The Curse of the Sea (The Royal Harem Series Book 2) by A.K. Koonce & Nikki Hunter

Author:A.K. Koonce & Nikki Hunter [Koonce, A.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

A Princess and a Thief

Wren

The door creaks open as Ledian steps into the dark room grabbing a match. He lights a small candle then steps around the room lighting others of varying sizes, shapes, and colors until the room is flooded with a golden hue.

I stand in the doorway soaking in the bare room. Only a small mattress on the floor and a few bags of what looks to be food and clothing occupy the space.

Ledian gestures to the room, “Welcome to my humble abode.”

“This is where you live?” Shock vibrates through me at the poverty he lives in.

His lips part in an uneven, yet perfect smile. “Yeah, used to be a storage unit for the hotel but I talked them into letting me rent it and I take care of any… unruly guests.”

Picking up my skirt, I usher myself into the room. My hands come up at their own accord and rest on his chest as I meet him where he stands.

“Ledian, let me help you.”

With a heavy sigh, he reaches up and grabs my hands, his fingers rough and calloused. His beautiful green eyes close as he shakes his head.

“Wren. No. I’m not a charity case. I’ve taken care of myself up until now, I’ll be fine!”

Each beat of my heart, a dull ache pulses and forms into an uncomfortable knot in my stomach. How? How did he survive all this time by himself?

“I could get you a real bed … Some new clothes, shoes … you really need new boots. Oh, a dresser maybe. A warm meal, of course. Perhaps I could even get away with enough that you wouldn’t have to steal to eat.—“

“Wren!” His voice is strained, red seeping into his cheeks, “You aren’t listening to me. This … this is nothing. This fight for your life, steal to live, scrounge to eat. This is me.”

“I just want to help you,” I whisper. Pulling away, I drop my hands and step around him to look further into the room. Maybe, maybe he is right. Maybe it’s not so bad.

The cringe that fills my features can’t be stopped. Dirt dusts his floors and the noise of scurrying feet from the rodents that share the room is all I can focus on. I nod at the worn floorboards.

“Not everyone needs your help. I don’t need to be saved.”

Ledian’s grasp meets my waist, his strong confident movements spin me around to face him. His fingers lift up my chin leaving a streak of dirt behind.

I hate how handsome he is. I hate how easy it is for him to get under my skin. I hate how much I think about him when he isn’t around.

“Why are you so stubborn?” The annoyance I feel begins to creep into my voice. “If you could stop acting like an arrogant basta—“

His rough lips meet mine with a force that’s hungry and needy. Gasping in surprise, my lips part and his tongue rolls against mine.

Warm hands roam and settle back along my waist.

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