Dark Waters Read online

  So, he wasn’t the only one that felt the attraction between the two of them. Interesting.

  Adora continued to glare at him, her eyes glowing with rage. “You knew that would happen, didn’t you?”

  “I tried to warn you.”

  “You didn’t tell me I’d crash through the freaking door!” She pulled a couple of pieces of wood from her hair and healed a small scratch on her forehead as she did.

  “My apologies, Princess.”

  Her shoulders tensed. “Stop calling me that.”

  “It’s your title, is it not?”

  Without replying, she stepped around him and checked herself for any cuts before leaning against the granite bench top to regard him with a cool demeanour.

  The pulsating ache in Randor’s side reminded him why he’d entered the bathroom. He carefully pulled off his shirt, wary of the wound. After throwing the shirt on the ground, he looked down to the wound that still wept through the bandage he’d applied an hour earlier.

  Shit.

  Twelve hours after the princess stabbed him and it still hurt and wept. That was unusual, considering he was such a fast healer, a natural Fae trait.

  He looked at Adora. “Would you mind…?” He motioned for her to move to the side so he could reach the medicine cabinet.

  She obeyed without a sound. Randor opened the cabinet to pull out a bottle antiseptic and a new bandage. He looked up as he placed the items on the bench and found a quizzical expression on her face.

  “What is that?” She gestured to the bottle.

  Faeries healed everything with either magic or natural remedies native to the realm. Unless they’d visited the human realm, the Fae would have no idea what human medicines were.

  “It’s a medicine used to cleanse wounds and stop them becoming infected.”

  Tending to his wound, Randor winced as he peeled the bandage back from his skin. Clear fluid and blood oozed from the wound. The skin around it was so red it almost glowed. How was it possible the wound had gotten worse?

  Adora made a small sound of acknowledgement. “It’s from my sword.” Her eyes widened as she spoke. “But I don’t remember stabbing you.”

  “That’s because I wiped your memory so you wouldn’t remember my face. None of my targets have seen my face until you. Then again, I wasn’t expecting to bring you here.”

  He soaked a gauze patch with antiseptic and applied it to the wound. Sucking in a breath, he clenched his teeth as a sharp pain shot through his abdomen and settled in his brain.

  The princess suddenly slapped his hand away and crouched before him.

  Confusion spread through him. “What?”

  She cut him off with the wave of a hand. “The sword is charmed,” Adora explained. “Any wound made with it will spread through the victim’s body until it reaches the brain and drives him mad. It’s my magic and only I can break the spell to stop its effects.” She glanced up at him. “May I?”

  Randor looked down at her–innocent with her eyes wide, lips in a small pout, a hand on his waistband–and wanted Adora to touch him elsewhere. A vision of her lips wrapped around his cock as she sucked him dry shot through his mind. He wanted to tangle his fingers in her golden hair and drive into her as hard as he could.

  Oh fuck. He was in trouble.

  He cleared his throat and nodded quickly. “Please.”

  She moved and placed her warm hands on either side of the wound. Randor closed his eyes when he felt the tingle of magic working its way into his body. Adora whispered words and tendrils of magic worked around the wound, seeping into his bloodstream. His entire body heated and he felt as though he was floating.

  The pain he’d felt and the fever that had been slowly growing disappeared. Every niggling ache or strained muscle he’d had was gone.

  Adora removed her hand and he opened his eyes to find the wound completely healed. Not even a scar remained.

  “You healed me. Not only my wound.”

  “I’m the best healer in the

  Seelie Court

  . The only reason Father has ever allowed me to leave the castle and fight in the war is to heal wounded soldiers.”

  Adora stood. Her scent filled Randor’s nose—earthy, sweet and natural. He caught her gaze, her amber and green eyes looking directly at his.

  “Why would you do that? Heal me?” He had to figure out what her angle was. After all, he’d kidnapped and restrained her in the human realm. She should have wanted him to go crazy and kill himself, rather than be completely healed.

