Chapter Six

That evening, as the shutters went down for the night, Kae dressed herself in her favourite cowboy boots, skinny dark blue jeans and a cream coloured tunic top. She knew, in quiet reflection as she brushed through her chestnut mane of hair, that she was taking care to dress her best and she knew it was because she had hopes of running into Qhuinn again.

Kae twisted her hair into a loose knot and secured it with a clip, a few wisps escaping and framing her face. Would Qhuinn think she was pretty? Her mother had always told her she was so but wasn't that the way of parents? She examined her smooth complexion and soft lips, her finely arched brows and the warm hazel of her eyes. In her own view, she was a plain Jane, nothing special and very ordinary. She sighed and smoothed out her tunic and made sure there were no creases in her jeans.

She checked herself in the mirror and paused by her dressing table before leaving. Opening her jewellery box, she reached in and took out a beautiful silver necklace with a tiny dragon charm attached to it. Securing it around her slender neck, she left the room and headed down to the dining room for First Meal.

Delicious smells of pancakes, sausages, butter and the sweet scent of maple syrup teased her even before she reached the dining room.

As she walked in, several pairs of eyes turned her way and the general murmur of conversation that had been in full flow beforehand came to an awkward halt.

In front of her, sat nine of the biggest males Kae had ever seen in her short life. Beside them sat the shellans, each as beautiful as the next.

Kae backed herself into the corner slightly, her reaction one of fear and defence. Out of the many faces, she recognised Bella and Zsadist. On the opposite side of the grand table, a tall glass of juice in his hand, sat Qhuinn, who shot her a warm smile. Kae's stomach fluttered but her insides felt as though they were filled with wet cement. With all these eyes on her, she had never felt so self conscious in her life!

Bella was the first to rise and came over to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Kae felt instantly calmed.

"Everyone, this is Kaelina," Bella gestured to Kae who waved feebly, "Kae, these are the brothers."

Bella introduced each warrior by name and they each in turn greeted her with open friendliness. The king and queen awed her the most, her voice growing quiet as she attempted to greet them in the proper manner.

Wrath and Beth greeted her warmly and assured her that she was very welcome in their home.

With the introductions out of the way, Kae looked for a free seat at the table, feeling too self conscious to sit too near the brothers. Qhuinn rose from his seat and proffered the empty chair next to his. With no other option in sight, Kae walked around the table and took the seat next to Qhuinn. Gradually, the breakfast chatter started up again and Kae breathed a sigh of relief as her presence was no longer the focus of attention…with the exception of one person. As she settled into her seat, she turned to Qhuinn who was watching her with undisguised interest. She felt her cheeks go pink and smiled shyly.

"Do I have something on my face?" she whispered as Fritz brought in a hot plate of pancakes and sausage for her.

Qhuinn chuckled; the sound was deep and rich. Kae laughed and reached for the syrup…at the exact same time Qhuinn did. As their fingers touched, she felt a tingle of warmth course through her hand.

"Umm…sorry," Qhuinn hovered the syrup bottle over her plate, "Where do you want it?"

Kae took in his profile and for a brief second, her female senses came online in a rush of suggestive ideas about where he could put the syrup.

"Kae…do you still want the syrup?"

Quickly, she checked herself, blushing a deep crimson. He must have been able to sense her attraction. Her mother had always said she was easy to read, more open with her feelings than a book in her lap.

Qhuinn squeezed the syrup over her plate and began to eat his breakfast, watching with a curious satisfaction as she began to eat her own.

The talk between them was pleasant and light. Qhuinn introduced her to John Matthew and Blaylock, both of whom were late coming to breakfast. Kae laughed at the jokes they told, how they ribbed each other and how they made her feel as though she were truly part of the group.

Qhuinn felt as though his body were a tuning fork as soon as she had entered the breakfast room, his muscles humming with a strange energy he could not explain.

The second she had walked in, he noticed everything about her; the way her outfit clung to her slender curves, the way her heeled boots made her walk with a slightly sensual gait and the sweet vanilla scent she carried with her. As they talked during breakfast, he noticed that she made the exchange between them so effortless. It was a natural as breathing air. As he mopped up the last of his buttery syrup with the final bite of his pancake, he realised he wanted to spend more time with her.

They left the dining room together. Kae was going over to Safe Place for the first time that night so that Marissa could show her around and introduce her to the staff.

From what she'd understood at breakfast, Qhuinn was John's personal bodyguard, a position of great honour and responsibility as John was brother to the queen.

"Do you want to go to Last Meal together?" she opened asked as they paused by the grand staircase. Qhuinn folded his thick arms across his chest and grinned.

"Sure, if you think you could a use a friend like me, I'd be more than happy to escort you."

Kae smiled.

"Thanks…guess I'd better get ready for work then. I'll catch you later Qhuinn."

Qhuinn smiled even more broadly as his name left her lips. It sounded so right coming from her. His eyes fixed on her cheek for a moment as a smudge of syrup shone honey gold in the light.

"Whoa Kae, hold up a second…you got something there."

Kae paused and looked at her top, searching for whatever had gotten his attention.

Qhuinn moved forward. He should have just wiped it off; he should have used a napkin or something similar. Instead, his roaring male instinct took over in the face of a female he was coming to desire.

Qhuinn dropped his mouth to her cheek, kissed it softly and delicately licked off the syrup.

"Mmmm, you are sweet to taste Kae," he grinned, his mismatched eyes smouldering a little as they took her in. Except, her expression wasn't one of girly shyness or even sexual interest; it was one of fear. Her whole body had gone rigid and as cold as ice.

He had scared her.

"Kae, I'm sorry, that was too forward of me…"

Kae looked down at her feet and backed away towards the stairs.

"It's fine Qhuinn really…I have to go, I'll see you later."

She turned without looking at him and hurried up the stairs. Qhuinn stared after her, confused. He was pretty sure at the table that her eyes had given away her interest in him as a male. She had looked into his eyes a great deal…perhaps she was curious about his defect, one which had kept him as an outsider to his own snobbish family for years.

Yes, that must be it. To be kissed so intimately by someone who was less than the glymera's perfect standards must have been horrifying for her.

Frowning, Qhuinn shoved his hands in his pockets and stalked off towards the gym where John would be waiting for their workout.

He had thought that Kae was above such petty aristocratic nonsense; perhaps he was wrong.