15

kaira astor

* w a r n i n g *

Shadows creep over my vision, my lungs pleading for oxygen. He'll find me, he'll find me before I get the chance to run. I know. "One." Zyran's voice is low, almost dripping with amusement. I shake as goosebumps spread over me. Terror elicits over my skin. "Two. I'm only counting until five, Princess." How does he know it's me? My perfume?

I watch his boots under the bed, not moving an inch, but facing the bed. He knows exactly where I am. I dig my finger into the cold ground, crimson flooding from the split in my skin, the pain sending tingles along my skin. Think, think, think. For some odd reason, I don't want him to know I saw the photo. Apart from the dagger, that's the only other personal belonging that he has. He hid it underneath his mattress. "Three," I jolt at the sound of his voice, my eyes darting back to his boots. "Might as well stand now and explain to me why the f**k you're in my room." He bites out.

I press my cheek further into the ground, wishing a latch would open up and swallow me whole. "Before I come around the bed and don't give you the chance to explain." He grits out, the tension flowing over my skin, and I'm frozen. What am I going to do? "Four." I shift slightly, as slowly as I can, my heart pounding in my ears. Daggers. He has the daggers on the other side of the bed. Cut him, and then run. I inhale a soft, sharp breath, sitting back on my haunches, but dip my head, so he can't see me. My eyes find the smear of crimson on the floor and I press my lips into a thin line, rolling my fingers into fists.

That's how he knew, my blood is on the dagger. A deep, feral groan rips from his throat. "Five." He steps forward around the bed, I jolt up to my feet and fling myself on the bed, crawling for the dagger. "f**k sakes." His fingers wrap around my ankles and I shriek, kicking back at him as my hand shoots out, reaching for the dagger closest to me. His hold tightens and he yanks, just as my fingers wrap around the sharp edge, the blade digging into my skin. I hiss, my body dragged down to the side of the bed. I flip over onto my back, pushing up on my elbow. Taking hold of the dagger with my other hand, I raise it. I blink, staring up at Zyran.

Towering over me, he clenches his jaw and leans forward, the tip of the blade pressing against his chest, right above his heart. He holds my gaze, no trace of fear in his eyes, no trace of anything except for solid, white-flamed rage. "You like playing hide and seek, little monster?" He slants his head to the side, hair tumbling over his forehead and I see it, the shadows weaving through his hues, darker than the ones I saw plaguing him on the photo. A shudder rolls down my spine. I tighten my hand around the dagger and add pressure, the sharp edge slicing through the material of his shirt. I narrow my eyes, a lock of my hair over one eye, my lips pulling up into a snarl. "No, I liked playing Doctor as a child," I'll push this through his chest.

Zyran's eyes flash, turning hooded as he stares down at me, his eyes roving over my face, a stark challenge glistening in his eyes. "Yeah?" Dropping his gaze to the blade at his chest, he looks back down at me, his lips parting. His body presses into the blade as he leans down toward me, and my fingers tremble. His hand rises, his fingers lightly pushing the strand away from my face and I blink, my bottom lip slightly quivering. "You like that game, little monster?" Closer and closer and closer. My grip on the dagger loosens, and so does the pressure I hold against his chest as he leans in, pushing his hands into the bed on either side of me. Towering over me, his pupils dilate, and I grit my teeth, narrowing my eyes. "Stop calling me that." My heart is pounding, so rapidly that I'm almost sure he can hear it.

The green of his eyes are holding me captive, pinning me in my spot and my lips part, eager to inhale a lungful, but the breath hitches in my throat instead when he moves even closer, his face a breath away from mine. Tingles crawl up my spine and my other hand wraps around his sheets, digging into the material. "That's exactly what you are, a little monster." He says, his breath falling over my lips. I feel him everywhere, pressed against me, and I realize that my thighs are on either side of him. I must've parted them when he started leaning into me. His hips press into mine and I can feel the heat starting to invade my cheeks. Oh, f**k. My eyes briefly fall to the tattoo on his neck. "You're very intruding and crude for a guard, they don't behave like this." I mumble, almost breathless as I stare up at him through my lashes.

