Killian’s POV
I don’t think I have ever been this angry before. This thoroughly consumed by anger. So angry that my body trembled from the intensity of my rage.
Another tear dropped from Rosalind’s beautiful eyes and I wanted nothing more than to rip into my brother for causing her this much pain.
“I knew he could never choose me as his mate. But I hoped. I hoped so much and seeing him like that with her hurt so much.” Rosalind sobbed and buried her head in my chest again as nerve-wracking sobs hit her body.
I held her close to myself, my shirt was getting rather wet but I didn’t care. I wanted to comfort her even if I had zero ideas how exactly that worked.
“You were stupid. That’s not a sin.”
Rosalind cried harder. Goddess, my brother was stupid.
What happened to all the plans we had made together? Was he no longer planning to leave the throne to me? He had seemed so certain when he spoke to me about how she meant the world to him only for me to hear this now.
I felt myself getting angry all over again. I knew the woman Rosalind was describing before she even finished. She was Arthur’s daughter, Adelyn.
I knew her well even if I hadn’t grown up around the palace like Cillian. She was beautiful, proud, cruel and cold. I had managed to avoid a date with her so far and I was thankful for that.
The Goddess knew I didn’t need any more drama in my life.
And that was the person he had chosen over Rosalind? Her of all people?
I removed the thought from my head as I stroked down Rosalind’s back but she couldn’t be comforted.
“It’s alright. Please stop crying.”
I was really terrible at this comforting thing. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had hugged someone much less hugged and comforted them. I had never even felt the inclination to do so before but with her it was different.
Rosalind’s voice was low and choked off when she finally responded.
“I don’t know how to. It hurts so bad.”
I pulled back slightly to look her in the eye before tapping her chin authoritatively.
“I order you to as your prince.”
She sniffed and for a moment I rejoiced that I had finally stopped the water works then her lower lip wobbled uncertainly and the tears began to spill over.
Shit. This wasn’t working.
I wiped her tears with my fingers feeling undone by the way she looked at me. So hurt, broken yet like she needed my help so much. It shouldn’t have made me so hard but it did.
I didn’t realize when I moved closer to her and pressed a kiss to her forehead and then her cheeks.
I heard the hitch in her breath. The shift in her demeanor and a soft gasp escaped her lips.
“Killian.”
Her hands on my chest trembled and I lowered my head finally claiming her lips like I had dreamt of.
Her lips were soft and she yielded to me just as easily as I knew she would. Our tongues slid together in a tangle of want, desire and comfort.
It started out slow as I sought to claim every inch of her mouth, claiming her very breath. Rosalind moaned into the kiss and her hands on my chest slid up around my shoulders and into my hair pulling me closer and I spun out of control.
Although it would be debatable to say I had even an iota of control to begin with.
My grip on her hair tightened beyond the point of pain and I felt her stiffen. My other hand was already on her hips placing her on my lap so she sat astride me, our lips never disconnecting as I grabbed her ass grinding my hips into hers.
I wanted her desperately. I wanted to put her on all fours and take her. I wanted to whip her, watch her fall apart in my arms then fuck her so hard she would be unable to move without feeling me for days.
I wanted to bite her, mark her all over, collar her and chain her to my bed. The crazy part was I knew she would let me do all these things to her and more. The attraction between us sizzled and burned demanding its due and I knew that she would ruin me as much as I would ruin her.
She was unstable emotionally. I couldn’t do this now. At least not yet.
I ended our kiss and pulled away. Her eyes were wide with surprise and dark with want, the blue in her eyes but a tiny band swallowed by black, and her lips were slightly red and swollen from our kiss. I felt my desire for her rise again.
I removed her from my lap before I did something as completely stupid as kissing her again.
I stood to leave but her hand caught the edge of my sleeve.
“Killian, I”
I didn’t look at her as I removed her hand from my sleeve. If I did, emotionally unstable or not, I would fuck her.
“Stop. This doesn’t change anything. I have somewhere to be.”
I walked away.
*****
Cillian’s POV
I felt guilty even though I wasn’t the one who initiated the kiss.
I had been in the hall waiting for Rosalind to walk in. Killian wasn’t in just yet so perhaps I could steal some kisses from her and say something to make her blush before he entered.
The door opened and Adelyn of all people entered.
I felt my smile freeze on my lips as I gestured for her to take her seat. Arthur’s daughter, a staple throughout my childhood and my first kiss.
