Tainted Kiss

by Sharon Kay

  But gods be damned, was it too late? The mate bond was beginning to form. And he hadn’t given her the chance to walk the fuck away before she knew the whole truth.

  C

  HAPTER 25

  RIA LEFT ARAWN TO DEAL with the landowners about the solution she’d worked out, feeling satisfied both mentally and physically. He’d been so sexy and demanding today. More serious and more intense, like there was a weight to his mood. Something was going on, more than the usual enigma that simmered below his cool façade.

  Her body ached in a delicious way, and her mind wouldn’t let go of his words. No one else touches you. He already said he wouldn’t share. Could he be thinking…

  Her heart skipped a beat and she tried to mentally chastise herself for acting like a teenager. It didn’t work. She wanted him, in every possible way, and couldn’t deny it.

  But only he could decide if he was ready to commit to another female.

  She wandered the marble halls of HQ, restless, not wanting to go to her room or train. Gin wasn’t answering her phone. Ria debated laying out in the sun.

  A waft of sweetness drifted to her nose from the direction of the huge kitchen. She inhaled deeply, trying to recall the last time she ate. With such a low need for food, when things got exciting around HQ, it was easy to forget to eat.

  She followed the marble hall to the source. Rounding the corner, she spied dozens of muffins sitting out to cool on large wooden work tables. The head cook, Viola, straightened as she closed an oven door with one foot, her hands full of more muffin trays.

  “It smells amazing in here, Vi!” Ria slid onto a stool. “What’s the occasion?”

  “Fresh berries from Rivkin. They’re in season.” The sturdy female shrugged. “I have a weakness for baking.”

  “You’re not the only one.” Ria watched as steam curled up in graceful tendrils from the hottest trays. “I hope you made at least one cranberry for Gin.”

  “Honey, I got two dozen cranberry for that girl.” Viola shook her dark curly hair. “Never seen someone love those damn berries so much.” She busied herself at the sink. “Don’t eat them yet, Ria. Gonna burn your tongue.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Ria leaned over a tray of chocolate chip muffins and drew a deep breath before hopping off the stool to join Vi at the sink. “Let me help.”

  Viola nodded and handed Ria a freshly washed tray. “Thank you dear. Those things are a pain in the neck to dry.”

  Ria grabbed a dish towel and started drying the dozen cups in the metal. Her eyes dropped to Vi’s weathered hands as they washed and scrubbed. Viola had lived in Bedwyn before she came here. Nevo’s village.

  She paused in her drying as an idea took shape. “Vi? Can I take a dozen muffins? I’d like to visit Della, Nevo’s mom. Check in on her.”

  “Stars, child, take two dozen. That poor woman. She doted on Nevo, though he’d never admit it. Her only son.” The cook sighed.

  “Want to come with me?”

  Viola frowned and hesitated.

  “It can be a short visit,” Ria said. “You cooked a big dinner last night. Not everyone will need to eat today too.”

  “Well…”

  “And if anyone gets hungry, they can have a muffin.”

  “All right. It would be nice to take a quick trip back.” Viola smiled. “Let’s wash these last pans and scoot out of here.”

  An hour later, Ria and Viola walked through the main square of Bedwyn. Salt-tinged air gusted from the sea, lifting their hair and whipping it across their faces. Seagulls squawked overhead and a bold one hopped along after them, no doubt lured by the aroma of the muffin basket Ria carried.

  Viola inhaled deeply and a broad grin lit her face. “The way this place smells says home to me. This was a good idea.”

  Ria slid her a grin. “There’s no place like home.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I love my work at HQ.”

  “Oh, I know. For me it’s like having two homes. One at HQ with Mathias, and the one where we grew up with six of us under one roof. Hey.” Ria shielded her eyes from the bright sun. “Is that Lila?”

  A tall dark haired female was watching a group of children playing at a park in the center of the square. She turned to them, staring, before smiling and waving in recognition.

  Ria and Viola closed the distance and drew Lila into a group hug. “Wow, what a surprise! Is everything okay?” Lila asked.

