Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

The firm body molded against her back pulled Kora from sleep. She moaned at Derek's arousal pressed into her buttock. He was always hard and hungry for her body. Just as she craved his. It had surprised her at first, but now, she savored it. Relished it, even.

His lips left a trail of heat along her neck to her shoulder. Large hands held her firmly. She felt the need in him. But something else was there, as well.

She turned in his arms to see him but had no chance to ask him what was wrong as he captured her mouth in a kiss that sizzled with yearning and the promise of ecstasy. Her thoughts scattered when he palmed a breast and tweaked her nipple. Desire shot straight to her core as she rocked against him.

No matter how many times they had come together, no matter how many ways, she ached for him. It was a need that swelled and intensified. One that bordered on obsession. She knew it but was powerless to stop it.

Because she found something more than pleasure in Derek's arms. She'd found safety for the first time in a very long time. It would end soon. Perhaps that's why she eagerly and willingly returned to his arms.

She wanted to forget about Villette and the responsibilities she carried. She wanted to forget everything and everyone but Derek and the kernel of bliss she had found in a world of nightmares.

He seemed to want the same as he positioned himself between her legs and thrust into her. Their bodies moved together in a seductive rhythm that soon had her climaxing, with him following closely behind.

They lay locked together until their breathing calmed. She watched as he pulled out of her, but he didn't meet her gaze. He rose and poured water into a goblet before drinking it. He held up the cup to see if she wanted any.

She shook her head and arranged the pillows behind her back to rest against the headboard. " Come back to bed."

He padded over. She took his hand when he went to climb in and drew him to sit between her legs again. Then she pulled him down so he leaned his back against her chest. Kora then wrapped her legs and arms around him.

" What's this for?" he asked.

She rested her cheek against his head. " Sometimes people need to be held."

Derek didn't scoff or move away, and that told her more than any confession would. They sat there for a long while in silence, listening to the fire pop as she ran her fingers through his hair. In the quiet moments when he held her before sleep, or like now as she held him, she allowed herself to wonder what it might be like to have someone to lean on. Someone who would lean on her and also have her back. Someone who accepted her.

Someone who loved her.

It was a precarious diversion because those thoughts spun a future that would never be. It made her long for things beyond her grasp. To hope.

And there was nothing more dangerous than hope.

" Why did you tell me about your family?" Derek asked.

Her hand stilled briefly. " You discovered my secret. It seemed relevant to give a history."

" You would never have shared anything otherwise, would you?"

She couldn't see his face from her position, but something in his voice made her pause. " As I said, it was a secret I never shared. The last thing I wanted was to be hunted."

" But you remember your family."

" Aye . Do you not remember yours?" When he didn't answer, she regretted her question. She had told herself she would never ask about his past or whatever he held secret, though it killed her not to.

Finally , he said, " Nay . Nothing . I tried before and then stopped because it was too painful."

" Something happened to change that."

" Someone recently told me my memories had been wiped."

Shock rolled through her. " Is that even possible?"

" I was hoping you could tell me."

" The only ones I know who can do that are the Star People . There could be others, I suppose, but I've never heard of anyone. I've not exactly moved in circles with others with magic, though. Why would anyone want to do that to you?"

He covered the hand she had resting on his chest with his. " I've been asking myself that same question."

" Have you come up with anything?"

" Maybe ," he said after a long pause.

She held him tighter. They could find out. All they had to do was depart Stonemore . Kora desperately wanted to leave, but she had come this far. She couldn't turn back now.

" There is someone who said they can give me answers," Derek told her.

" You don't sound as if you want to take them up on that opportunity."

He grunted. " It's a matter of trust. They demanded something in return."

" Nothing is ever free, and if it is, you should be wary of it. Is what they're asking for more than you want to give?"

" It's not about that. It's about if I should ."

It would be so much easier to decipher what he was trying to tell her if she knew the details. He kept it from her for a reason, though. Just as she had kept her secret for as long as she had. She respected that, even if it chafed. " Then don't."

" I won't get any answers then."

" How will you know if what they say is the truth?"

He released a long sigh. " That's the problem. I won't."

" What happens if you give the person what they want?"

" There will be repercussions."

That gave her pause. " What kind?"

" I'm not sure."

" To you?"

" And most likely others. There's more."

She waited for him to continue as he let the statement hang between them.

" I heard Villette is weakened now."

Kora swallowed, letting that sink in. " Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

" I should have."

It wasn't an answer, but she suspected it would be the only one she got. " Who told you?"