I'm burning. With need. With want. But, I'm not quite sure for what. Zyran's eyes flick between both of mine, his lips parting as a slow, dangerous smirk stretches over his lips. My breath hitches and I drop my eyes to his mouth, staring. "Princesses don't behave like this either, breaking into rooms and meeting strangers in the garden." I can almost feel his lips brush over mine as he speaks, the center of my lips tingling. His eyes are teasing, wrapped in mischief and I swallow the lump in my throat. He's f*****g with me, again. I bite into the side of my cheek, needing control over this situation. Without hesitating, I part my lips, my tongue darting out, and I sweep it over his bottom lip. Big f*****g mistake.

Zyran tenses, his eyes turning a shade darker and I halt, warmth gathering in the pit of my stomach, shudders wracking through my body. Mint, soft, plump, warm. My breathing turns ragged, Zyran's eyelids lower. He doesn't pull away, he doesn't shift, he stays tense above me, all the amusement dispersing from his eyes. A beat of silence falls around the room and then something snaps inside me. I inch closer to him again, my eyes locked with his as I run the tip of my tongue over his lip again, a smooth trail. Zyran's eyes flash and a groan rumbles from his chest. My thighs clench around his waist. Oh, f**k. Oh, f**k. Oh, f**k. My ears ring and my body trembles, my chest caving in with shallow breaths. More. I want more.

I lean up, my neck straining. So lost in the moment, so lost in him and the thrill of it and the feel of it. My eyes flutter, and I brush my lips against his, warm and soft. I shudder, a whimper caught in my throat. f**k. I flick my eyes up, staring at him through my lashes. It looks like he's not even breathing, watching me, observing me, staring at me. And, I like it. I pull back and wet my lips, my eyes flicking between his, and his jaw flexes. Fuc-- There's a soft knock at his door, a quiet rapt, and I'm snapped out of my trance, falling back on the bed, bouncing slightly and stare up at Zyran with wide eyes.

His eyes flick down to mine, heat crawling up my neck and spreading to my cheeks. What the f**k did I just do? My body runs cold and realization hits me, the pain in my hands coursing up my arms and my palm and fingers throb. s**t. Zyran stares down at me, ignoring the faint knocks flowing from the door, his jaw hardening. He can show me just how much he hates me by opening the door and letting the person outside see me. That would ruin my life. My breath catches in my throat and I move my hands to his chest, feeling the muscles tense underneath my palms and push. "Get off." I whisper, my throat dry.

He narrows his eyes, but lifts himself, getting off the bed. I scramble forward, sliding off the bed and fall back down to the floor just as the door creaks open. I stare through the gap under the bed and hold my breath. "Took you long enough." The sultry voice is low. My entire body stiffens, the faint ache is still there, but I welcome the pain. Amara. I press my heated cheek against the cold, wooden surface, squeezing my eyes shut. Silence follows and I hear her sigh. "Still?" I hear the soft smirk in her tone. "You seem angry, let me come in and I'll make you feel better." She purrs, and I swallow the groan wanting to escape my throat. This is embarrassing.

More silence follows, and I shift, my eyes fluttering open as I stare at their feet. "Oh, come on. I know you want to, I'm over the hot and cold behavior now." Her tone is harder now, and I know her snake eyes are narrowed into slits. "I'm busy right now, another time." Zyran tells her before closing the door and I blink. Another time? My fingers lightly graze over my lips. What the f**k? I grit my teeth and push up onto my knees, pressing my hand into the bed as I stand up. I round the bed and stride toward the door, my eyes on the ground. I need to get out of here. His eyes track me as I near him, rounding his body and tug at the door, but before the door can swing open, his large palm reaches over my shoulders and slams it shut.