Just One Golden Kiss by M. A. Thomas Read Free Book Online Page B

dramatic, she’s also a bit insecure and can’t stand anyone not liking her.” He kissed Zel on her forehead and said, “Right, my love?”
    Giggling, she shoved him. Puckering her lips, she said, “Kiss me.”
    And he did.
    “They’re distracted,” Lela said. “With your speed–”
    “Hush… she may not be able to hear us but something tells me he can,” Eldrich said in a whisper.
    Just then, Xavier stopped kissing Zel and winked at Eldrich and Lela.
    “Come, up head is our home,” Xavier said, pointing to a tall, circular structure which resembled the prison towers of Barmoth.
    Their home was a prison tower!
    Lela bit off a nail and then another.
    Reaching the tower, Eldrich said, “If we may ask, is it custom for a prince to live in a tower in your kingdom?”
    Xavier laughed. “Of course not. I don’t reside here all the time. This is actually Zel’s home, but since I’m here often I guess I think of it as mine as well.”
    “Is she your prisoner?” Lela asked, instantly regretting her question.
    Zel burst into laughter. “Why yes, of course. He’s the prince of the Lost and I’m his eternal prisoner.” She licked his bare chest and bit down on the cross hanging from the chain around his neck.
    “Later, love, later,” Xavier said. Then he opened the door to the tower. “The stew smells delicious. I’m starving.”
    Zel followed him inside and waved Eldrich and Lela over. “Hurry up,” she said.
    Once they were all inside, she shut the door and said, “It’s a long way up.”
    Eldrich gave Lela a nudge forward to the spiral staircase. Upon placing her hand on the rail, she realized the staircase was made of golden hair.
    Xavier started climbing; Zel followed and then Lela.
    “I won’t let anything happen to you,” Eldrich hushed into Lela’s ear.
    Up the golden staircase they went. Eldrich could have been at the top in a second and Xavier, well, she knew he could fly. Yet, neither one of them was willing to expose their skills.
    As Lela continued to ascend, she recognized that her life was about to change again. And she was terrified.

 
    CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    Breathless and feeling pain on each side of her stomach, Lela finally made it to the top of the staircase. She was the only one out of breath and in pain.
    “Come sit down before you faint,” Zel said, taking her hand and leading her to a chair.
    Lela was sure she was going to vomit.
    “Breathe,” Eldrich said, his hand on her shoulder.
    Xavier disappeared into another room and three seconds later reappeared holding a cup. He brought it to her lips and said, “Sip slowly.”
    She couldn’t resist swallowing the cup’s contents all at once which caused her to cough and gag.
    “You disobeyed,” Zel said. “Does she always do things as she wants and not as she’s told?” she asked Eldrich.
    “She’s not a child,” Eldrich said.
    He was not amused and Lela worried he would lose his judgment and attack Zel and Xavier. Without knowing where they really were or what these two creatures were capable of, Xavier could fly and she guessed he was also strong and Zel, well the long haul up the stairs didn’t affect her in the least bit, there was a possibility that Zel and Xavier could overtake and really harm Eldrich.
    “I feel better. My, the stew smells wonderful,” Lela said, trying to lighten the situation.
    “Oh, yes, the stew,” Zel said, dashing off.
    Xavier pulled up a chair next to Lela. “Where are the two of you from?”
    “Barmoth,” Lela said.
    “That’s a ways from here. A long way, indeed. How did you get here?” Xavier asked.
    “We’ve been traveling for days,” Eldrich said.
    “Yet, you have nothing with you, and you were naked when we found you.”
    “That’s because we left our things in the camp we set up not too far from where you found us,” Lela said.
    Xavier put his hands on the back of his neck and reclined in his chair. “I don’t believe a word you’re saying. But, your business