  A small smile came to her lips. “Why did you release and allow me to roam your home?”

  Because I want to fuck your brains out. Oh, and I think you’re my soul mate. The latter admission shocked him slightly. Soul mate?

  He blinked as he cleared his thoughts and matched her smile. “Touché, Princess.”

  ****

  Oh, shit.

  Adora was screwed. The second her skin came into contact with Randor’s, she knew the truth. They were soul mates. She’d never wanted to settle down or have children. But the ache in her chest told her she should at least try to have some form of relationship with him. They were meant for each other. Their banter over the past hour had proved that enough.

  The constant throbbing that had been in her core since she laid eyes on the assassin just cemented it.

  It was rare for faeries to find their soul mates. Unlike werewolves, who felt a sort of calling toward their mate, the Fae often settled for a safe match rather than spending years waiting and searching for their soul mate. It was hard enough for Fae to reproduce. Wasting years searching for a soul mate they were unlikely to ever find was pointless.

  And for hers to be an assassin with no true allegiance to either court who lived in the human realm just seemed to fit the rest of her life. Nothing had ever gone to plan.

  “I still need to shower.”

  Randor’s voice pulled her from her musings. With a quick smile, she stepped out of his way.

  As she watched him undress, her cheeks flushed with both arousal and embarrassment. When he reached his underwear, she turned to face the doorway. Her core already throbbed from the sight of his bare torso. Seeing him completely naked would probably have her trembling.

  “Get ready.”

  She whipped her head around saw Randor’s naked backside as he took a step toward the shower. A moment later, Adora was pulled toward him. Her foot slipped on the bathmat and she stumbled and struggled to gain her footing.

  Two strong, bare arms caught her and she was pressed up against Randor’s warm hard body. For one of the most feared fighters in the Seelie army, Adora sure was having a hard time keeping herself upright today. She felt like a fool. A lust-driven fool.

  “Sorry.” She tried to push back from him, but his arms only tightened around her.

  Looking up, she found his blue eyes darkened with arousal. His groin pressed up against her pelvis, a rock hard cock pushing into her lower stomach.

  “Don’t I at least get a kiss as a thank you?”

  She blinked and cocked her head. “For catching me?” He had to be kidding. “I would have righted myself in time.”

  “Well, then.” A smirk spread across his lips as he lowered his head. “Let me thank you properly for healing me.”

  His mouth was on hers before she had a chance to refuse. The second his lips touched hers, Adora’s resolve crumbled. Need rushed through her veins and her core moistened. Randor’s hold on her loosened when she pressed her body into his, standing on her toes to grind her pelvis against his. His hands moved down her shoulders and body until one rested on her hip and the other cupped a breast.

  Adora felt the need to rip off all of her clothing, wrap her legs around Randor, and let him plough into her as hard as he wanted to. She let him guide her back until her butt hit the bench top. Her hands travelled down to hold his cock. Long, hard and thick, with skin like velvet. She smiled to herself as he thrust back from her and hissed in a breath
.

  “Fuck, Princess,” he whispered into her ear. “You don’t know how good that feels.”

  But she knew exactly how it felt. It had been far too long since she’d fucked someone. Even longer since she’d felt so good just from one kiss. Adora continued to work her hand up and down his length and bit down gently on his neck. Her other hand ran up the plains of his muscular stomach and chest. When Randor’s hand moved to her butt and squeezed, she pulled her head back and looked at him.

  “Fuck me, Assassin. Hard and fast, slow and steady, I don’t care.” She pressed her other hand against her mound, rubbing herself to relieve some of the pressure that built. It only made her need stronger. “Just fuck me,” she moaned.

  He didn’t need to be told twice. Randor took a step back and tore the clothing from her body. Everything—including her underwear—was scattered on the tiled floor. He rested his forehead against hers and gazed into her eyes. Without another kiss, or any warning, he spun her around, tipped her over the bench, and thrust inside her. Hard and fast, just how she liked it.

