A Forest of Stars (Court of Starlight and Darkness #1)(5)

She stomped on my foot and darted backward.

“You’re like a kitten attacking a bull.” I reached out and grabbed her arm before she could get too far away, yanking her back toward me.

Her soft body collided with mine, and I nearly gasped.

Heat shot through me, unmistakable.

I jerked back, looking down at her. I’d noticed her clothing before—it was ridiculous—but now, I couldn’t help but realize how appealing it was.

Appealing?

I hadn’t found anything appealing in centuries. Certainly not a woman—the curse saw to that. And yet, the sight of her full hips and narrow waist made something stir inside me.

My fists clenched and I scowled. “You will stop defying your king and come with me.”

“My king?” She laughed, the disdain in her voice clear. “I don’t have a king.”

“You’re a fae on my land. You certainly do have a king.”

“A fae? I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She looked me up and down. “You might be hot, but you’re nuts. Now let me go before I get really pissed.”

I didn’t think she could be any angrier than she was. Fire shot from her eyes, and pink colored her cheeks. Her small breasts, which had been pushed up above the bodice of her green corset, heaved with her breaths. She looked like she’d behead me if she had a sword, and I liked it.

Disgusted with myself, I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward me. I didn’t need her to be so close to transport us to my realm, but a demon had gotten inside me and made me do it.

Or so I told myself.

I called upon the ether, letting it suck us in and spin us through space. When it spat us out on the rocky shore of Orcas Island, the seat of my kingdom, I breathed in deeply, letting the fresh sea air clear my head.

Suddenly, the crush of her soft curves against my chest was enough to send frustration surging through me. I released her and stepped back.

She stumbled away from me, her eyes wide. “What the hell did you just do to me?”

“Your questions are irritating.” She should know these things. The fact that she’d been inside the Dark Forest indicated she was fae. The fact that she pretended ignorance was an inconvenience that I did not want to deal with.

The wind caught her curls and blew them back from her face. My gaze immediately caught on the rounded curve at the top of her ears.

I frowned, disgust surging through me. “You hid your ears.”

“I—what?” She patted her hair.

There were spells that a fae could use to hide their ears. If she spent a lot of time in the human world, which she appeared to, then it made sense that she would have used one. Humans didn’t know we existed and playing it close to the vest was key to survival.

And yet, I couldn’t help the derision I felt anytime a fae chose to live amongst them. I knew it showed on my face but didn’t care. It had been a long time since I’d cared what a woman thought of me.

She spun in a circle, clearly looking for an escape.

There was none. She was in my realm now.

And I was done with her. I’d done what Vusario had told me I needed to do, and I could hand her off now. This damned competition to find me a queen was meant to protect my people. It had nothing to do with me. Not in any way that mattered.

I turned and gestured to a guard who stood at the path leading to my castle. I’d chosen to arrive at this beach because it was located partway between the castle and the houses meant to accommodate the competitors.

The guard hurried toward me, his silver uniform glinting under the moonlight.

“Take her to one of the cottages.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“My lord?” Disdain sounded in the woman’s voice.

I looked back at her, unable to help myself. “Yes. Your lord. You’re in my kingdom now, and I rule all. Including you.”

She scowled. “You are crazy.”

I felt a small smile tug at the side of my mouth. “Perhaps.”

Without another word, I turned and left, striding toward the castle that rose on the rocks overlooking the sea. In the distance, the dark clouds loomed. They’d appeared weeks ago, the first sign that the witch with deathly magic was drawing closer. She was the threat that the prophecy spoke of, and we needed to crown a queen before she arrived. It was the only thing that kept me going through with the competition.

As I climbed the path, the wolf slunk out from the shadow of a cluster of rocks and joined me. I brushed my fingertips against his head and murmured, “Hello, Wolf.”

The wiry, grey-furred beast was silent as he accompanied me up to the castle. I’d found him injured several years ago and been unable to leave him in the woods to die. I hadn’t intended to keep a pet, but once he’d recovered from his wounds, he hadn’t left my side.

Though my touch caused intense pain to anyone I made contact with, Wolf—and all animals—were immune. I still hadn’t wanted to keep him and had tried to pawn him off on a number of household staff. Even Dain. But Wolf had hated everyone that he saw, so he’d become mine.

He was the only family I had, which was fine. My father and mother had died so long ago that I hardly remembered them. And I had Dain, who was a good friend. Wolf, too. They were all I needed.





Sia



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