Magical Mistakes(25)
“Demons are bloodthirsty. Ruling them is dangerous.”
“That doesn’t make it any easier to lose someone you love.”
A sardonic smile twisted his lips. “Demons don’t love.”
“Teivel was your brother.”
“So?” Ciar looked up at her with emotionless eyes. “We learn as children that emotions are a liability. We shared blood but nothing else.”
She studied him for a moment before reaching out to touch his cheek. “I don’t believe that,” she told him. “And you have my sympathies for losing your brother. I can’t imagine a world without my sisters.”
For a brief moment he leaned into her touch. “The relationship you have with your kin was nothing like the one I had with mine.”
“Okay.” She stood close, offering what support she could.
“I could have rivaled my brother in terms of power. He rejoiced the day I left for this world. I was one fewer challenge he’d have to fight to win the throne.”
“But you didn’t challenge him,” Mikayla said. “You left because you didn’t want to fight him.”
Ciar said nothing.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“You ask for answers from me, Mikayla, when you won’t return the favor.”
Mikayla inclined her head. “I’ll tell you anything you want as long as it’s not about Alina or the spell.”
“Really?” he murmured. “Then match me an answer for an answer.”
Mikayla hesitated only for a moment. If he was willing to help her solve the riddle of his life, it’d be worth confessing to a secret or two. “All right.”
“Hmm,” he said, walking around her in a slow circle. “Is this my chance to find out all your secrets?”
“I don’t have many for you to discover.”
“Ah, lady,” he murmured in her ear, stopping behind her. “You are a complete mystery to me.”
She laughed softly. “I’m not very complicated.”
“You wouldn’t give up your lover for power. That makes you the most complicated woman I’ve ever met.”
Mikayla turned in his arms. “Maybe you’ve been hanging out with the wrong women.”
“So I’m beginning to wonder.”
She smiled at the heat in his gaze. “Who gets the first question?”
“Me,” he replied. “Since I’m the one who will revert back to canine form whenever the magic gives out.”
“Fair enough.”
He reached out to tilt her chin up. “Why was I the man who was on the receiving end of your spell?”
“I was angry.”
He shook his head. “No, I didn’t ask why you did it. I asked why it was me. All these months, why didn’t you give up on me?”
She swallowed hard. Looked like he wasn’t going to waste any time beating around the bush.
“Tell me,” he urged.
Mikayla lifted her chin and met his gaze squarely. “Because I wanted you. And not because of the chase. Maybe I started out wanting to prove you wrong but then…” She paused. “You were all I could think about. I hated that you could brush me aside so easily when you invaded my every fantasy.” Heat flooded her cheeks but she couldn’t look away from his unwavering gaze.
“Do you care for me so much?” he asked softly.
She inhaled a sharp breath. “It’s my turn,” she said, avoiding his question. “Tell me if I was right. What is the real reason you came here?”
She saw his jaw clench but he opened his mouth to answer. “My brother had just stolen the woman I loved and the only way to get her back was to kill him. It was one sin I wasn’t ready to commit.”
Not even for Alina. The words lay unspoken between them.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Doesn’t mean I miss him.”
“Of course.” She forced herself to keep a blank expression as she said the ridiculous words.
He growled at her softly. “My turn. How much do you care about me?”
“Ciar…”
“Tell me.” He pulled her closer. “Give me this at least.”
Mikayla gripped his arms to steady herself and rose onto her tiptoes. Her lover held very still as she drew her lips over his in a gossamer kiss. “I care,” she breathed. “More than I ever have for any other man.”
His muscles tightened under her hands but he made no reply. A bitter smile curved Mikayla’s lips. What had she expected? That he’d confess he had feelings for her too? She knew better than to hope for such a happy ending. Instead, she pressed a light kiss to the corner of his mouth before stepping back.