House of Darken (Secret Keepers #1)

I looked again, across what looked like a beautiful snow-filled field. “What’s with the snow?” I asked, wondering if that had something to do with desires. I had personally always found snow to be magical, but I knew for a fact not everyone felt that way.

“We don’t see the same thing as you,” Daniel told me. “This land shifts to each individual fantasy. The basic layout is the same, but I’m not a fan of snow, so I don’t see that.”

He didn’t say what his land was, and no doubt it was quite a personal thing to ask that, so I didn’t.

“I see snow,” Lexen said, drawing my full attention. “Winter is my favorite season. I have fire and ice in my veins, but like Qenita, ice is where my heart lies.”

Obsidian eyes flashed with white light. I could barely stop myself from touching him. The draw was getting stronger, especially since we had both acknowledged our feelings. Since we had kissed.

“I’ll keep watch if you two want to rest,” Daniel said, interrupting my fiery thoughts. “I’m the least battered and bruised.”

I’d gotten quite good at ignoring the low aching throb in my injured shoulder. But as soon as Daniel mentioned it, the pain seemed to surge out with force. Together with my many other scrapes and my overwhelming hunger … I was not feeling my best.

“A rest would be good,” I murmured.

Daniel nodded. “I can give you an hour, no more. The council might have detained Laous, but he will figure out a way to come after us. We do not want to be in the justices when that happens.”

Hell no we didn’t.

Lexen held out a hand to me and I found myself smiling as I fitted my palm to his, our fingers interlacing. “Come on, badass little human. Let’s get some sleep.”

Fatigue was very faintly visible across his face. You’d have to be looking close to notice it, but it was there. I was going to make sure he definitely got some rest. He led me to the wall of the step, dropping to the ground and fitting his spine against it, pulling me down so I was lying in front of him. I could feel the heat of his body all the way down my back. I wasn’t sure what to do, having never—

“Stop thinking so hard,” he interrupted, murmuring into my ear. “I won’t sleep unless I know you’re safe. The only way for me to know that is if you’re in my arms.”

Everything in my body went boneless; I sank against him, letting my head fall to his bicep. It was a little too muscled to be comfortable, but it was definitely a step or two up from the ground. Daniel settled in a little away from us, perched on a flat rock, looking relaxed but somehow still alert.

I was so tired, but my mind just wouldn’t shut down enough for me to sleep. All these new emotions, the strength of my feelings, the new experiences … it was a lot. I was processing as fast as I could, but there was only so much “new” I could handle.

Lexen’s hand, resting near my hip, started to move slowly. At first the gentle caresses sent fire through my body, but when he didn’t touch anywhere other than that one spot, and the movements gentled, I found a haze washing over me.

My eyelids fluttered a few times, my breathing evening out, easing into something slow and rhythmic, and then I was fast asleep.





19





Not a single dream disturbed me. I don’t think I moved a muscle until gentle nudges had me rising from unconsciousness with no concept of where I was. Or what had happened. It wasn’t until I opened my eyes to see a darkly tanned arm that I remembered Lexen. More accurately, me sleeping on Lexen.

He shifted behind me and I rolled over so I could see him. He was wide awake, not an ounce of drowsiness in his gaze.

“Hey,” I squeaked out, clearing my throat. “I hope I didn’t kill your arm.”

He wore a knowing look, like this half-smirk, half-smolder thing that he did so well. It was sexy as hell, especially teamed with the tousled dark hair. “Takes a lot more than a human to kill my arm.”

I smacked his chest, instantly regretting that decision. Ouch. “You know what I mean. It must be dead from me lying on it.” I let out a huff. “Last time I try and be nice to you.”

He laughed, tightening both arms around me and rolling onto his back. I had no choice but to go with him, sprawling out across his chest. “I think I’m addicted to you,” he murmured, our mouths brushing together. His expression sobered then as our gazes remained locked. “I’m starting to understand why Daniel wants to shirk his responsibilities. I’ve always accepted mine as part of my duty, even if I didn’t particularly like the restrictions they placed on me. But now I’m wondering if the sacrifice is just too great.”

“You’ve always accepted being overlord? Never fought against it?” I wanted to know the real Lexen, the foundation that built him.

He nodded, slowly, like he wasn’t sure he was being completely truthful. “I’ve been groomed since birth, and I was … fine with that. I like to be in control. I like to protect my people. I’m very good at doing both of those things. I’m the ideal candidate for overlord.”

“But…” I started … because I sensed a but there.

“But there were moments I contemplated jumping on Qenita and taking off. Soaring through the sky, traveling to other worlds.” He paused, eyes focusing past me, before they came back to my face. “Until you, though, I’ve never had a good reason to truly question my duty.”

I bit my lip, trying to stem the waterworks. I’d probably cried more in the last eight months than I had the previous eighteen years, so now I tried not to just sob for no reason. But Lexen was talking the duty in his life making no room for us. And that cut me deep.

“What would happen if ... you and I … were together…?” I broke off.

He used his free hand to brush some of my disheveled hair back. “I have no idea. No human has ever bonded to a Daelighter. Especially not an overlord.”

Rigid rules bothered me. I often disregarded them. But it wasn’t my place to suggest that we ignore the very important traditions of his world. I also wasn’t sure what bonding exactly entailed. I would like to start with dating, move on to bonded after that. If we didn’t kill each other in the meantime.

The hand that had moved my hair settled against my face, cupping it. “You’re worth fighting for, Em. I’m going to figure this out. There has to be a way.”

My eyes filled and flowed over as I lost my battle with the tears. I couldn’t stop from pressing my lips to his, just for a brief second so I could breathe him in. I pulled back as fast, giving him a watery smile. “This isn’t just because we’re in the level of desire, right?”

Lexen laughed again. There was a relaxed nature to him that I had never seen before. “No, this is all real.”

He lifted his body up into a sitting position, bringing me with him, and stood. I was set on my feet, his huge body crowding round me for a beat, before he moved a little away.

“Where did Daniel go?” I asked, staring at the empty rock.

I’d forgotten about him. Since waking, Lexen had been the only thing on my mind.

“He’s just gone to check if a certain path is there for us to use,” Lexen said, his gaze scanning above my head.

Daniel appeared in that same moment, like we had summoned him. He waved us over, and as soon as we joined him he took a sharp right through two trees, leading us out into a wide, open field of snow. Well, snow for me anyway.

“Focus ahead,” Daniel said, his voice even more rumbly than usual. Probably because of how rigid his jaw was. “Nothing you see is real. Don’t let it sway you. We just need to cross this field and then we will be able to step into redemption. From there, I can get you back topside.”

Bouncing on my toes a little – I was filled with nerves and I had to pee – I set my sight on what looked like the end of this platform. I could do this. I could ignore everything I saw, no matter what it was.

Feeling eyes on me, I lifted my head to find Lexen staring at me. “You ready, Em?”

Dammit, I was starting to like the sound of Em from him. The accent. The fact he wasn’t sneering and calling me human. I was a goner.

“I’m so ready.” I bounced again. “Ready as anybody here. I was born ready. Running is my thing.”