The Lost Fae (The Twisted Crown #3) - A.K. Koonce Page 0,18
hair closer, hungry for his warmth.
"You have to stop saying stuff like that. I claim you. You are my king. King of Shadow Fae."
He blinks rapidly, his shoulders rigid at the thought. "I am... commander of The Shadow Guard."
"I claim you," I repeat. The words make goosebumps form over my skin. My hands tremble at my sides until I stubbornly cross them. "And do you claim me?"
"Yes."
Our eyes remain locked until he purses his lips to hold in his smile. He holds the pieces, the keys to our journey home, tighter and kicks the sand as he walks back to the ship.
Tomorrow we'll be on our way to meet The Lost Queen. I can only hope she's ready to meet The Mortal Queen.
Five
Foodgasm
A small twig of a woman took the pieces from our hands, mumbling her thanks. Captain Beatrice stomped the deck of the ship, spouting orders full of excitement. All that had yet to die down.
There is a fury that captivates the pirates, an excitement that comes with the restoration of their ship. To be stuck on the sands of this beach for as long as they have, I'm surprised that they've stayed sane. Pirates belong on the open ocean... it's just what they do.
Lincoln and I settle against the worn boards, our backs against the railing, the only thing keeping us from toppling overboard. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I let out a long low breath.
"After all that... it's nice to just sit." I offer a smile. The guilt that plagues me is still tight in my belly. All I can offer myself is the promise that one day I'll do better. Be better.
With his shoulders tensed, Ziko lets his legs go straight before him. A crew member quickly leaps over his feet as she passes with a goofy grin spread over her face. His hair, curling messily at the ends, flattens to his skull as he tips his head back against one of the many wooden posts and looks up to the sky.
I follow his gaze. Stars twinkle and wink with perfect clarity. The sky’s the darkest shade of black muddled with a crisp navy blue. The only real light is the half crescent moon partially hidden by fluffy clouds. There isn't a street light or the glow of the city to block out my view. There's truly nothing like it.
There is something about sitting in nature, about enjoying the view and resting in its perfection, that brings a calm to the soul. And my soul needs it right about now. Perhaps Lincoln's even more.
Our bond, the mental tie that keeps our thoughts so messily tangled, makes his pain mine and mine his. Though empathy may not be Lincoln's strong suit, I have enough to share. I'd like to think that this bond makes him a little bit more... human. Whether he likes it or not. And I highly doubt he likes it.
Without a thought, my hand falls from my knees. My fingers brush against Lincoln's hand, his skin burning hot despite the cold wind that ruffles the sails still bundled against the mast. He pulls away.
The small rejection stings, even though I know that it's justified. Still, I can't help but stare at the sharp cut of his jaw, the shadow of a beard, and his upturned gaze just to see through it all. To feel the broken shell of a man he is right now. Though his rough edges haven't fallen too far away to pick back up, part of him remains numb.
I hate that. I fucking hate it.
"It's nice working as a team," I whisper. "I missed you so much while I was in the Iron Court, it's almost embarrassing to admit."
He folds his hands in his lap, rolling his thumbs over one another again and again. He doesn't turn his gaze from the never-ending sky.
"Without you...The Shadow Court felt... empty." His teeth rake over his bottom lip. "There was an influx of Shadow Fae that stumbled into the mansion. An influx of deaths." His voice drops to a hush quieter than the wind. "All of them were just like you."
"Like me?"
"Shadow Fae, with their magic bound and hidden." Lincoln lifts one hand, his finger hovering an inch away from my wings as he mimics the shape of them in the air.
I press my eyes closed, trying to bury my lust filled thoughts. Touch them. My body begs betraying my mind and the careful way I want to help Lincoln heal.