by A. K. Koonce
Contents
1. Peaceful Perfection
2. Lovk
3. Questions with a Side of Breakfast
4. Their Past
5. A Simple Gift
6. The Favorite
7. Among the Stars
8. A Mysterious Friend
9. Practice Makes … Uncomfortable Sexual Situations
10. A Redo
11. Beautifully Broken
12. Insufferable Demands
13. Those Damn Candles
14. A Costly Gift
15. Deadly Magic
16. Just a Misunderstanding
17. Shared Bonds
18. Home
Also by A.K. Koonce
About A.K. Koonce
Maiming
Copyright 2019 A.K. Koonce
All Rights Reserved
Cover design by Killer Book Covers
Editing by Ms. Correct All’s Editing and Proofreading Services
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the author. Any unauthorized use of this material is prohibited.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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One
Peaceful Perfection
And now my life is a fairy tale.
That’s a lie. If my life were a fairy tale my prince charming wouldn’t be eye fucking my other prince charming right now.
A knowing smile pulls at my lips as Chaos watches Rime pull off his shirt. The ice dragon is avoiding the stares of his adoring fans on the shoreline. Chaos and I are all but holding up ten out of ten signs while Rime discards his jeans to reveal the sharp dimples on his lower back. Slowly he descends into the clear lake water. Deep orange and red leaves dot the ground around the shore while ripples of white waves bloom out around him. When he’s waist deep, he dives under.
It's peaceful here in the village of shifters. The place where Chaos and Kain grew up is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. They live off the land more. More hunting and less trips into the heart of the Kingdom.
It’s quiet. It’s nice
Warm breath meets the lower part of my neck just before Chaos’ soft lips and rough beard brush there. “Your turn, Low.”
“That water is fucking freezing. This is a you and Rime thing, not a me thing. I’m just here to watch the show. I’m your biggest supporter. On. The. Sidelines.” I turn to him, waiting for him to do his own strip tease. The way his broad shoulders fill out the white shirt holds my attention for a moment. Every part of Chaos is pure, beautiful strength.
His gaze sweeps over my face as his big palm pushes against my navel in a claiming way.
“You’re my biggest supporter?” There’s this awestruck look in his honey and sapphire eyes. You’d think I just said the most romantic thing in the history of romance.
Warmth flares up in my chest and I realize my life really is a fucking fairy tale. I have no idea how that happened to me.
His chest is hard against my arm as he leans just a fraction of an inch closer. A small breath catches in my lungs as I mirror his movement until our lips touch with so much teasing lightness that an ache spreads all through my core.
“Let’s go, fuck face. My tutor will be here in an hour and I can’t waste all my free time watching you screw her brains out. Again.” Alloex slaps the back of Chaos’ head, making me pull myself fully away from Chaos’ intoxicating warmth.
“Watch your mouth,” Chaos chides for the hundredth time this morning.
“Morning, Alloex.” I cock a brow at Chaos’ little brother.
The messy dark hair, the way it curls up at the ends, the solid build of their bodies; they’re too much alike. Even with over a decade separating them they’re too much alike. A smile like total kindness pulls at the corner of Alloex’s mouth. It’s such a familiar look that I pin Chaos with a glare like it’s his fault completely that his youngest brother is a walking replica of him.
A small herd of dragon shifters run down the grassy shore and dive right in to the cold morning water. One right after the other they take the leap. Ten strong, assured men jump into the waves. While I sit watching the males like a nature exhibit.
I still don’t know how Chaos’ mother survives raising eleven shifters. Their combined arrogance alone makes me sick some days.
“Come on, fuck face.” Alloex whines to his brother as he walks backward slowly.
“Watch your fucking mouth.” Chaos stares at the young dragon shifter before turning his attention to me. His mouth brushes against mine. Once. Twice. Three times. And then I’m thrumming for more.
Will it ever feel like enough? Will I feel this tingling need for the rest of our lives? Goddess, I hope so.
“I’ll be right back.” His fingers thread through the back of my hair as his mouth presses fully to mine, his tongue flicking just lightly.
He pulls back but doesn’t allow any space between us.
“I’ll be here. I support you.” A disgustingly adorable smile tugs at my mouth.
“I support you too,” he says.
A whisper of the bond that we share is faint and repressed within my mind. A single word slips through his thoughts and into mine.
And then all the words inside my head vanish. All logical thought disappears as he smiles a teasing smile at me.
The echo of his dangerous words slam through my mind as he walks toward the shore. The chant is so loud I don’t even appreciate his body as he slinks into the water. I can’t hear the laughter and the happiness that’s all around me in this perfect perfection that is my life.
I know what he said. I heard the words that came out of his mouth.
But the bond that links didn’t say I support you. It said love. It said love loud and clear within his thoughts.
“Fuck.”
Two
Lovk
“How do I say it?”
