23. The Princess
Ishould have been afraid. The sight of Theron decapitating soldiers—my soldiers—should have horrified me. It should have sent me fleeing from his presence, not making wild declarations like, You are mine.
What the hell did that even mean?
He was my hunter? My protector? My…
I couldn’t form a coherent thought around that. Because every time I tried, my throat closed up and my head spun so chaotically I couldn’t see straight.
So, I discarded those thoughts, vowing to sift through them another time.
If I survived long enough.
Though he was covered in blood and grime, I remained close by Theron’s side, grateful Denton and Stella had gotten away. I hoped they were moving forward with the plan instead of waiting for me.
Besides, I didn’t fancy another lecture from Denton about how dangerous Theron was. No doubt this provided plenty of ammunition for him to use against me.
And what was my defense? I trusted Theron with my life, but I couldn’t explain why. It wasn’t because of our bargain; it hadn’t been for a long time. I wasn’t sure when, but something had shifted between us. The thought of losing him, of parting from him, made my chest cave inward on itself, crumbling until there was nothing left.
I struggled to keep up with Theron’s brisk pace, squinting against the rising sun peeking through the trees. Soon, the streets would be crowded with people, but we were now so close to the palace that the spires loomed ahead of us, casting shadows along the road.
By the time the villagers would emerge from their homes, we would either be inside the palace… or captured.
Just before we reached the bridge that led to the portcullis, I veered to the right, traipsing through a grove of trees that lined the palace walls.
“Where are you going?” Theron asked, though he followed me without hesitation.
“I used to sneak around the palace as a child,” I explained. “This is the most discreet way in and out.” A small smile spread across my lips. “I thought by now I would have forgotten, but it’s come back to me so easily.” I didn’t even have to glance down to know where to step. My shoes had worn a path through these woods over the years, and now, after all this time, it was like I was home again. My feet found the familiar rhythm, falling into step as if I could slide easily back into the role of the invisible princess.
But everything was so different now. This was no longer my home.
“Our best bet is to get in through the servants’ quarters,” I continued. “Once we reach the outer wall, there’s a small entrance we can use.”
“There are likely guards swarming the palace, though,” Theron said, his tone full of doubt. “It might still be difficult for us to get in.” His gaze shifted to me, and I knew what he was implying.
“I refuse to let you surrender yourself,” I said flatly. “That’s not an option, Theron.”
He grimaced. “Eira…”
I stopped and turned to face him, giving him my most withering glare. “I cannot do this without you. Swear to me you’ll stay by my side.”
He said nothing. His eyes burned with a desperate intensity that made my knees go weak.
“Theron, please,” I said in a strained voice.
“I swear I will… try.”
I placed both my hands to his cheeks, grasping his face to force him to meet my gaze. “I. Need. You. Don’t you dare think you are dispensable.”
“Aren’t I?” Darkness and misery clouded his eyes. “This kingdom needs you, Eira. But it doesn’t need me. I’ve done nothing but destroy lives. Perhaps it’s time for me to atone for that. If my sacrifice helps you get your throne back, it will be worth it.”
“Don’t say that! You are not defined by the role that was forced on you, Theron. Once Calista is defeated, you will have the freedom to choose the life you want. You will have the chance to be different. To do better.”
“I don’t deserve that freedom!” he argued.
I lifted my chin. “Well, I say you do. And I’m the rightful queen of this realm, so my word is law.”
He didn’t smile at that. Not even a glimmer of amusement shone in his eyes.
“Theron,” I tried again. “If it weren’t for you, I would be dead ten times over. You may be a hunter, but for the past two days, you have used those skills to protect me. You aren’t a killer; you’re my defender.”
He only blinked at me, his eyes dark and fathomless. He was drowning in his self-loathing, and nothing I said would reach him.
Without thinking, I pressed my mouth to his, fierce and desperate and bruising. I’d intended for the kiss to be brief, something to snap him out of his despair.
But a deep, startled noise escaped him, the sound vibrating through me, and before I knew what I was doing, my hands were gripping the fabric of his shirt, dragging him closer. He angled his head to deepen the kiss, his tongue sweeping along my lip, and then I came undone. He tasted far more alluring than he smelled, and I wanted to feast on all of him. To memorize the sensation and carry it with me. My mouth opened for him, my tongue meeting his, and he groaned into my mouth.