  “Everything’s fine,” Ria said. “We just wanted to visit. And bring these to you and your mom.” She hefted the basket.

  “Mom would love to talk to you.” Lila said. “I can’t get away just yet, but I’ll see if I can get someone to watch this bunch for me and I’ll join you.”

  “I’m going to see my aunt and uncle,” Viola said. “Call me when you’re ready to go back.”

  “Will do,” Ria said. Lila pointed her in the direction of Della’s house and she headed to a corner of the square close to the beach. As she neared the water, the shouts of people working and laughing reached her ears. An old demoness stepped out of a shop to sweep her porch with a yellowed broom.

  She, too, stared at Ria for a second before breaking into a smile. Well, everyone here had seen her holding Arawn’s hand. It was the equivalent of a bachelor American president having a girlfriend. Minus the tabloids.

  Ria shook her head as she rounded the corner of the building. No tabloids, just gossip happily spread by fairies and sometimes—

  “Oh!” Ria exclaimed as she barely avoided hitting a petite female. “I’m sorry.”

  The female stepped back and craned her neck to look up at Ria. “My lady warrior.” She cocked her head and her silver eyes assessed Ria. “I had a premonition that we would have visitors today.”

  The witch. “Oh. It’s nice to see you again. This was actually a spontaneous trip. I’m Ria.”

  “And I am Jade.”

  “You did a wonderful job with Nevo’s ceremony,” Ria said. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

  Jade closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. “You feel guilt.”

  Ria bit her lip. The perception skills of witches always made her feel exposed. “Well, yes. We were on a job together and things got messed up.”

  Jade’s long black hair lifted on a warm breeze. “His soul is at peace. He is gone now, but your duties are not complete. You must focus on your leader.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?” Ria’s internal alarm spiked.

  “He carries a heavy burden.” Jade’s words were lilting and soft, with an undercurrent of foreboding. “One you have already sensed.”

  Ria frowned. “He has a lot on his mind. He has so many responsibilities.”

  “This goes deeper than his work. He is troubled. You must guard his heart.”

  “Do you know what this…” Ria gestured with her free hand, “burden is?”

  “I do not. But when he was here, his emotions were palpable to me. He needs you.”

  I need him too. Ria sighed. “I’ll be there for him.”

  “Good.” Jade nodded. “Remember that. No matter what happens.”

  “What does that mean? What’s going to happen?”

  “I cannot see the future, child,” the witch said. “But I can see people’s emotions and needs. Stand at his side. He needs you.”

  “Okay.” Ria nodded but her shoulders sagged and she was more confused than ever. “Thank you, Jade.”

  The petite witch inclined her head. “Safe travels, warrior.” She walked past Ria toward the square, her brown dress whipping around her legs.

  Huh. Ria thought back to Arawn today, the way he had commanded her body, and the flashes of something deeper that darkened his handsome face. Did he know she saw them? What burden was he carrying?

  Then she wanted to smack herself. Things were intensifying to something serious between them, but he’d lost his mate in such a horrible way, and because of his job. He had to feel guilt at the possibility of finding new happiness with Ria. Or at the thought
of losing another mate to vengeful retaliation.

  Right? Because what else could be weighing on his mind?

  “Ria?” Lila’s voice carried to her, drawing her from the muddlings of her mind. “Did you get lost?”

  “No. Sorry.” Ria shook her head. “I was just lost in thought. I ran into Jade.”

  “Ah. Yes, she’s going to mind the munchkins for me for a few minutes.”

  “Does she live here in Bedwyn?”

  Lila pulled back the cloth covering the muffins and grabbed one. “I can’t wait to try one of these. And yes, she lives here. We’re lucky to have her, since we don’t have a healer.” She took a bite. “Mmm, these are heaven. I swear Vi has a secret ingredient or three that she puts in here. Come on, let’s go see Mom.”

  Lila led her toward a modest gray clapboard house that backed up to the beach. They walked up the flagstone path lined with tiny blue flowers and up three steps to a porch with two chairs.

  “This looks adorable,” Ria said.