Kain’s arms flex as he hoists a stack of lumber onto his shoulder. A sheen of sweat coats his skin all the way down to his low-slung jeans, but all I can focus on is the unconcerned look his emerald eyes.
“You just say it, I don’t know. If you love him, tell him.” He trails down into the cellar of his mother’s basement and I follow after him. I don’t think about how we found Aggie here or how I murdered my boyfriend just yards away.
More important things are happening now.
“I can’t just say it,” I hiss. “That—that’s terrifying.” A warm glow of the lantern crawls over the small room. Dust lines every inch of the space. A few trinkets, an old bedframe, and a wooden tool box fill most of the tiny space.
“Say it right now.” He drops the wood with a clattering sound as he turns to me, giving me his full attention. It’s so intimidating that I don’t immediately know what to say.
“What?”
“Say the L word now and it’ll get easier.” His hands press to his hips, letting the golden light cling to the veering lines of his abdomen.
Outside, just a few feet away, the sound of a spying sparrow and a Minue quail chirping and squeaking happily can be heard over the sound of my pounding heart. Kain fed them this morning and their pleased noises are a constant flow of ecstatic chatter. I can’t even focus on the little creatures Prince Linden loaned me right now as I look at Kain.
He wants me to say I love him?
Tension snaps through the room as I real
ize how little space separates him from me. My arms fold and his gaze trails over the thin yellow dress that hugs my curves. If he took a single step closer, he’d be touching me.
“Okay,” I clear my throat in a quiet noise that seems to echo into the pressing silence, “Kain.” My lips part like I’ve forgotten my line.
“Yes, Arlow?” Amusement tugs at his lips, but he smothers the smile away with a signature look of seriousness.
“I—I lovk you.” My voice grows small with each little word I say.
“Lovk?” He nods as if he understands completely. “It’s a complex word to pronounce, I understand. Maybe keep practicing. I’m sure that foreign accent will clear up after a while.”
“Fuck.” My hands cover my face. A sigh slips away, and I can’t believe I’m such a screw up that I can’t even tell Chaos, the sweetest man I’ve ever met, how I feel.
Can I even blame it on Kreedence anymore? Sure, he toyed with my young confusing emotions, but I’m a woman now. I should be able to do basic woman shit. Shouldn’t I?
Warm fingertips slip across my arm. Kain pulls my hands away from my face. His warmth clashes with the cool autumn air and all I want to do is lean in as close as possible to the dirt that’s lining his skin.
“Don’t put so much expectation into it. You’re thinking too much about it. When you want to say it, your emotions won’t stop your big mouth from getting in the way.” A gleam shines in his eyes, kissing his expression with humor.
“You’re such a charmer.” I pretend to be annoyed by his teasing words, but my fingers still inch across the slick lines of his lower stomach.
The warmth of his breath skims against my cheek as we stare at one another. My attention drifts to his lips, and I realize I told him I lovk you and we haven’t even had sex.
It was just a practice I lovk you, but it’s an improvement, I’d say. I’m improving.
I think.
“My mom was looking for you.” His simple words pull away all the tingling emotions in me.
“Oh.”
Kain’s mom. She hates me.
Chaos’ sweet mother, Helen, pulled me in and acted like she’d never let her “sweet boy’s mate” go. She’s a loving woman full of optimistic happiness. A woman who makes me understand just where Chaos gets it from.
And Kain’s mom … is just like Kain. Except worse because she’s not easily won over by my beaming charisma like her son.
“She likes you; she’s just cautious.” He searches my features and I do my best to nod to him.
“I know. It’s fine.”
Tension fills the pause that passes between us. We’ve been here a week and Kain hasn’t so much as kissed me since we arrived.
I’m terrified it’s because his mother doesn’t think I’m enough. If she doesn’t think I’m enough, will Kain?
It’s hard. It’s hard trying to fit here when I’ve spent so many years not fitting anywhere. I didn’t fit in at home. I didn’t fit in the Kingdom of Minden. And now I’m here, in a simple shifter village called Valencia.
For the first time in my life, I care if I fit in this place.
I want to fit here with them so bad it hurts.
And I will.
“I’ll make her like me.” My chin tips up and lines crease his pretty eyes.
“Oh, really?” His head tilts as he stares down at me.
“Yeah. By the end of the week, she’ll lovk me.”
His lips part with a smirk as his body melds against mine. The pressure of his palms pressing low down my back have dirty, smutty positions rapid firing through my mind. I think there’s enough room against that wall but it looks a little damp and water damaged. The woodworking table to the left is spacious enough, but I’d hate to find a surprise nail somewhere. The small stairs leading into the cellar seem uncomfortable but desperate times call for desperate measures.
His breath is hot against my ear as his mouth skims against it. “She’ll love you, just give her time.”
Every inch of his body aligns with mine in a hard and sexy hug. Buzzing attraction strums through me. Every part of me feels like it was made to fit with every part of him.
