Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely 5)

“Idiot.” Then, she put her other hand on his injured ribs and forced the sunlight into his skin. The feel was of honey just this side of too hot, soaking through his skin, seeping into the now-healing cuts. As they healed, he pushed back, letting sunlight loop toward her. He might be injured, but he’d been playing with Summer’s elements for centuries. Then, he was a bound king; now, he was freed. Because of you. He could feel the almost tangible edge of how strong they could be.

He returned the sunlight she was pushing into his body, and her fingers curled until her fingernails were scratching his skin. She didn’t push him away. Or pull me closer. His queen wasn’t sure what she wanted, and he wasn’t going to walk away until they both knew.

All or nothing.

Aislinn couldn’t keep her eyes open. She might not love Keenan, but there was no denying the way her body responded to him. She slid her hand from his side onto his bare stomach and felt the muscles under his skin tense.

He had his arm around her lower back and started to pull her onto his lap.

With more effort than she wished it took, she stopped him. “Keenan.”

His eyes opened, but instead of answering, he wrapped both arms around her, and fell backward onto his bed, pulling her with him. Her hands were flat on his bare chest, and her hips were against his. The shock of being in that position made her still for a moment.

“You’re not going to seduce me.” Aislinn pushed away and stared down at the Summer King, who was shirtless and prone on his bed underneath her.

Summer is the court of impulsivity. Keenan was offering her what Seth was refusing her. His kisses make me forget the world. His touch would be . . .

She sighed. “I’m tempted. You know that.”

“That was a no,” Keenan said.

“It was.” She sat beside him.

He didn’t sit up. Instead he rolled onto his side and looked at her. “Because of Seth.”

Aislinn nodded.

“So are you . . . completely together then?” Keenan stretched one arm over his head.

Despite her best intentions, her gaze traveled over him. Several thin scars marred the expanse of tanned skin, but they didn’t detract from his appeal. He was toned without being bulky, and his well-defined abs made her briefly think he shouldn’t ever wear shirts. Except no one would get much done if that were the case. Even when they’d

been growing closer, she hadn’t seen him like this. He’d been careful around her then.

“You’re doing this on purpose,” she said in a voice far too breathy for her comfort.

He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “I am.”

“Why?” She forced herself to look only at his face.

“Answer my question, Aislinn.”

“No, not totally. We aren’t . . .” She blushed. “Not by my choice.”

“Did he tell you what he sees?” Keenan asked in a voice too benign to be truly innocent.

She made sure her gaze didn’t waver from his face—much—and asked, “Sees?”

“In the future.”

“I don’t . . .” She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Seth sees the future,” Keenan told her. “If he was certain you weren’t going to be in my arms, he wouldn’t refuse you. He knows you aren’t certain.”

“He wouldn’t hide that. . . .” Aislinn felt tears well up in her eyes, though.

“But he did. Seers are able to see possibilities. Not their own futures, but he can see your possible futures. No matter what you’ve said, he can see that you aren’t certain yet. We have not reached the point where you can say that you truly won’t be with me. You know—as well as I do, and as well as he does—that you don’t want to sacrifice your court for love. You’re their queen. Will you tell them that their deaths, their fragility, their court mean so little?”

“No.”