Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

I glanced at the fireplace and back. “You went into my bathroom,” I accused, frowning deeply, all of this pent-up energy having nowhere to go now that my fear was eradicated.

He shook his head, setting a book down. “Bathed in the hot spring. There’s just something about walking around nude on a cool winter morning before jumping into scalding water.”

He went into my hot spring nude? The fucking audacity. I would never be able to swim nude in that pool again because of not only his presence, but the fact that he had puthis Fallen balls into that water.

“You didn’t think I might see you?” I asked, lifting my head.

He shrugged, a cocky look shining in his eyes. “I didn’t think you’d mind. Perhaps you might have joined me.”

Maybe.

“Absolutely not,” I responded, stalking to my table, a shiver running over my skin, spreading goosebumps in all the right places. “Whatever logs you burned, you’ll need to replace. There’s an ax outside, but part of me thinks your male ego will force you to try and impress me by knocking down those trees without one.” I eyed him.

He chuckled, following after me. “Would it impress you? Because it’s something I am capable of doing.”

I rolled my eyes, inspecting my table slyly, but it was useless. “Take your over-inflated male ego somewhere else, I don’t appreciate that here.”

“And what do you appreciate, Talons?”

I’d like for there not to be a Fallen male in my home, but some wishes just weren’t worth voicing. “I like my men like I like my books, fluffy and filled with information.”

A lie.

What Ilikedwas illegal here in many different ways. It was sick and twisted and if voiced to the wrong person, could very likely have me committed.

Would he ever know that? No.

If the two of us were going to fuck, he would do it the way he did with every other girl. The best way to know what a guy truly likes isby letting him do what he does best. Then you’ll know if you can train them or if you should just let them go.

“What happened?”

I turned to him in confusion. “What?”

He gestured to my legs. “You’re favoring one side. What happened?”

When I fell this morning, Mom had slammed her foot down onto my ankle. It was painful, but manageable. “I twisted my ankle walking here this morning. Come on, you want information, I have something that I’ve been unable to find much on.”

I wanted to go before I changed my mind. It wasn’t huge in my mind, but it was something he would want to know, I was sure.

“You shouldn’t be walking on a twisted ankle,” he told me.

My eyes lifted to his. His navy blues were calm, even trusting, I would say. Was he honestly worried about my ankle? I very much doubted it. “Come on,” I started heading for the door, “it’s a bit of a trek and winter doesn’t wait for injuries to heal.”

Cole grabbed my arm as I passed him, forcing me to stop.

My heart skipped a beat, and I prayed he didn’t smell what that did to me.

“Keep going,”I wanted to say.“I ignored you. Lied to you. Fucking do something about it.”

But he released my arm at my glare and frowned. “Your hand was bruised yesterday and today you’re avoiding putting too much pressure on your shoulder and your ankle is hurt.”

My glare turned deadly. “Don’t fucking touch me,” I snapped, hating that piece of my mind that wanted more. “I don’t owe you any explanation of the injuries I get while thieving. Am I to assume your scars didn’t come from battle? Why would you assume mine came from anywhere but thieving?”

Something flashed through his eyes. “You don’t want me asking personal questions? Fine, but while I’m here, it’s my job to protect you, to trust that you’re not going off to the High King and blabbing about why I’m here.”

I laughed. “Newsflash, if I tell him about you, I tell him about this,” I gestured towards the walls. “I don’t need your fucking protection. Now, do you want to go and get your information for your precious High King, or do you want to stay here and relax on your vacation?”

His brows lifted. “Vacation? This isn’t a vaca—”