And then he steps away.
“I have to finish this, but she’s in the kitchen.” He turns away from me fully. Wood clatters against one another while he pulls out the piece he needs.
Cold morning air meets my skin, making the fine hair stand on end as I try to figure him out.
Maybe I never will.
Three
Questions with a Side of Breakfast
The two bedroom house is the perfect image of a warm and welcoming home. A crisp white cloth lines the kitchen table, little, pink hand sewn flowers bloom out from the center of it. Natural sunlight falls in through the big windows and makes the breakfast laid across the tabletop look picturesque.
Sinister lays a plate down and then lines the edges with appropriate silverware. He does it just right. He knows which fork goes where and it’s bizarre in a way. At the next chair he does the same. His long fingers skim against the shining fork until it’s perfectly in line. He meets my stare with a knowing smirk.
He looks so damn out of place.
But he excels at this simple task without even thinking about it. Why is he always so good at everything?
His dark clothes brush against the frilly material of the table cloth and faint smoke fumes from where he stands. The image of hell is standing right here in this woman’s kitchen.
Setting the table.
“You’re picturing us in our future little white picket fence, middle class family right now, aye? I’ll come home from that job I hate and you and the kids and possibly three overly brooding dragon shifters will be waiting with affectionate smiles. That’s the dream, is it not?” His palm smooths down the front of his black button up shirt as I roll my eyes at him. The only thing appealing about that weird little prediction is the rasping accent he said it in.
“Or, maybe I’ll come home from the job I hate and you’ll be waiting on me.” My brow arches defiantly to my friend and it only makes him smile even more.
“I already told you, I’d wait for you. For a job. For a future. For the rest of our lives.” His palms lift as he smiles a wide and daunting smile.
Even though I know he’s entirely serious right now. That smile doesn’t hide the honesty of his words that swirl through my chest.
“Sinister, you don’t have to do that every morning.” Myla presses her palm to the demon’s back, and the two beam sweetly at one another. “I was going to ask Arlow to help but it looks like you beat her to it.” Her smile falters just slightly when she turns her attention to me.
Long red hair brushes against her smooth porcelain complexion. A pink shade constantly warms her high cheek bones and makes her look even more gentle.
This kind woman, who welcomes a demon right into her home, offers him a place to sleep on her couch from time-to-time, and laughs and enjoys his company—she hates me.
It’s difficult to swallow that down. There are no snide remarks or hateful glares. It’s just in the little things that would be so easy for me to ignore if they didn’t feel so monumental for me and Kain.
“Sorry, I was down at the lake this morning.”
“Those boys are going to freeze their tails off in that water.” The shine of her red hair gleams as she shakes her head.
“I said the same thing.” An awkward smile pushes against my lips, it’s there but it’s hard to reach. Smiling shouldn’t be this hard, should it?
“Are you eating here this morning, dear, or next door with Helen and the boys again?”
Helen loves me. It’d be so easy to sneak away from this tension filled room and spend the morning with Helen.
My determination won’t allow that though.
“I’d love to join you if you have enough.”
She has enough. Kain makes sure his mother has more than enough. He takes care of her and helps her and makes me want to do the sa
me. I want to feel needed here. I want to be here but more than that I want them to want me to be here.
It’s a stupid, childish feeling that I can’t seem to shake no matter how much I hate it.
“Of course. I didn’t expect you to say yes, so I’ll have to get another plate.” At the sound of her happy words, my chest tightens but I don’t know why.
I can win her over.
I can. I just don’t know how.
Sinister rolls his wrist and a white plate appears in his hand. Myla’s perfect teeth show fully when she smiles an excited look at her favorite fucking demon and his pompous magic.
The show off.
“Thank you, Sinister.” She takes it from him and sets it down at the last empty chair.
My stomach knots just thinking about what the four of us will talk about.
The door clicks closed and Kain lingers there for a moment. In the bright lighting it’s easier to see the dust and dirt lining his pale skin. He doesn’t take a step farther into his mother’s perfectly clean house.
“Alloex asked if Chaos, Rime, and I could try to fix his hunting bow before his classes this morning. I’ll be back but just start without me.”
No! The desperate word echoes on, dragging out the until it’s all I hear in my head. Even as I smile at him.
Does it really take four dragon shifters to fix one bow? Really?
I fidget just slightly where I stand, contemplating latching on to his leg and letting him walk me out of here like a clump of mud clinging to the side of his boot.
“Have fun,” I say instead. Picture perfect girlfriend smile in place.
Goddess, I hate myself right now.
Kain pauses at the sound of my croaking voice. He looks from me to Myla and then back again. Carefully he walks across the glossy wooden floor. His fingers tangle with mine just before his lips brush over my mouth. It’s a surprising feeling of quick intimacy. It’s something I haven’t felt from him in so long I meld against his hard chest in an instant.