That sound made my insides quiver with need.
And in that moment, I decided I was done fighting whatever this was between us. I didn’t care that he was fae, that he was an assassin, that our bargain might doom us both. I didn’t care that I was dying or that we had a mission to fulfill or that Calista would likely kill us both.
There was only him. And me. Alone in this forest.
His chest was now flush against mine, but he stepped forward, backing me against the trunk of a tree. I gasped as every hardened plane of his body angled perfectly with mine, our hips meeting as he pinned me to the tree.
“Theron,” I breathed, grinding my hips against him, urging him closer, though there was no space left between us.
He lowered his hands, teasing the waistband of my trousers. I gasped as his cool fingers met my bare flesh. The icy air nipped at my skin, but blood and ice, I was on fire. Even if I was naked in this snowy forest, I still wouldn’t have felt the chill.
With his other hand, he slid his fingers under my tunic and roamed along my stomach and abdomen. I hissed in a sharp breath, breaking our kiss to tilt my head back, reveling in his touch. He brought his mouth to my neck, his tongue gliding up and down the column of my throat. A moan poured from my lips.
I gripped his belt, cupping him through his trousers. A low, feral sound rumbled in his chest.
“Tell me you want me,” I whispered.
“I want you,” he rasped against my neck, his hand lifting higher until he grazed the underside of my breast.
My fingers slipped into his trousers, stroking his length. Gods, he was so hard. Just envisioning the fullness of his arousal inside me made my mouth go dry.
“Tell me you’ll live for me,” I commanded, running my fingers up and down his length.
He groaned, the sound ragged as his teeth clamped down on my throat, firm but not hard enough to break skin.
“Tell me, Theron.”
He withdrew from my neck, breathing heavily. “Shivering bones, Eira, what are you doing? Would you let me take you right here against this tree, just to get me to promise not to get myself killed?”
My head reared back, and I lifted my chin to meet his gaze, my nostrils flaring. “Yes, I would. Not just to get that promise from you, but to show you how much I need you. I would have you take me anywhere, Theron. Here in this forest, or in the middle of the street in front of dozens of witnesses. Even covered in blood and grime, I do not care. I need you. I need your touch. Now.”
My hips rolled again in silent demand. I forced my eyes to hold his, daring him to continue. Would he stop now? Or would he meet my demands?
He held my gaze, desire bleeding through the gloom that had lingered in his dark eyes for too long. Then, his hand under my tunic lifted, cupping my breast completely, his thumb pressing against my hardened nipple.
Oh, gods…
My eyes closed as flames roiled through me. He caught my nipple between his fingers and pinched it. Moisture pooled between my legs, my breaths coming in sharp pants.
With his other hand, he slid lower, beneath my trousers and undergarments until he found my slick center. I bucked against him, and he grazed his fingers along the moisture that gathered there.
A noise escaped me, a cross between a sigh and a moan.
“Like that?” he murmured.
“Yes,” I gasped.
He slid a finger inside me, and I cried out.
“Careful, princess. Others will hear us.”
“I told you—I don’t care,” I breathed. And I didn’t. In this moment, nothing else existed except us. The logical side of me knew we needed to move, to get to the palace, to hurry before anyone saw us.
But my body was on fire. And every facet of my mind homed in on his fingers inside me.
Nothing else mattered.
He pressed me more fully against the tree, his fingers working and pulsing within me. I writhed against him, driving his hands deeper, riding his fingers as they curled inside me and brushed against my inner walls. Tension built in my body, rising higher and higher, bringing me closer to that edge. I closed my eyes as our bodies found a rhythm together. He pushed and stroked, one hand thrusting into me while the other continued to massage my breast.
He brought his mouth to mine again, capturing my feral sounds, his teeth dragging along my lower lip. A growl of pleasure rose up in his throat, and then, I fractured. Release exploded through me, sending waves of pleasure rolling off my body. I trembled as his fingers continued moving, continued exploring. My climax shuddered through me, leaving me limp and gasping in his arms.
He removed his hands, backing away from me, and I immediately yearned for his warmth.
And he knew it. The smirk on his face told me as much. He’d satisfied me while leaving me wanting more.
