CHAPTER 6: A Thin Line

NEIRA

He suddenly went quiet and looked at me, then clenched his fist. The silence between us made my stomach drop.

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips.

“You see?”

I shook my head as tears filled my eyes.

“You don't even know what to say.”

He stepped closer.

“I know exactly what you are.”

Hope flickered inside me before I could stop it. I looked up at him. He stared straight into my eyes.

“You are my concubine, Neira.”

Everything inside me went still.

He continued, anger still controlling his voice.

“Your place is here. Your duty is to serve me. I don't understand why you are suddenly acting like you have no place in this palace.”

I stared at him. The room seemed to tilt around me. He didn't know what he had just done. Those words were the exact thing I had spent three years trying not to believe.

His concubine. His private woman. Someone he could love behind closed doors while the kingdom waited for him to choose someone else.

My fingers curled into my palms, my nails pressing into my skin.

“You're right.”

His anger disappeared, the realization of what he had said hitting him hard.

“Neira, that isn't what I meant, okay? I was angry.”

I smiled, but it hurt, and I stepped further back on instinct.

“I waited three years for you.”

He stared at me.

“I waited because I believed you when you told me to wait. I was so stupid to think I could be more to you, Keiran.”

My voice broke.

“I thought when you came back, maybe things would finally be different. I am such a fool.”

“Stop, Neira.”

He cupped my face and looked down at me.

“I love you, Neira. Don't you get it?”

I pulled his hands away and stepped back.

“You love me? Maybe. The problem is the love you think you have for me is not strong enough to fight for us in public, to give us a chance in public. It is beautiful behind closed doors, but it is not something to be proud of in public.”

I paused, wiping the tears that had taken over my vision. I straightened my back and bowed.

“You are the Crown Alpha. I am a stray captive. You finally have a woman waiting to become your Luna. My job as your bed mistress and personal nanny is done, Your Highness.”

His eyes darkened.

“Stop this.”

I continued, totally ignoring him.

“From today, I know my place, and I intend to stay there.”

I lowered my eyes.

“Please, Your Highness. Do not dirty yourself by mixing with this lowly war captive.”

I turned toward the door. I barely took two steps before his hand caught my arm. He turned me back toward him, his lips meeting mine.

I pushed against his chest, but he pulled back the moment he felt me resist. He stared at me, breathing hard.

I looked at him through my tears.

“Keiran, what the hell is your problem? Why won't you let me be?”

His grip loosened.

“You keep telling me you don't want me.”

“I… don't.”

“Look at me and say it. Tell me you don't want me.”

I tried, but I couldn't. His hands rested at my waist, and the warmth of his body was too familiar. I had forgotten how easily I reacted to him and how much my body craved his touch.

His eyes searched my face.

“You're shaking.”

I swallowed.

He lowered his voice.

“You just said you don't want me. How is your body saying something else? I haven't even touched you yet and you are this soaked.”

My eyes closed. I whispered with the last breath I had left.

“Keiran, please, you need to stop.”

He stepped back.

“Tell me to stop and I promise I will.”

I opened my eyes, tears slipping down my cheeks. He knew I couldn't push him away. My body was loyal to his touch. I could have told him to leave and walked away.

Instead, I reached for his shirt and pulled him closer.

His lips met mine again, this time, I kissed him back.

Everything I had been trying to hold inside me broke loose. I held onto his shirt as though I was afraid he would disappear again. He kissed me like he had been waiting just as long as I had, and slowly, the anger between us faded beneath everything we had missed during those three years.

I knew this was wrong. I knew I should stop. I knew Queen Elyra was watching me, and I knew I might regret this before the night was over.

But when Keiran pulled me closer, I couldn't make myself let go.

For those few moments, I wasn't a concubine, I wasn't a captive, I wasn't the woman standing in the way of a future King.

We returned to my room, and the rest of the afternoon passed behind a closed door.

Later, I lay against his chest with my cheek resting over his heartbeat. His fingers moved slowly through my hair, and I closed my eyes.

I wanted to stay like that, to pretend this was enough. For a few minutes, I forgot why I was supposed to leave.

Keiran kissed my forehead.

“I missed you, Neira. Did you miss me, even a bit?”

My throat tightened.

“Yes, I did. I missed you so much.”

He lifted my chin.

“Then stop running from me.”

I looked into his eyes and wished I could say yes, to tell him I would stay. I wanted to believe that somehow we could survive everything waiting outside that room.

But Elyra's voice came back to me.

“If you value your sister's life, stay away from my son.”

I looked away.

“I can't. I am so sorry.”

Before he could ask what I meant, the palace bells began ringing. The sound spread through the palace, deep and loud, making the walls seem to shake.

I stopped and looked toward the window. The sun was already disappearing.

“The Blood Moon,” Keiran said behind me. “It's starting now.”