try to shrug him off but he holds me like a vice while I try to catch my breath.
“Take her back,” the princess orders, turning to Sage again. “I have all that I need for now.”
Gold drags me out of the laboratory, his breathing harsh and rapid, and shoves me into the lift. The doors were barely closed when suddenly he’s pushing me against the wall and his lips crash against my own, snatching my breath away until all I can think and feel is him.
Roughly sinking my hands into Gold’s thick, soft hair, he presses me harder into the wall. His lips explore mine with a fevered passion that makes me dizzy. Every ounce of heartache I felt before momentarily vanishes. Gods, I hate and love this man. And I’m so fucking confused, but I know that right now, at this moment, I want more.
I will always want more of Gold.
It’s why I was so devastated by his rejection, but from this kiss alone I know that he never rejected me. He was merely playing Eva’s twisted game. However, if he thinks I’m letting him off easy for the pain he’s put me through, he’s got another think coming.
He breaks the kiss first, brushing my lips with his one last time. It’s a teasing and almost painful kiss that makes me desperate for more. As soon as the kiss ends, reality comes crashing back down, and with it my list of questions.
“Why the fuck did you pretend I’m nothing to you?” I ask, shoving him back and stepping away, needing the space to clear my thoughts.
Gold looks at me for a moment in silence. “I have a son,” he finally says, “and if I don’t do everything she says, Zander will be killed.” I freeze, turning back to him, and he continues. “I never knew about the child. His mother was a one-night stand years ago.” His eyes darken a little, filled with pain. “Fuck, the goddess gave me a son who’s life now depends on what I do here. It’s a cruel irony if ever I’ve seen one.”
A tinge of jealousy slithers into me, the kind of jealousy that burns up in my soul. It disappears as quickly as it arrives and I suck a deep breath of relief. Gold was protecting his son? This changes things a little. It makes me less angry with him and more sympathetic. Still, I wish he’d told me sooner because it would’ve saved me so much pain. I can understand why he didn’t, though. Holy shit…Vina’s Zander. The shadow warden is in love with her. I only met him once or twice in the academy, but he seemed like a good guy. I guess the dragon eyes he has makes a lot of sense.
“I met him in the academy,” I say. “He’s in love with my friend Corvina. He is a good guy as far as I know.”
“This is messed up. You’ve met my son before me.” He almost humorlessly laughs, though the smile on his lips doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I thought I’d have to knock some sense into you for being on that crazy bitch’s side.”
Gold surprises me by laughing this time as he steps closer. I take his hand and rest my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He’s warm to the touch and pressed this close to him, I can hear a low rumble that must be coming from his dragon side.
“I thought you would hate me,” he whispers.
“For protecting your kid?” I look up at him. “Never. You did the right thing even if it makes it harder for us. I’m just glad I was wrong, and that you weren’t the one who hated me.”
He runs his hand through my air. “I could never hate you.”
I let out a breath I wasn’t aware I’ve been holding, relieved to hear those words.
“The lift is the only space we have that the cameras don’t see. Be careful what you say in your room or any open space,” he warns me. “And I will find ways to secretly help you in the trials. I will never let you die in there.”
“Until our next lift journey then,” I say as the elevator jolts to a stop and he backs away from me, his expression turning from the Gold that I know to the cold man who everyone else sees. I just have to remember we are all playing a game and I know who is going to win.
Me.
The