It was torture.
“Shivering bones, you’re such an ass,” I said, my voice slightly hoarse.
He laughed, stepping away from me. My eyes dipped to the bulge in his trousers, and I lifted my eyebrows expectantly.
But he only gave me an amused look. “Let’s get a move on. Don’t you have a throne to take back?”
I shoved his arm. “I’ll get you for that.”
“Oh, I hope you do,” he murmured, his voice low and sultry.
Heat pooled in my core once more, but I forced my feet forward, adjusting my trousers and tunic as I tried to recover from how thoroughly he had unraveled me.
I didn’t care that he’d brought me over the edge, only to withdraw before he found his own release. I didn’t care if he bested me, winning this battle of wills between us.
He was laughing again. He was teasing me. Perhaps he hadn’t promised not to sacrifice himself. But this was a start, and that was all I wanted.
We made our way deeper into the forest, following the path I knew so well. Using the trees for cover, we skirted around the palace, winding toward the back. The grove opened up to the rear side of the towering wall. Behind me, Theron faltered.
“Are you planning on climbing the wall?” he asked incredulously.
I threw a grin over my shoulder. “You’ll see.”
“You do love to torment me.”
“After what you did to me back there? You deserve it.”
“Fair point.”
I laughed as we reached the wall that stood several feet above me. My hands ran along the length of the smooth granite, searching until I found what I was looking for. A small groove etched into the wall. Just to be safe, I ran my fingers higher and found three more grooves. They were small—meant for smaller feet than I had now—but they would do just fine.
I rolled up my sleeves, backed up several steps, and broke into a run, building momentum before I leapt onto the wall. My fingers scrambled for purchase until I found one of the grooves, and I clung to it, hoisting myself up with difficulty. The breath was knocked out of me, and my inhales were short puffs. I hadn’t made this climb in years, and my body was punishing me for it.
“Blood and ice, Eira!” Theron hissed. “You could have warned me. I would have given you a boost.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” I grunted as my left foot found another crevice to balance on, the tips of my toes barely fitting. “I’m sorry to say you might be a bit too burly for this task, hunter. Perhaps you should wait in the woods while I take my kingdom back.” I gave him another mischievous grin over my shoulder.
He rolled his eyes and strolled forward. “I’m more nimble than you think.”
“Oh, I’m intimately aware of how nimble you can be.” I gave him a wink.
His gaze sparked with a mixture of heat and amusement, but his eyes stayed fixed on the wall as he scrutinized it. When he stood within a few inches of it, he crouched down low, then jumped. His hands caught hold of the grooves with ease, and I huffed.
“Now you’re just showing off,” I muttered. He hadn’t even needed to take a running jump like I had.
He chuckled. “So were you. Don’t deny it.”
“What, you weren’t impressed even a little bit?”
His eyes shone with intensity again as he looked at me. “Everything about you impresses me, Eira.”
My stomach flipped at his words and the fire burning in his gaze.
I wished he wouldn’t look at me like that.
And at the same time, I wished he would never stop.
I fixed my attention on the wall, trying to ignore the blush creeping across my face. “Be careful. I was young when I carved these holes; they were meant to hold much smaller feet.”
“You carved these?” he asked.
I laughed. “It took me months. And I had some help.”
“You are certainly full of surprises, princess.”
“I have to keep you on your toes! Literally, in this case.”
He laughed, and the sound made my heart leap within my chest.
We were silent as we climbed. Before long, sweat was pouring down my face and neck. I regretted not removing my coat or scarf before beginning the climb; now, I was suffocating from the layers. My legs and arms began to shake, slowing down our ascent. I was certain Theron could have continued on without me, but he remained by my side, letting me set our pace.
Finally, we reached the top. My fingers curled around the edge of the wall, and I slowly raised myself up. A quick glance showed the area was clear before I sat on top, hunching forward and wheezing. Theron pulled himself up beside me, and we sat there, gazing at the trees as we caught our breath.
“Why did you feel the need to escape as a child?” Theron asked. “Calista only became queen a few years before you were exiled. You must have done this before your father remarried.”
I nodded, my gaze turning distant. “My whole life, I’ve had a difficult time feeling content with where I am. It was something I didn’t realize until Frisk pointed it out. I’m always making plans for another place, another home…” I shook my head, then turned to look at him. “But this is the last time. The last plan. This will either work… or it won’t.”
