Kellen took my hand as I came down the walkway, taking over supporting me from Rayne. Rayne protested for a second before grunting and passing me over to Kellen. The boys eyed each other up. Rayne looked down at me and touched my cheek, examining my face.
"I'm sorry he did that to you, Wren" Rayne said in a small voice. "I'm sorry there was nothing I could do." His eyes looked guilty. I placed my hand over his and squeezed lightly, leaning into his touch.
"It's not your fault. I was going to have to be questioned, there was no helping it." I struggled to rise to my feet on my own. Kellen kept his arm around my waist. Kellen held the door open for me.
"I'm going to take her back to her rooms to rest." Kellen cut Rayne off from further discussion and pulled me along the hallway. I gratefully relied on his strength, I leaned against his toned body, eventually he swung me up, so he was carrying me bridal style across the palace grounds. I placed my hands on his shoulders.
"I can probably walk. I really am fine." I tried to argue with him, but he just held me tighter and kept walking. I rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes briefly. He made it all the way to my chambers and opened my door. He carried me through to my large bed and he placed me down on it. I sat up and blushed, curling my legs underneath me. He sat down on the armchair opposite my bed and put his head in his hands. He looked up and groaned softly.
"Watching you go through that, was one of the hardest things of my career." He said seriously. I tilted my head to the side, trying to catch his eyes, he stared down at his hands. I leaned forward and placed my hand on his knee.
"Kellen, it's alright. I'm okay. It honestly didn't hurt me as much as I thought it would. Maybe because I was human so recently." I supplied, not knowing the answer. He looked up at me, but as he looked up, he trailed his eyes up the length of my body, as if inspecting every inch for injury. He placed his hand over mine and laced our fingers together, I blushed, and he held our hands up to the light.
"I felt so helpless. Not being able to get in the way of the king. I couldn't protect you from that." He furrowed his brow. I placed my hand beneath his chin and tilted his head up, so he was looking into my eyes.
"There's nothing you could have done. You can't defy the king. And neither can I." I whispered. He held my hand against his cheek and leaned into my touch. Then he turned my palm over and placed a kiss in the centre of it. My cheeks heated, I looked up into his golden eyes. We were slowly moving closer together, his face was inches away from mine. I breathed in a deep inhale of the pine scent; my body flushed. My heartbeat erratically against my chest. His hand moved so he was touching my cheek, stroking his fingers through my hair, I leaned into his touch.
"Forgive me..." He trailed off on a whisper, his hand tangled into my hair and he slanted my head. He tantalizingly slowly feathered his lips over mine. I parted my lips in a gasp, he took that opportunity for entrance and pressed his mouth firmly over mine, moving his tongue over my lips, and slipping it into my mouth. I groaned into the kiss and moved closer to him, my body was pressing against his chest, I was practically in his lap. He placed one hand on my hip, and the other stayed in my hair, guiding me against him.
I placed my hands on his shoulders, and gently dug my nails in. He groaned and pressed his hips firmly against me. A soft moan left my lips as I felt his firm hips press against my core, and I could feel his arousal. We pulled back panting softly, his eyes were a dark amber, half lidded. He rested his forehead against mine, our chests pressed against each other we could feel each others' heartbeats. Both of his hands rested on my hips, his thumbs rubbing small circles on my sides. I blushed and pulled back to sit back on my bed.
"I'm sorry." He started, running his fingers through his hair. "That was..."
"Intense." I finished. Still catching my breath. I straightened my dress. "But it felt right." I finished. His shoulders sagged in relief, and he threw me a dazzling smile.
"I've wanted to do that since I first saw you." He admitted sheepishly. I smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear. I looked around embarrassed and rose from the bed.
"Can I get you coffee or anything?" I opened the bedroom door, looking to get some air in the room. Kellen stood to follow me, and a knock pounded on my door aggressively. I raised a brow and Kellen shook his head that he didn't know. I walked up to the door and pulled it open. Rayne had his hand raised ready to knock again.
"Wren!" He announced exasperatedly as I opened the door. His eyes raked over my appearance, taking in my tousled hair, my swollen lips, Kellen standing behind me. His eyes hardened, then he smirked and waltzed into my suites.
"General Kalos, I have some urgent business to discuss with lady Ryder and would appreciate some privacy." He announced, gesturing to the door. I gasped at his rudeness, but Kellen rolled his eyes, seemingly used to it. Kellen turned to me and placed a kiss on the back of my hand, bowing low before he walked out the doors, shutting them behind him. I whirled to face Rayne.
"Well that was rude—" I was cut off as he flashed forward faster than I could see, pressing me back against the wall. His arms caged me in, his chest pressed flush against mine. He ran his nose along the column of my neck, one of his legs slid between mine, pinning my whole body against the wall.
"I can smell your arousal, Little Tiger." He growled low in his throat. One of his hands trailed down my body to rest at my hip, he burrowed his face into my neck, and I felt his lips and teeth nipping at me. I shivered and gasped.
"Rayne, what—" He held his finger to my lips to shush me. He lips fluttered along my collarbone; I tilted my head to the side giving him access. His free hand wound its way into my hair, he tugged gently, tilting my head back to stare at him.
"I'm glad you're okay..." He whispered.
Our lips met in an explosion. His lips were soft and gentle, yet firm and dominant. He parted my lips with his and licked his tongue along my lower lip. I sighed softly and placed my hands on his biceps, my nails digging in and I pressed my chest up against his, to deepen the kiss. He placed his hand on the small of my back and pressed me against him. I pulled back from his lips panting. I leaned my head back against the wall and tried to catch my breath. He was also breathing heavily. He trailed kisses down the side of my neck.
"There's something about you..." He said softly and pulled back. His eyes looked slightly vulnerable. "I'm sorry, I was just completely taken over by jealousy and instinct when I saw you with Kellen." He rambled. I laughed and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I understand." I answered. He blushed and stepped back releasing me from the wall. I sat down on my bed to catch my breath.
"You know a Wren is the bravest of birds. They nest on cacti amongst the thorns, unafraid." He rambled, stroking my hair. I blushed.
"I don't know if I'm particularly brave." I stated. He shook his head and smiled.
"You were brave today. I was proud of your composure earlier. I've seen grown men cry handling that sword" He said. I smiled, not clarifying that it hadn't burned me that much.