CHAPTER 62

Faye crossed her legs and faced him, her expression solemn. "Our village has an Anarian healer, but without magic there is only so much she can do. I do what I can to help my village."

His night breeze carried responsibilities for a village she should have never belonged to. Responsibilities, he realized, she would never relinquish. "I could hire a healer for the village. Perhaps some other vendors will rebuild some of the homes."

Faye's gaze softened and Rune's heart leapt into his throat. Darkness, did he finally find the right path with her?

"You would do that for me?"

"I would do a great many things for you."

Faye took his hand, brushing her thumb over his knuckles. "Thank you."

Her small gesture moved him so deeply. Rune gave her hand a light squeeze. "I will arrange for the village to be cared for, and we could perhaps use your newly found free time to learn court protocol."

Faye's mouth went slack as she pulled her hand away. Her slight frame is rigid. "I will still visit my village every month."

"Vsenia, dark-bloods do not belong in Anaria."

Faye pulled further away from him, bringing her knees up. "I'm not a dark-blood. Anaria is my home."

Rune exhaled and spoke gently, willing her to understand. "You are dark-blooded and you should never have been abandoned in that village." Rune couldn't understand why Faye would choose a dirt road village over what he offered. She should be glad she wasn't one of them.

She stood, taking her basket.

"Faye."

She ignored him, marching out of the gardens.

How could she be so stupid? Faye clenched her jaw. She thought he finally understood her. That his geriatric brain finally clicked, and he could see why she was loyal to her people.

No, she was an idiot, and he was trying to buy her.

Rune materialized in front of her, catching her against him. She pulled away, shoving at his chest. "Don't do magic in front of me."

"Tell me what I've done to anger you," he said too gently. His pale blue gaze was pleading.

Faye made an exasperated noise. "That I have to tell you is the issue."

Rune exhaled, stepping closer to her. "That you refuse to speak to me is the issue. I cannot learn if you never offer the context of your mind."

"You want me to abandon my village!" Faye screamed.

He took her hand, giving her a gentle squeeze. "You are not one of them. You do not belong there."

"Why am I the only one that has to change? Why don't you give up your life?"Why can't you accept me?

"I am where I belong. Where you belong."

Tears pricked her eyes. "I don't want to belong here."

Rune stabbed his fingers through his hair. "You will never let go of that village."

"You don't want me." He would never accept her.

Rune looked at her like she'd struck him. "You are the only woman I will ever want."

Faye pulled her hand away, embracing her fury to keep her tears at bay. "You want the idea of your dark-blooded queen. Not the minx who wears rags and won't abandon her village." Rune reached for her, and she took a retreating step. "I'm not one of you. If you want me, you need to start with accepting me as I am. Not what you think I should be."

Rune nodded at her, taking a slow step toward her. "I am sorry."

He slowly took her in his arms, holding her close. Faye slipped her arm under his jacket clinging to him. She didn't want to cry. Didn't want to miss him when he realized what she already knew. They were too different, and fate wasn't enough.

But it was too late for her. When he did finally leave, his memory would haunt her for the rest of her life.

"I am sorry." He stroked her hair. "I will see that your village never suffers, and we will visit each month, or as often as you wish."

Faye squeezed him tighter in answer, not trusting her voice. If he could accept her, really accept her as she was, they might have a chance.

Faye tied her hair half up as she walked along the hall in the east wing. Her vampire sat at his desk, pouring over aged documents. His gaze lifted to meet hers as she strolled into his study. Her fingertips skimmed along the top of the settee as she made her way to his desk. She smiled as those lovely shadows swayed beneath his eyes.

"You don't hide your eyeliner half as much as you used to." Faye feigned a look of innocence as she dragged her finger over his desk. Her skin heated as he tracked her movements. The predatory glint in his eyes was at odds with the playful smile across his lips.

He stood as she reached his chair. "Your Voshki is less of a nuisance if I share time with it." Rune leaned closer to her, bringing his lips a moment from hers.

"Sharing time with him," Faye corrected, straightening the perfectly arranged lapel of his jacket. "We have an appointment with Kayla."

Rune subtly shifted his position, backing her into his desk. Faye's pulse quickened as she glanced up. A crimson so dark it looked black covered his gaze. Those lovely veined misted shadows were swaying over the tops of his cheekbones. The low rumble of his purr filled the space between them.

"She can wait," Voshki purred, leaning closer. Placing his hands on either side of her.

She swallowed. They were too tempting. She ran her nails down the center of his chest before flattening her hand and pushing him back. "You're a terrible influence."

He straightened and gave her a cocky grin. "I am aware," he said as the shadows receded from his gaze to reveal pale blue eyes.

Rune extended a hand to her. "Shall we?"

Faye placed her hand in his, and her surroundings faded, replaced with a lavish room decorated in every shade of red.

Rune inclined his head. "Kayla."

Faye smiled at her. She wore a strapless corset gown in the same antique gold she'd worn the last time Faye saw her.

"Shadow Prince. Lady Faye. Lovely to see you again so soon." Kayla curtsied. Her gold dusted brown skin gleaming in the soft candlelight.

"Thank you for doing this for me." Faye beamed.

Kayla took her arm, leading her away from Rune. "Of course. We do this for many of the noble ladies," she said as she led Faye to three red tables and turned back to Rune. "Are you coming or just going to be surprised by what the Lady selects?"

Rune took a seat on one of the high-backed chairs near the refreshments table and met Faye's gaze. "You should make your selections without my influence. We can revisit this together at a later time."

Kayla smiled, pressing her hands together. "You've found yourself a gentleman."

"He's not," Faye said in a hushed tone.