His expression turned stony, and I knew we were thinking the same thing.
We would either survive. Or we wouldn’t.
“Theron, I want you to live,” I whispered, emotion climbing up my throat. “I want you to survive this.”
Something soft crept into his features. “I want you to live, too, Eira.”
My heart dropped. I knew what he wasn’t saying.
I want you to live. But you won’t. And maybe I won’t, either.
There was nothing I could say to that. Because he was right. No matter how much he begged for me to live, the poison was still spreading through my body. My fate was sealed. He couldn’t change it.
No one could.
We didn’t rest for long before we climbed down the wall, the descent much easier on my strained muscles. When we were a few feet from the ground, Theron jumped, and I followed suit. His arms caught me, and my heart seized at his sudden nearness. The delicious scent of his sweat mingled with that wintry, woodsy smell I now associated with him. His hands tightened around my waist, drawing my back against his chest.
“Careful, princess.” His breath was warm, tickling my ear. “Wouldn’t want you to fall.”
A shiver of pleasure washed over me at the softness of his voice, the way it rumbled in his chest, reminding me of the other sounds I’d elicited from him earlier. I wanted to lean into his touch, to press backward against his hips, just to see what I would find there. To see what he would do.
Blood and ice, this was not what we needed. We had already wasted enough time.
I pushed away from Theron, refusing to meet his gaze, though I felt it scorching right through me, as if his eyes were made of fire.
In a flash, Theron grabbed me, and for one wild moment, I thought he was going to kiss me, to finish what we’d started against that tree. But his hand clamped over my mouth as he tucked me against his chest once more, drawing us both in the shade of a tree and out of sight. My heart hammered against my chest, my eyes wide as I glanced around for danger.
Then I saw it. Or, rather, him.
I elbowed Theron in the gut, and he released me.
“It’s just Huck. Thank the gods! I wasn’t sure if he’d make it.”
Huck’s tall, wiry frame came into view, his steps hurried. When we made eye contact, he waved me over, then turned and darted back into the bushes.
I strode toward him, but Theron grabbed my wrist.
“Can we trust him?”
“Yes,” I said at once. “He’s part of the rebels looking to overthrow Calista. If I can’t trust him, I can’t trust anyone.”
He nodded as if this explanation were enough, and we rushed forward, following after Huck. We found him crouched in the bushes, his eyes fixed on the servants’ entrance at the back end of the palace. Four guards stood sentry by the door, blocking our way in.
“How did you get out?” I whispered.
He jabbed a finger into his chest, and I realized he was wearing a servant’s livery with the Winter Court crest stitched into the fabric. Only then did I notice his hair was flattened to cover the roundness of his ears. His disguise was just as convincing as a glamour. No one would look twice at him.
But me and Theron? I was the shunned Snow Princess, and he was a wanted fugitive. We hadn’t exactly been quiet during our altercations in Tolston. There likely had been witnesses, and they may have already reported what they’d seen to Calista.
That, and Theron was covered in blood and dirt. The evidence was damning.
“I have a room and supplies ready for you,” Huck said under his breath. “We just have to get past them without drawing attention.” He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “Any ideas?”
“I can use my magic,” I said. “But it won’t help him.” I jerked my head toward Theron.
Huck flicked his gaze over Theron once. To his credit, he didn’t question my trust in the hunter, nor did he make any objections to disclosing my secret invisibility, either.
“Huck, you go in with Eira,” Theron said, his eyes steely as he stared at the guards. I recognized that expression; he was formulating a plan of attack. “I’ll be right behind you.”
I grasped his arm. “You can’t attract any attention.”
“I won’t.”
“And you can’t give yourself up.”
“I won’t.”
I raised my eyebrows. He really did have a plan, then. I bit my lip to keep from smiling, then nodded. “All right. It’s only fair you keep me in suspense, since I do that to you all the time.”
The grin he gave me made my knees go weak. Gods, this man had no idea how beautiful he was, even covered in grime.
Huck turned to me. “You ready?”
I draped my invisibility over myself and muttered, “Yes.”
Huck climbed out of the bushes, and I shot one last look at Theron before following after.