  The front door opened and Della rushed out, folding Ria into a motherly hug. “Ria! It’s so good to see you! Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, fine. I wanted to visit. I come bearing muffins.” Ria grinned.

  “And they’re amazing!” Lila chimed in.

  “Oh, this is wonderful. Sit, Ria.” Della indicated the chairs.

  Lila ducked into the house and came back a second later with another chair. She settled in and thrust the basket at her mother. “You need to eat one of these.”

  Della took one. “Let me guess…Viola’s work?”

  Ria nodded. “The best.”

  Della carefully peeled the wrapper back. “You look lovely, dear.”

  “How are you holding up?” Ria asked.

  Della’s shoulders sagged. “I get through the days. But part of my soul feels like it’s missing. Just torn away.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Ria whispered, aching for them.

  “My boy always wanted to be a Watcher. He knew it was dangerous. I knew it too, but I wouldn’t deny him this.” The older female sighed. “I’m so proud of him, but I’d give anything to hug him again.”

  Tears glistened in Lila’s eyes. “Me too, Mama.”

  Ria took a deep shuddering breath under the weight of all the emotion. Her guilt seemed silly and secondary now. She had years of shared missions with Nevo, but not the soul-affirming blood ties of family. She couldn’t imagine losing one of her siblings. New respect bloomed in her heart at her own parents’ easy confidence in her and Mathias. Not one, but two of their children regularly tangled with the realm’s worst creatures.

  She sniffed and thought of the reason she was here. “Nevo and I sparred often,” she began. “We constantly went back and forth with who won. He was incredibly fast.”

  “Ha.” Lila smiled. “He was always faster than me. I’d send him to raid the cookie jar because Mom couldn’t catch him.”

  “Oh, you were behind that, were you?” Della shook her head. “I couldn’t—”

  The shrill keening of a hawk broke through the air, flying low. Ria studied it. “Strange. He’s flying low. Do you get many hawks here?”

  The air filled with white flapping wings as dozens of seagulls took flight, eager to avoid being lunch for the bird of prey.

  “No.” Lila frowned as the raptor shrieked and zoomed toward the center of town.

  It flew over Della’s house and as it passed, Ria spotted a telltale cylinder clutched in its talons. “Oh my gosh. It’s a messenger hawk!” She rose from her chair and jogged toward the square, as memories of the last awful message delivered via hawk assaulted her mind.

  At the playground, Jade herded the children into a group at her back. The hawk screeched, loud and piercing, and released its delivery before climbing high into the clouds.

  Ria ran toward the metal tube, reaching to pick it up. “Stop!” Jade’s voice was commanding from her diminutive figure. “Let me scan it.”

  Ria stopped short. Lila darted around her to the curious children. Jade walked to the tube and hovered her hands over it for several seconds before nodding. “I don’t sense any spells.”

  “If I may…” Ria stepped closer and pulled out her phone. Setting her explosive detection app, she swiped it back and forth above the tube. “All clear. Thanks, Jade.” She glanced around at the curious crowd gathering. “Anyone mind if I open this?”

  “Go ahead, warrior,” Jade said.

  Ria popped the lid off one end. Dread crept up her spine as she dumped the contents into her hand and found a rolled up piece of paper.

  Just like the one Arawn had received.

  Fighting to keep her hands from shaking, she unrolled the note.

  What the hell?

  Your leader is not who he seems. He is the enemy. He has lied to you for centuries. Dare him to speak the truth about himself.

  There was no signature. Ria read it again, but the words made no more sense than the first time. Shaking her head, she handed it to Jade.

  “What is it, dear?” Della asked.

  “It-it makes no sense.” Ria watched Jade scan the paper, her expression giving nothing away. Wordlessly, she passed it to Lila. Ria blinked in confusion. Hadn’t Splinter’s leader said something similar?

  And Splinter had delivered Nevo’s ransom note via hawk. She turned to walk away from the group. “I need to make a call.”

  When she got a good twenty feet away, she grabbed her phone and dialed Arawn. It rang four times, then went to his voice mail. She gritted her teeth in frustration, preparing to leave a brief message, when her phone beeped with an incoming call. Arawn.