" That doesn't matter."

" It does. It means you have a connection to the palace. One you didn't mention before."

Derek's shoulders lifted as he inhaled. " Kora ," he began.

" Don't ," she warned. " Don't you dare try to tell me I shouldn't go after her or that I can't do it. I know she might kill me. It's a chance I'm willing to take."

" And if I'm not willing to lose you?"

He seemed as surprised by his statement as she was. She wished she could see his face, look into his eyes, and attempt to interpret his thoughts.

" You're the last of your kind," he continued. " Don't throw that away."

She closed her eyes. " I'm also the only one who can kill her."

" Other Star People can."

" They haven't exactly done anything about her, have they?"

" And if one in the city were willing?"

Kora dropped her head back against the headboard and tried to stop the room from spinning. " You've known this and haven't told me. Why ?" She shook her head and lifted it, her thoughts running haphazardly in her mind. " I know there is little trust between us, but you said we were friendly. And I shared my secret."

" I needed more information before I came to you. I needed to be sure."

She wanted to believe him. She really did. But she didn't. He held too many secrets. They weighed a person down. She should know. She carried enough of her own.

But something kept gnawing at her. Something that kept getting shoved aside with each new revelation. Something she had to know. " How do you know so much about the Star People ?"

" I've interacted with them."

" Them ? How many?"

" Villette . And the newest, Miena ."

She shoved him away and climbed out of bed. She paced the room, alternating between fury and disbelief. " I get it now. You were ready to leave after our night together, but I mentioned Stonemore , and you were all too willing to help me. I was suspicious, and I never should have agreed to…" She threw up her hands. " Whatever this is."

" Kora …"

" Nay ," she said, shaking her head. " All this time, I've been telling you about Villette and my past. My secret ," she hissed angrily. " You knew and said nothing." She halted and glared at him. " Is that where you've been going when you sneak off? Are you warning Villette about me?"

His nostrils flared as he held her gaze. " I've not seen or spoken to her since before we came here."

" Of course, that would be your reply. Why do I even bother asking?" She started pacing again.

" Kora ."

" Then you tell me Villette is weakened. You're setting a trap for me. Will there be a dragon there, too? By the stars, how stupid am I ?"

" Kora !"

She whirled to find him standing behind her and shouted, " What ?"

" I'm not setting a trap. If I was, I would never have told you about Miena ."

Her body began to lean toward him, aching for his touch, but she took a step back. She had let her guard down simply because they'd shared their bodies. She had opened herself to him, only to discover his duplicity.

" Let me remind you that you also kept secrets," he said.

" The word there is kept . Past tense."

He narrowed his eyes and took a step closer. " Secrets you would still have if I hadn't seen you die and come back to life."

" Speaking of, how did you really get us back here and past the guards that night? Was it your connection to Villette ? I'm surprised you didn't take me to her then."

A muscle moved in his jaw. He thrust out his hand to show the cuff. " This is how I got us back."

She eyed the piece of silver he never removed. " That ?"

" You want proof? I'll give you proof," he stated as he yanked her to him.

One moment, they were in the room. The next, they were in a forest. The change was so sudden that her knees gave out. She gripped Derek , but his hold was already tight. The next moment, they were on top of the mountain they had traveled. She barely got a chance to look around before they were back in their room. Derek released her, and she stumbled out of his arms, catching herself on the end of the bed.

She looked from the cuff to his face. " You mean you could've gotten us to Stonemore with that instead of walking?"

" Aye ."

" You can get me into the palace."

" I can, but you never asked for my help."

Kora looked around for her clothes and hastily dressed. She needed a barrier between them. " And if I ask now?"

" Does that mean you trust me?"

" That isn't what I asked."

A long stretch of silence filled the room. " If you ask. I will."

" That was convincing."

" There are other things I must consider."

" Like ?"

A muscle in his jaw tightened. " Miena is being held in the palace. She's able to communicate with me. She says it's because Villette is weakened after a recent altercation with someone."

Kora didn't like the change of subject, but she was more interested in learning how Miena spoke to Derek . " How , exactly, is she talking to you?"

He tapped his head.

" You must be joking," she stated.

Derek shook his head. " The closer I am to the palace, the easier it is for her to reach me."

Then it dawned on her as she recalled the strange way he'd acted the day before. " That's what was wrong when we were in the garden."

" Aye ."

" And she's the one who has the answers you seek."

Derek briefly lowered his gaze to the ground. " She is."