Free The Fae Ring by C. A. Szarek Page A

eyes clouded, as if he just realized what he’d said. He averted his gaze. “Just eat. No reason to drudge up old memories.”
    She reached for him. Janet couldn’t help it. Their gazes collided when she covered his hand with hers. Her heart jumped at the contact. “Please tell me. I want to hear abou’ you.”
    The apple of his throat bobbed, but he nodded. However, he looked away again. Wouldn’t meet her eyes, even when she tugged on his wrist.
    He’s embarrassed.
    Janet scooted closer to him, the food on her lap forgotten.
    “My mother was a Fae princess. The king never forgave his sister for sneaking off and marrying my father, the winged captain of his guard. It broke her, especially since King Fillan forgave my father before I was born. I didn’t see much of her as a lad. She turned to smoking Acana root when I was wee, so when I did see her, most of the time she was in a haze. Not sure she knew it was me.”
    “What’s Acana root?”
    “Remember the maroon barked trees?”
    “Aye.” Janet entwined her fingers with his.
    His pale locks dropped over his eyes, and she wanted to tilt his face up, brush his hair off his forehead, but she kept her hands to herself.
    She could see the mating bond, but there was a blue glow hovering above the golden radiance of it. She felt odd, like a weight rested on her chest.
    Xander’s sadness.
    I can feel it.
    Janet moved even closer to him, until her shoulder brushed his chest. She wanted to throw her arms around him, but didn’t. His bare skin against her the sleeve of her chemise would have to be enough for now.
    “The Acana tree has healing properties. When used properly it aids healing magic as a sedative, but it’s abused all over the realm. My mother was a healer, before she was mired by her selfishness.” Now his voice was bitter.
    “I was about four and ten. So proud of myself because I’d mastered the obstacle course faster than any of my training mates. Even my father was proud of me. He’d said so. The first praise in longer than I could remember. I rushed to my mother’s rooms; I had to tell her. I found her on the floor. Unconscious. Close to death, actually. I called the healers. They arrived with my father. He kept muttering how Acana root addiction was weak and dishonored him. I made a vow never to dishonor him that day. I didn’t want him to look at me like that. Alana took me away afterward. As she often did after an experience with either of my parents.”
    Janet’s heart ached. She could feel his mixed emotions toward both his parents, as well as his overwhelming regret. Her vision blurred. “Xander.”
    He laughed, but it had a bitter edge. If he’d heard her whisper his name, he didn’t acknowledge it. “I dishonored him anyway, following Alana to the Realm of the Humans...cutting off my warrior braid.”
    “Xander.”
    Her fated husband finally met her eyes. His expression shifted from angry to concerned. “Oh, lass, don’t shed tears for me.”
    Janet leaned in, pressing her lips to his.
    Xander wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, meeting her kiss. She groaned when he invaded her mouth, but wrapped her tongue around his instead of pulling away. Her breasts flattened to his chest and she snaked her arms around his neck.
    He kissed her until she melted into him.
    Heat spread all over her body, settling low in her belly. Her core throbbed and pulsed, every sensation more excruciating than when he’d healed her ankle.
    Her chemise was mostly dry now, but the light fabric was encumbering, weighty, and made it hard to breathe. Janet panted against him, clutching at his bare shoulders.
    “Lass, you make me lose control.” Xander’s voice was thicker, deeper than normal. He rested his forehead against hers. His breathing was rough, and his chest heaved against hers.
    “I’m sorry,” Janet whispered.
    He lifted his head, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t be.” Even the smirk he wore was beautiful, and it