  She switched over to him. “Hey. Something came up. Or rather, dropped from the sky.”

  “What? Slow down. Where are you?”

  “I’m visiting Della in Bedwyn. I brought Viola, too. And um, a passenger hawk just dropped a message in the middle of the square. Where are you?”

  “What the fuck? I’m at HQ. Did you open it?”

  “Yeah, and it was…about you.”

  He cursed long and loud. “Tell me.”

  Ria repeated the message.

  “What. The. Fuck.” Rage coated his voice and he blew out an angry breath. “Hold on, Princess.” The line went quiet for a moment, then Arawn returned. “Guess what, that’s not the only one.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That was your brother. Team leaders are reporting calls from around the realm, all with messages like this.”

  “What? Who would do this? And why? This makes no sense.” Ria’s eyes darted to the villagers, passing the note and peering over shoulders to read it.

  He didn’t respond, other than to curse a blue streak. Anger radiated through the phone, so strong it was palpable. And along with it was a sense of something else. Concern? She couldn’t pinpoint it. She squeezed her eyes shut. She was probably imagining this. “Do you want me to bring this in to you now?”

  “No. You stay and finish up what you were doing. Mathias will keep tabs on this and get a total on all this shit.” His boots thudded through the connection and she guessed he was pacing the floor. “You’ll be back tonight?”

  “Yes. I’ll call when we get back.”

  “Okay. Be careful.”

  “I will. Bye.” She cradled the phone to her ear and listened to him end the call. He always ended calls. Rarely said goodbye. No time for pleasantries, but it didn’t bother her. That’s how he rolled.

  She walked back to the group to see Della had brought the basket of muffins and was passing them out. Villagers grinned and closed their eyes as they bit into Viola’s culinary magic. And Viola herself was there, chuckling. “I’d a brought another two dozen if I knew y’all would be hungry!”

  Lila sidled up to Ria. “What a strange message.”

  “I know.” Ria rubbed her arms. Not because of cold, but because she couldn’t shake the sense that something was very off with Arawn.

  “What does it mean?” Lila asked.
<
br />   “No clue.”

  “Do you have to go back?”

  “I can stay a bit longer.”

  “Oh, good. I’ve been teaching the children some songs, and they want to sing them for you. They remember you being here the other week.”

  Ria turned, surprised. “For me? I’d love to hear them!”

  “Oh, good. I’ll get them ready.” Lila scooted away to talk to her group of youngsters.

  “We are delighted to have you here, of course.” Jade’s voice at her side caught her by surprise. “But don’t forget. He needs you.” She pressed the metal tube, with the note inside, into Ria’s hand, and started to turn away.

  “Jade.” Ria gently gripped her hand. “Do you know anything about this? Who would send this?”

  “No, child.” She shook her head. “I only know that you must keep your heart open, and be strong for your male. He is yours, Ria.” Jade backed up, drawing free of Ria, and disappeared into the crowd.

  Ria stared, hand still extended in open air, as the witch’s words both stole her breath and gave life to her fantasy. He is yours.

  That could only mean…that they were destined to become mates.

  C

  HAPTER 26

  ARAWN SAT IN HIS OFFICE, clicking through emails he had no interest in, when warmth pulsed in his heart.

  Ria.

  She was back from Bedwyn. And he knew this because the mate bond was sliding, slowly but unquestionably, into place. Her physical presence was now a signal to his very cells. If they completed the bond, he’d feel her emotions every second of the day.

  He had to tell her. Maybe she was feeling the effects as well, but didn’t realize it since she’d never been mated. But telling her meant…telling her. Everything.

  Fuck. There was a very real chance she’d resent him, but all he wanted was her. In his life, in his bed, forever.

  He stood and stalked to the door, needing to see her and touch her. Her orange blossom scent was stronger to him now, and he followed it to the first floor rotunda.

  The space was empty save for Ria who stood there like an angel, waving to Viola who disappeared down the hall to the kitchen. Her blond hair was wild, no doubt from Bedwyn’s wind. Tight jeans hugged her legs and her bright blue T-shirt made her eyes even more brilliant.