I grew up with her and I knew how dodged she could be when trying to get what she wanted.
I’d only hoped this time that she would channel some of that energy into Killian and not me. They would make a terrific match and a wonderful power couple.
Her voice was low, low enough that I would need to lean in to hear her. A carefully planned tactic I was sure.
“I noticed you’ve been avoiding me, was there something I did wrong?”
You are not Rosalind. I couldn’t wait for Killian to pick his mate so that I could be with her forever.
I cleared my throat. “No. Nothing at all.”
Adelyn blinked and even that was an embodiment of poise and elegance.
“You don’t mind if I stayed here for a while and we spoke?”
I almost glanced at the door again. I didn’t want Rosalind to leave in case she saw me engaged in a conversation with Adelyn but there was no graceful way to turn her down so I nodded.
“Not at all.”
She smiled at me and it was beautiful. It reminded me of the times when I would do almost anything to make her smile at me but those times were far gone because I couldn’t even feel the twinge of anything as she smiled at me. I was just that crazy for Rosalind.
“Remember when we were still kids?” She asked softly. “We would run around in our underwear and I would scare you with rubber snakes.”
She had been a terror.
“Yes,” I laughed. “We had lots of fun then.”
Her hand grasped mine over the table.
“I feel we will be compatible. My family will support you in every way you could possibly need.”
I removed my hand from beneath hers.
“It’s not about that. I…” How could I put this in a less offensive tone? I couldn’t tell her about Rosalind because it would no doubt reach her father’s ears. “We were childhood friends but that’s all we can be.”
She stood up from her chair and walked around my desk, her silk whispering across the floor as she moved.
“I am no longer a child, Cillian. And you are no longer that kid I terrified. Get to know me first then make your decision.”
Before I could react to what she had to say, she leaned in and kissed me. She was a good kisser, but I couldn’t make myself kiss her back even to spare her emotions.
I pushed her away. “You need to leave.”
Adelyn’s eyes widened in shock. “Cillian?”
My voice was steel.
“Now.”
Killings was just a kiss, one I hadn’t even participated in but I felt immensely guilty. I had to tell Rosalind about it and I would apologise. Then I would beg Killian if I needed to, to quickly pick a bride before I lost my mind.
I summoned my attendant.
“Find Rosalind for me. I need to see her.”
Barely a few minutes had passed after my attendant left when the door opened.
That was fast, maybe she had been on her way here
“Killian?”
He didn’t acknowledge my greeting as he moved forward brimming with violence. I stood up to ask him what was going on but he didn’t even let me get a word in.
“You piece of shit.” Killian growled then he punched me.
I was so stunned I could only touch my cheek.
“What are you doing?”
Killian’s eyes were dark with fury. “That’s what I want to know. What the fuck are you doing?”
He didn’t let me respond before throwing another punch at me. I caught this one but his knee found my stomach.
I grunted and backed away unwilling to fight my brother without even knowing what we were fighting about. “Why are you fighting me?”
He seemed even more annoyed by my query and I was stunned when he finally spoke.
“How could you choose Adelyn over Rosalind? What happened to all your dreams of leaving the throne because you wanted to pick her? Was it all a lie?”
His fist swung but now that I was expecting it, it was easy to evade. How did he find out about Adelyn? “How do you know?”
“How do you think I know? Rosalind saw you.”
I was so startled that I was unable to dodge the next punch which rendered me unable to breathe.
Rosalind had seen us? She must have come by when Adelyn was kissing me. I had to find her to apologise… but why was Killian so pissed?
Was it because of the throne or…
“You are fighting with me because of Rosalind?”
He threw another punch that I dodged.
“No. I am fighting with you because you are an idiot.”
My thoughts drifted to all the times I had seen him interact with her suddenly reading it in a different light. I recalled how he had killed those men who touched her. How could I not have seen it?
I caught his next punch stepping close to him.
“Do you like her?”
Killian was silent and I shoved him back, my chest aflame with jealousy.
“Is that why you have been so mean to her?”
I moved to shove him again but he caught my hands.
“And if it was?”
I saw red.
“You piece of shit. She is mine.”
Killian smirked at me lazily and touched his mouth.
“Her kiss says differently.”
No. This was impossible. But now that I was no longer distracted, I could scent her on him.
I lost my restraint.