Kayla leaned toward her saying in an equally soft tone, "None of them are."

They shared a laugh as they came to the first table. Riding crops, sticks, paddles, and something with several leather straps attached to a handle were evenly spaced over the table. Faye glanced back at Rune, who now sat with his ankle over his knee, reading documents. This man told on her and didn't have the decency to look her in the eye.

"Did he tell you to show me the riding crops first?" Faye asked in a hushed whisper.

Kayla waved her hand. "These are very popular among many ladies."

Faye listened as Kayla explained each tool and selected the riding crop Kayla used during their previous visit. A smile played on her lips as she swatted the palm of her hand with it. She imagined running it under Rune's jaw as he knelt before her. Faye pushed the fantasy away. The man would set her blood on fire if she let him.

"If you want to purchase any items, just lay them horizontally in the gold marking." Kayla tapped the rectangular engraving.

Faye selected two riding crops and placed them in the marker.

The next table held restraints and blindfolds. Some of the lengths of cord were smooth, others were coarse. Faye took a length of red silk, running it through her fingers.

Kayla picked up the matching purple silk. "These also come reinforced with magic, but they don't make anything dark enough to hold the Shadow Prince. You'll just have to rely on him behaving," Kayla said with a wink as she wound the purple silk, setting it back on the table. She picked up a length of smooth cord next. "We also offer classes on shibari here." Kayla looped the rope on her bicep and continued to loop and pull the rope further down her arm creating a beautiful design. "Or private individualized classes at your home if you'd like."

Faye glanced back at Rune, wondering if she would be able to sweet talk him into a class or two. She set the pink and black cord in the golden marker. Her gaze flitted between the red and purple silk before she selected them both. Her last pick was a black blindfold lined with soft fur.

Kayla led her to the third table. A small black chest rested at its center. Kayla opened the lid and Faye leaned forward to peek into it. The items she placed on the markers rested on the bottom of the chest.

"I will leave you two to it. If you would like anything else just place it in the marker." Kayla curtsied and vanished.

Black flickered over the room and faded. Faye turned toward Rune. The corner of his mouth lifted. "I would prefer not to be interrupted a second time."

"And what did you imagine happening?" Faye teased.

Rune vanished his documents and strode to her carrying a small plate of candied fruits. Selecting a berry skewered with a metal pick, he stepped into her, bringing the berry to her lips.

Faye smiled as the veined shadows crept out from beneath his eyes. "Your eyeliner is showing." She leaned forward and closed her lips over the berry, pulling it free in a slow, sensual motion.

Rune pulled the box closer and lifted a length of red silk. "Am I to be restrained again?"

"They have rope classes too." Faye smiled up at her vampire.

"I would request that you allow private lessons. I would appreciate keeping my private life private."

Faye giggled and he leaned closer, his lips a moment from hers. Faye ran her hands under his jacket, over his sides. His muscles corded and flexed at her touch. "Were you hoping I'd tie you up and kiss you again?"

He stroked her hair, touching his forehead against hers. "Perhaps. A small price for the feel of your lips."

Faye ran her palms to his broad chest. "We can't do this here."

"We most certainly can." Rune swept his thumb along her jaw. "I reserved the room for the rest of the day."

"Presumptuous of you." Faye breathed.

"Your sister is not able to interrupt us here."

"Can we witness more training while I have you bound?" Faye asked, leaning into his hand.

Rune brushed his thumb along her throat as he threaded his fingers through her hair. "My minx is a voyeur."

Faye laughed as her cheeks heated. "Maybe I should have you massage my back instead."

Rune's voice dropped an octave, his accent thick. "My hands on your body is still a reward."

"Then I'll have to tie your hands." Faye kissed him softly and smiled when he remained still. "He learns."

Rune purred, leaning closer. "I have a high intellectual agility."

"Good," Faye took the length of red silk from him and said, "Take off your shirt."

Faye looked over the room as Rune removed his jacket.

"What are you searching for?"

Faye smiled up at him and answered, "A place to tie your arms over your head."

Rune raised a brow, continuing to unbutton his shirt. "The top of the bed posts will have what you seek."

Faye stepped up on the bed and flattened her fingers over the top of the post. She felt a metal loop embedded there. She slipped the silk through it and curled a beckoning finger at Rune.

He stripped off his shirt and silently strolled to her. Faye couldn't help but admire how the candlelight reflected off the hard planes of his sculpted body. Her vampire was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. Rune turned his back to the post and lifted his wrists over his head.

Faye curled her lip when he gripped the top of the post and leaned forward to stare down at him. "Why are you so tall?"

He smirked at her and answered, "Fate did not grant you a small male."

Faye bent his arms until Rune clasped his elbows. She smiled, taking her time to lace the silk over and around his forearms. Binding them together.

She got down and stood in front of him, admiring her handiwork. Faye slid her fingers under his belt and stood up on her toes. Rune leaned forward, lowering his head. Her lips met his. Feather-light and gentle as she ran her nails down his torso.

He groaned against her mouth and Faye finally pulled away. Black swept through his gaze and dissipated. "Perhaps a chair would be better suited for your games," he said, leaning toward her.

"Not for this one." Faye left him and went to the box. She returned with the blindfold. The corner of Rune's mouth lifted as Faye stood on the bed once more and secured the blindfold over his eyes.

Faye came down, stepping in front of Rune. She frowned as Rune tracked her movements and tugged the blindfold lower.

"I do not need to see you to know where you are. I can scent you. I hear your heart beating," he said, leaning closer.

Faye smoothed her hands over his chest and ran her nails lower before stopping at his pants. Pressing a kiss to the center of his chest as she unfastened his belt.