#Chapter 163 Blood Bond

Cillian traded a single gold coin for a bag of apples, smiling at the man who manned the little shop as I approached him. He turned and I froze, captured in his gaze. We said nothing for a long time.

His smile warmed and he offered an apple to me.

“Would you like one?”

I looked down at it. It was shiny and orange and red. I didn’t know if it was the same type of apple that I liked, but it looked similar enough. I took it slowly and shivered as our fingers brushed. A jolt of electricity zipped up my arm.

“A pleasure to meet you, Hedy,” he said and inclined his head. “My name is Cillian Hargrave, Duke of the Western Mountains.”

I blinked. “Mountains...?”

He smiled and stepped closer. He turned me gentle and pointed into the distance where I could just barely see the faintest outline of mountains.

“There,” he said. “Lush with forests, beautiful waterfalls and clean air…”

He pulled back. I felt his body heat and felt a bit cold as he put distance between us.

“It is a shame that you did no