  Crying out at the invasion, she leant her hands on the granite and held herself almost upright. Randor pressed his lips to her shoulder, kissing his way up her neck.

  Adora felt truly alive for the first time in her life. Her entire being filled with warmth. Each muscle twitched with excitement. She rested her head back on Randor’s shoulder and closed her eyes, focussing only on the feeling of him thrusting in and out of her.

  Her moans quickly turned to whimpers as her body cried out for completion. One of his hands reached around and found her clit, rubbing gentle circles around it. In a matter of seconds, her climax hit violently. Every muscle trembled and Adora barely managed to hold herself up.

  Randor gripped her hips tightly with both hands and—even though she didn’t think it was possible—became even harder and longer as he continued to fuck her like there was no tomorrow. When he came, he groaned, pressing his body flush against hers and resting his head on her shoulder.

  They stayed that way for a few minutes, two hot sweaty bodies, completely sated, until their breathing calmed and Adora regained the feeling in her legs. Randor wrapped his arms around her waist and exhaled a long breath as he pulled out of her core. She looked at his reflection and saw him smiling back at her.

  “It looks like we’ll both be needing that shower now.”

  A small smile touched her lips, but was quickly wiped away by the flash of light that appeared before her eyes. A warning. Spinning around, Adora pushed Randor behind her and summoned her magic, bringing up a barrier around the two of them. The air around her shimmered, energy sparking from her skin as she prepared to use her defensive magic.

  “What’s going on?” Randor also stood in a defensive position, hands spread like hers. Obviously he had defensive magic to use as well.

  “Something’s coming.” The hairs on the back of her neck stood and her vision blurred for a second—a sure sign that something, or someone, negative was coming. “Something bad.”

  The scent of cinnamon and sawdust filled Adora’s nose.

  “Elves.”

  “Oh.” Randor’s body relaxed and he took a step forward to rest a gentle hand on her arm. “It’s okay. He’s meant to be here.”

  Adora’s jaw dropped. “You know an elf?”

  Elves were sworn enemies of the

  Seelie Court

  . Elves had allied themselves with the

  Unseelie Court

  in the beginning of the war. Father had given the order to Adora at a very young age—if she ever saw an elf she was to kill it immediately, no questions. Elves had attacked and tried to kill her on numerous occasions. How could Randor be so casual about one being in his home? In the human realm?

  She continued to stare at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. The magic and aura receded. Randor wrapped a towel around her quickly and rested his hand on her cheek.

  “It’s complicated.” He looked out the doorway as the scent of cinnamon and sawdust became stronger. “Just give me a moment.”

  Adora swallowed and nodded, trying to appear calm. She’d just slept with an assassin. A man who held no loyalties. And he was her soul mate.

  I’ve got to get the fuck out of here.

  Chapter Three

  Randor swore as he put his clothing back on and stepped out of the bathroom, completely aware of the magic dragging Adora behind him. He looked back at her. Gripping the towel he’d wrapped around her, she had fury and distrust written all over her face. Why did Kiel have to come home now? How the hell was he supposed to explain his Elvish friend to her without completely ruining the small amount of trust he’d built with the Princess?

  No doubt Adora had fought and killed many Unseelie Fae. It was ingrained into the minds of the Seelie people that they were evil. Now he had to try to convince her the opposite was a fact.

  He found Kiel stretched out on the couch in the living room. His dark head popped up and Kiel looked at him over the back.

  “Hey, man,” he gave the casual greeting before he saw Adora. When he did, Randor knew because his eyes widened and he jumped off the seat. “Oh, I didn’t realise we had a guest.”

  “Kiel, this is Princess Adora of the

  Seelie Court

  .”

  The Elf’s eyes widened and he stared at Randor for a moment before speaking. “Princess.” He bowed his head. “It’s an honour to have you in our home. Please pardon my intrusion. I hadn’t realised you would be staying with us.”

