Shadowborn Read Free

Nix flexed and relaxed his fingers. “She needed a stress release before we meet the humans, and you were late as usual.” Hatred flashed across his face, leaving it twisted into a sneer. “One of us has to take care of her.”
    Liam launched toward Nix, but I beat him there and braced both hands against his chest. “We don’t have time for this.” I was forced to tell Nix about my outings with Liam so he wouldn’t think I’d gone missing and give me the third degree every time I returned. Only he, Gallagher and Donovan knew about Liam’s and my extracurricular activities. I peered over my shoulder at my captain before returning my attention to my boyfriend. “From either of you. I need to talk to Liam before we go.”
    Pointing a finger at my captain to keep him in place, I took Liam’s hand and guided him toward the edge of the trees, trying to ignore his Unseelie power crawling up my arm like liquid fire. If the Seelie Court found out about us, they’d probably try to oust me. If it weren’t for my promise to my mother to return peace to our people, I’d have left on my own.
    I couldn’t afford to let him distract me with his charm before I disproved Nix’s accusations. I looked around the frozen landscape. “Where’s my father?”
    “He’ll meet us there.” Liam’s voice came out in a growl. After a moment, his jaw stopped flexing; he stepped back and smoothed his hands down his suit. The gesture evoked memories I didn’t want to resurface.
    “Don’t do that.” I forced steady inhalations through my nose and exhalations through my mouth like Gallagher had taught me.
    “Do what?” Liam tugged at the sleeves of his white shirt, aligning them with his black jacket.
    I peered at him from behind a curtain of my hair. “Parthalan used to primp like that, tugging at his suit all the time. I don’t want to think about him.”
    Uttering his name coaxed his energy to life. It sang through my soul, a lullaby to lure me into releasing it. The temptation to let it go, to allow the dark tendrils of glorious power to crawl through me almost overwhelmed, but I forced it back.
    “I’m sorry. I forgot he used to do that.” Liam gathered me into his arms and kissed my forehead.
    “Where’s Gallagher?” I needed something to distract us, and my advisor, sticking his big nose in my business, would do the trick.
    Liam smiled as his fingertips trailed over my ear and continued south along my throat.
    My sigh formed a white cloud of frost in front of me.
    “I’ll find him.” He glowered at Nix before heading for the trees with a limping gait.
    Liam? Limping? Did that have something to do with whatever Nix hinted at? I considered going after the king to demand answers but decided to spend my anger on my captain instead. Liam would have his turn.
    I returned to Nix. “Just tell me one thing.”
    He gave a little bow. “I told you I’d never lie to you, and I’m a fae of my word.”
    “Did you know Liam was almost here when you”—I made an awkward gesture to my lips, my face ablaze—“did what you just did to me?”
    His grin, tainted with a hint of macho satisfaction, never faded. “Yes. And I think the word you’re looking for is kiss.”
    I rubbed my forehead, unable to reach the ache brewing inside my skull. “Why? Why would you cause me this headache, today? We’re supposed to be helping the humans, not entering into another pissing contest.”
    “He’s arrogant.” Amusement faded from Nix’s expression and left his lips turned down at their corners. “He assumes you’re going to wait around here for him. I want him to know there are others here who will love you in his absence. You deserve better.”
    My mouth gaped open, and my brows crowded together. Did he say he loved me? I shoved that little nugget aside . “Did you give a thought to what I want?” My fingers fiddled with the embroidery on the blue dress. I needed to distract my hands—hands that itched to touch him again—or