I swallowed, my eyes slowly lifting to his.
CHAPTER 12
Kalyllwasscanningmyface with an intense expression that I felt in my bone marrow. His eyes seemed darker than normal, and something about him seemed almost… feral. His lips trembled and parted for an instant, giving me a glimpse of pointed fangs. His virile scent filled my senses, a combination of leather, rosewood, and his own musk. My chest tightened the way a mouse’s must when confronted with a hungry cat.
Had those fangs been there before? Why hadn’t I noticed them? Maybe it was because he barely smiled.
His darkened eyes lowered to my mouth and lingered. A thrill went straight to my core, surprising me with its intensity. What the hell? He tightened his hold around my waist, pressing me harder against him.
Something dark moved around the skin of his eye, then Cylea let out a curse and it was gone. Her bowstring tensed as she prepared to shoot an arrow.
“Don’t,” Kalyll growled.
In the blink of an eye, he grabbed me by the shoulders, whirled, and pressed me against the tree.
“Stay right here, and don’t do anything stupid,” he scolded me like a child, using a much deeper voice than I’d ever heard from him.
The heat of shame rose from my neck to my cheeks.
It seemed the prince had held in his discontent with mystupidescape attempt for politeness’ sake, but now his true feelings came out. But what did the jerk expect? That I would sit meekly like a damsel in distress and do nothing? Too bad because that was not who I was.
Letting me go, he turned his attention to the branches overhead. I glowered at his profile, hating the way my eyes immediately trace the perfect edge of his jaw.
“I’ll take care of it,” he snarled.
Cylea rolled her eyes, looking annoyed, though she slowly released the tension in her bow.
A rock flew right past Dandelion’s head. She spooked, and I expected her to run to get away, but she stayed put, probably too well-trained to do anything else. I moved to grab for her reins, but Kalyll pressed his forearm flat against my chest, right over my boobs, and held me in place.
“I told you to stay there. Are you deaf?” he spat.
So much for treating me with respect. I pushed his arm away. “Don’t touch me, you asshole.”
Ducking under his arm, I ran toward the mare, snatched her reins, and pulled her toward the shelter of the trees.
“I guess youaredeaf, stupid woman,” he growled.
My mouth fell open. Whatever happened to his impeccable manners? It seemed they were all an act, and now he was showing his true colors.
“And you’re a heartless prick,” I retorted.
Somewhere behind one of the trees, Kryn laughed.
A growl rumbled in Kalyll’s chest as he pointed a finger straight at my nose. He was about to say something when another bombardment of rocks pelted the ground close to his feet.
“I’ll deal with you later,” he said, then was gone.
My eyes roved all around, trying to find him, but there was no sign of him. Had he turned invisible? Or could he movethatfast? Then I noticed something hanging in the air, a slight dark haze. Did the prince have a special skill, after all? He’d said he didn’t, but clearly, he’d been lying.
As I scanned the trees, I pinpointed everyone’s hiding spot. No one looked really concerned. In fact, Kryn was leaning casually against a narrow trunk, green eyes scanning the foliage above.
The branches above us rustled. One cracked and fell right where Dandelion had been standing. I patted her neck, relieved she hadn’t been harmed—not thanks toHis Jerkness.
“You’re okay,” I whispered.
Judging by her wide-eyed expression, which showed a line of white around her warm brown irises, she was terrified. I soothed her some more, my own heart pounding.
More branches rustled and cracked, then there was a high-pitched cry like that of a child, followed by a, “Let me go, you despot.”