  Kiel looked at Randor and cocked his head. “Randor, can I have a word with you? In private.”

  When his friend’s eyes flashed blue he knew he was in for one of Kiel’s “stern” conversations. Turning to Adora, he saw the shimmering black aura around her body return.

  “Adora, he’s less of a threat than I am.” He used a steady voice, hoping he’d be able to convince her. “I promise he will not try to harm you in any way.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not convinced you’re no threat. I’m definitely not going to trust an elf.” She sneered like it was the most despicable word that existed.

  He couldn’t help but smile. She’d trusted him enough to have sex with him, but not to let down her defensive aura. Fickle Princess.

  “I’ll be a minute,” he told her before ushering his friend into the adjoining room. He shut the door behind him to try and block Adora from their conversation.

  Kiel’s head lowered and his canine teeth elongated and the natural blue tint returned to his skin as he sneered at his friend. “Are you fucking insane? You can’t bring the Seelie Princess here and not expect repercussions. What were you thinking?”

  Randor took in a slow breath and kept his temper in check. Usually someone who spoke to him in that tone would have been maimed immediately. But this was Kiel. And it was a precarious situation. “She’s my soul mate,” he replied in a whisper.

  The elf’s demeanour changed in an instant. He returned to his human form and slapped a hand to his forehead. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  Randor shook his head. “I don’t know if she’s aware of it yet. When I knocked her out, something inside of me told me she was special, so I brought her back here. It wasn’t until we spoke that I realised what we were to each other.”

  Kiel didn’t reply. He just stared at Randor.

  “The Unseelie Queen is expecting her to appear in her dungeon in four hours. I’m not going to turn her in, but have no idea what to do about it.”

  “You could always tell her the truth.”

  Randor rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’d go down well.”

  “Well, you can’t exactly run. Maleficent can find you in any realm.”

  Maleficent.Randor hadn’t thought of her. The queen’s fae witch was one of the best trackers in the realm.

  “That’s what makes it such a precarious situation.” He gestured to the door. “She already knows who’s ordered her capture. But she doesn’t know I’m not g
oing to take her in at all. She just knows I’m delaying it.”

  “You want me to go feel out Elvira?” The way Kiel spoke so casually of the queen reminded Randor who she was to them both.

  He shook his head. “Even you couldn’t get out of this easily. And you’re her nephew.” Pursing his lips, he let his thoughts lead back to Adora. He had to find a way to hide her from the Unseelie queen. Perhaps he could fake her death? Say she fought her capture and he had to eliminate her on the spot.

  A sudden pull on his senses pulled him back a step. What the hell was that? Magic.

  “Oh shit.” He turned and burst through the door to find that Adora had disappeared. “Fuck!” Somehow she’d broken the spell on the cuffs and run.

  He ran to the front door and out on to the porch where he saw a glimpse of her golden hair and black aura disappearing into the sand dunes. “Adora!”

  Kiel called out from inside but Randor ignored him and took off after the Princess.

  ****

  Where the hell do I run?

  Adora looked around. There was nothing but sand dunes and ocean. There were no buildings to hide behind, no rocks, not even any caves to disappear into. In the faery realm, there were caves and rocks at almost every turn. Plenty of hiding places. Apparently in the human realm, there were none.

  Without wasting another moment, she called to her magic, waiting for it to warm her body and tease every sense. The black aura around her body grew denser and became completely opaque. For a second it shimmered then flickered to be translucent.

  Excellent. She was now hidden by camouflage magic. Taking off at a run, Adora made her way down to the beach, running across the sand for a few hundred metres before she ducked behind a bush and crouched down in the dunes.

  Heart pounding, breath harshly burning her lungs, she tried to gather her thoughts. She was in the human realm, a place she’d never been before. She knew nobody apart from the treacherous assassin. How was she supposed to get back home? Father. She’d always had a telepathic connection with him. Would it work between realms?