Still, I doubt this excerpt is very spoilery.
Emane dropped onto the bed, breathing hard. Kiora was slammed with wall upon wall of anger rolling off him.
She sat down gently next to him, taking his hand in hers. “It’s all right,” Kiora whispered, running her thumb over the back of Emane’s hand.
“No, it’s not all right!” Emane yelled, jerking his hand out of her grasp. “This place is . . . I don't know. They are not telling us something. And he—” Emane flung his arm at the door Alcander had exited from, “is the most arrogant, pompous, self centered—” Emane stood, pacing around the room, neatly avoiding Drustan who was still standing in the middle of the floor. “He treats me like a piece of garbage that needs to be disposed of. Witow.” He spat. “I hate that word. I have hated it from the moment I heard it. The way they say it, they might as well say worthless.”
“The word actually stems from the word ‘without,’” Drustan corrected calmly.
“Drustan,” Emane roared, whirling on him. “You are no better than he is half the time.”
Drustan opened his mouth but shut it again after Kiora shook her head at him. Clearing his throat, he said, “Perhaps I should go and let you two talk.”
“Thank you,” Emane yelled at the morphing Drustan. A small bird flew out the door. “Why, Kiora?” Emane asked. “Why am I the Protector? There is not a single person that understands it.”
“Emane, stop,” Kiora said gently. “It doesn't matter what they think.”
“Easy for you to say, you are the Solus. Alcander was falling all over you when he figured out who you were.”
Kiora clasped her fingers in her lap. “And you would rather he bowed to you?”
“No. Just a little respect would be nice.” Emane ground his teeth, looking away from her. “You wouldn't understand."
“You don't think so?”
Emane set his jaw, staring forward.
“You forget I am the girl that had visions of people dying. I was treated as worthless by the people that mattered most to me.”
Emane’s face softened, his eyes closing. “Kiora, I'm sorry. I didn't—”
“No, its ok,” she said. “You are used to people respecting you because of who you are. Nobody got to know you before they bowed. It is hard for you to have to prove yourself, I understand.”
His waves of anger lessened in intensity. Going to her, Emane pulled her up and into his chest. “I am sorry, I shouldn't have gotten so angry.”
“You have a right to be angry. He does treat you horribly.” Kiora leaned her head against him. “I am sure Alcander will come around though. He will see who you are. Everybody else has.”
Emane placed one finger gently under Kiora’s chin. Leaning down he kissed her lightly on the lips. She trembled. His kisses were better than magic. He kissed her harder this time, pulling her into him, and her magic roared in response. Ever since the change she could not feel pleasure, at least not the kind she felt while kissing him, and keep her magic under control at the same time. Wrapping her hands around the back of his head she kissed him back, fiercely pushing at the rising magic. But when his lips began moving down her neck, her focus was torn between her magic and the softness of his lips brushing against her skin.
“Emane, stop, I can’t hold it,” Kiora gasped.
He moaned in frustration and kissed her neck one more time. It was one time too many. The bubble of magic rising within her exploded out of control. It picked Emane up and sent him flying across the room. He slammed into the wall. The wall shook under the impact. Emane fell to the ground, limp.
“Emane!” Kiora ran over to him, sliding across the floor. “Emane!” she cried, lifting his head into her lap. “I'm sorry. I am so sorry!” Running her fingers through his hair she whimpered, “Please wake up, please.” Tears began rolling down her cheeks. He was breathing, but unconscious. Kiora yelled out the open door. “Drustan! Help!” Leaning down over Emane she kissed him on the forehead. “Please wake up, Emane, please."
A shadow blocked the door like a dark cloud. “What happened?” a voice demanded.
Kiora looked up, startled. “Alcander.”
Alcander evaluated the situation, his eyes sliding over Emane. “What happened?” he repeated.
“It was me,” Kiora said, wiping at her face. “It was an accident. Please, can you help him?”
“I can’t. I will get someone who can.” Alcander quickly walked out. Within a few minutes Lomay hobbled into the room.
“What happened?”
“It was an accident,” Kiora said. “I hit him with magic. I didn’t mean to.”
Lomay's eyebrows rose. “Interesting accident.” Crouching slowly beside her, Lomay felt Emane's neck for his pulse. “He is just unconscious.” Lomay looked up at Kiora. “I could bring him out of it, but he might be enjoying the rest.”
“Please, wake him up. I have to make sure he's all right.”
“Would you like to tell me what happened?”
She glanced at Alcander, who had followed Lomay back. He was looking at her with an odd expression on his face.
“No, not right now.”
“I see. Perhaps later then.” Kiora could have sworn she saw a smile play at the edge of Lomay’s mouth. “Very well, if you are sure.” Lomay touched Emane’s forehead.
Blinking, Emane looked up. “Welcome back,” Lomay said, before winking at Kiora. Groaning, Lomay pushed himself to his feet. “See you at dinner," he said cheerfully as he hobbled out of the room. Alcander turned, silently following Lomay out the door.
Emane moaned and rubbed his head. “What happened?”
“I'm sorry.” Kiora said, gently pushing his hair back off his forehead. “I lost control of my magic. When you kiss me . . . I lose control.”
“Why am I so cursed?” Emane moaned.
“I know, I'm sorry. You can’t even kiss me!”
“No, it’s not that. Well, partially that,” he amended. “But why was I cursed to be such an unbelievable kisser?”
“Emane!”
He sat up rubbing his head. “No, really. If I wasn't so blasted good at it, maybe this wouldn't happen.” Emane smirked.
“I cannot believe you are making jokes about this,” Kiora said, dropping back onto her heels. “I could have killed you.”
“It was worth it.” He dropped against the wall with a satisfied look on his face.
She rolled her eyes, pushed herself to her feet, and offered Emane her hand. “Come on, you are going to lay down before dinner.”
“Will you lay with me?” he asked, stumbling forward as she pulled him up.
“No,” Kiora said, putting her hands on her hips. “You obviously didn't learn your lesson the last time, and you are dumb enough to try it again.”
“I told you, it was worth it.” Emane grinned as he lay back on his bed.
“You really did hit your head hard.”
“Not hard enough to forget that kiss,” he said, placing his arms behind his head and crossing one ankle over the other.
“You are ridiculous.” Kiora sighed, her cheeks flushing.
“I know,” he mumbled. Closing his eyes, Emane drifted to sleep, murmuring something about it not being fair.
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