entertaining ideas of another man so soon after losing him? It had been almost six months since he died, but her heart shouldn’t know the difference.
Darrin had loved her, had died to save her. That was true love. Not whatever pale imitation Kieran thought he offered with his seductive caresses. He wouldn’t know real love if it bit him in the ass.
“Daughter?”
Effie stiffened at the familiar spectral voice. She looked up at the robed figure standing at the other end of the hall. Wiping her cheeks, she pushed herself away from the wall. “Hello, Smoke.”
“Why are you crying? Are you hurt?”
A laugh bubbled up. Yes, she hurt, but not in the way that he meant. “I’m fine.”
The hooded head tilted, disbelief evident in the action.
“I just got a little overwhelmed. I’ll be fine.”
“Would you like to accompany me?”
The offer surprised her. Any other time she would have jumped at the opportunity to learn more about what the Triumvirate did, but right now she just wanted a hot bath and to curl up in her bed and forget everything about the last few hours.
“Next time?” she asked, hoping it wasn’t rude of her to decline.
The hood dipped in what she assumed was a nod of assent.