But him telling Aflora the truth was counterintuitive to that notion.
He also hadn’t informed the Council about his bonds to her—something I assumed was purely selfish on his part. If they learned about their impending mating, he’d lose his right to the throne. Or worse, they’d kill him for consorting with an abomination.
Of course, he also hadn’t told them about her growing Quandary Blood skills. I’d never quite understood why he’d kept that hidden, other than to assume it was to also save his own ass in some way.
“That doesn’t change his fate,” my father said. “The whole Nacht family needs to die.”
“I know,” I replied, still lost to my thoughts.
You can’t kill Kols, Aflora said, her eyes growing wide.
I bent to press my lips to hers. Shh, we’ll talk more after you rest.
No, Kai. You can’t kill Kols!
It’s okay, little star, I assured her. I’ll show you how to break the bonds so his death doesn’t hurt you.
She began to panic in my arms, her body convulsing as she fought the recovery process and demanded her limbs react.
I sighed. “Aflora, that’s only going to worsen the side effects.” I laid her in my bed and uttered an enchantment to warm my sheets around her. What she really needed was a bath, but I couldn’t do that if she continued to squirm. I slipped my hand into her cloak to retrieve my wand, then cast a soft spell over her, insisting she sleep.
No! she shouted into my mind. Kai, no!
Shh, I’m trying to help, Aflora. Just relax. I intensified the spell, fighting through her weak defenses and throwing her into a deep sleep within seconds. Then I shook my head. “She’s one of the most stubborn females I’ve ever met.”
“The strong ones usually are,” my father replied, clapping me on the shoulder again. “Break the bond tomorrow. It’ll help you both.”
I tensed at the command in his voice, but my father didn’t notice. He merely patted me again and showed himself out, all the while expecting me to comply.
No, I thought, tucking a strand of hair behind Aflora’s ear. “I’d much rather keep you, sweet star.” I bent to kiss her forehead. “Sweet dreams.”
MY CHEST BURNED, stirring me to awareness beside Kols. He remained studiously asleep, his features void of discomfort. Another pang had me pressing my palm to my pec to massage the throbbing muscle, but it did little to dispel the agony rippling through my veins.
Something’s wrong, I realized. “Aflora.”
“She’s fine,” a groggy voice said as Shade materialized in Kols’s room wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. He scratched the back of his neck and blew out a breath, wincing as a fresh wave of heat splintered through me.
“Doesn’t feel fine,” I gritted out through my teeth. And considering his reaction rivaled mine, he obviously felt it, too.
“Hmm?” Kols murmured, blinking awake, then frowned upon finding the Death Blood only a few feet away. “Where the fuck are your pants? And why the hell are you in my room?”
Shade rolled his eyes. “You’re lucky I’m wearing boxers,” he muttered. “I usually sleep naked in Aflora’s bed.”
A visual I did not want to entertain. “What the fuck is going on, Shade?” I demanded.
He palmed the back of his neck and dipped his head back to stare up at the ceiling. “Aflora is siphoning power out of us to help herself heal.”
That forced me to sit up. Same with Kols.
“You said he wouldn’t hurt her,” I said, narrowing my gaze. “What happened, Shade?”
“I don’t know!” he shouted, throwing his arms up in the air as he lowered his wild eyes to mine. “I can’t link to her without risking Zakkai getting into my head, and he already knows too much. I’ve risked a lot just by lowering the barrier between us to check on her. I can’t do it again, but trust me, I wish I could. Fuck, I wish I could do a lot of things right now.”
This was probably the truest Shade had ever been with us. And, unfortunately, it wasn’t fucking good enough. “Let’s try her dreams again,” I said to Kols. “Maybe she’s asleep now.”
“You can’t,” Shade started, but I held up my hand.
“Your head is a problem because of all your time fuckery. I get that. But I don’t know those details. If Zakkai wants to rummage through my thoughts, he’s welcome to experience my rage.”