Frost Bound (Entangled with Trickery #1)

Neve

Chapter Forty-Three

Neve

He strolled through the quiet hallways of the palace.

Tonight, he had been out of line.

Pain, distrust, and jealousy had gotten the best of him.

He trudged up the stairs to the royal wing, Flyka following behind him. Neve paused on the top stair and waited for his friend to catch up.

She arched a brow at him. “What is on your mind, reillov ?”

“She wore the color of Frost .”

Flyka whistled. “That she did.”

“She didn’t know what it meant.”

“And yet…” Flyka drawled.

“I wanted it to be true,” he admitted. His jaivelle had been stunning tonight. More than one gaze appraised her with appreciation.

“Why do you sound so ashamed?”

“Because an heir is a duty.” He shouldn’t want his human as much as he did. Especially since he still didn’t know where her loyalties lay.

Flyka grinned. “Can it not also be fun?”

“She is my enemy.”

“Could have fooled me. For our enemy, she’s constantly helping our people.”

“And if it’s all an act?”

“If it was, wouldn’t you have already taken her to bed or locked her away?”

That was a fair point.

Flyka sighed. “Stop being a coward and claim your reilleve .”

“She could refuse me.”

“She could, but she won’t.” Flyka waved at him and began jogging down the stairs. “Be gone with you.”

Neve steeled himself and took the last step toward the royal wing. He entered their chambers and closed the door behind him with a soft click. Dahlia sat in their bed, wearing his black shirt, swirling a cup of tea.

Without her leggings.

He stared at her bared legs for a beat, and then dragged his gaze to her face. She was watching him, the shadows playing about her face.

“No hose?”

She set the cup on the side table next to the bed. “You were right. It is time to stop hiding.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, twisting to face her. “I was harsh tonight. You didn’t deserve my ire. Forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive. We all make mistakes.” She sighed, glancing at the window. “I’m so tired. It won’t be long until the sun rises.”

Neve stood from the bed and closed all the curtains. He kicked off his boots and tossed his robe over the back of the couch. “Do you want me to stoke the fire?”

“I’m okay,” she called.

He returned to the bed and watched as she tossed some pillows off the bed and snuggled in. Neve pulled the coverlet back and climbed in. “No pillow wall?”

She rolled onto her side, hands tucked underneath her cheek, a small smile on her lips. “What’s the point when I just slip underneath them and molest you in the night for your heat?”

He grinned at her. “I didn’t mind much.”

Her smile disappeared slowly, and she reached out a hand toward him. He stared at her hand, and then laced his fingers with hers. He loved the stark contrast their complexions made.

“Can I ask you a favor?” she whispered into the darkness.

“What is it?”

She swallowed hard. “Would you … hold me?”

He pulled her toward him immediately, until she was curled against the side of his body. Neve’s hearts pounded like crazy, and he closed his eyes, savoring the way she felt. This was peace. Bliss.

His brows furrowed as he ran his thumb over her wrist, feeling her pulse racing. “What’s wrong, jaivelle ?”

“Everything.” She shivered and pressed her cold nose against his arm. “Why is life so hard? I’m just so tired of it all. Don’t you ever want to just run away?”

He lifted his left hand and rotated toward her slightly so he could run his fingers through her hair. “Sometimes, but then I think about all the people that need me.”

“Have you ever had to do something horrible to protect others?” she whispered.

Neve nodded. “Yes. Does that make me a monster?” He looked down at her.

She peered up at him. “I don’t know. There’s not always a right or wrong, is there?”

“No, there’s not.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“The pain my people have wreaked on you and your family.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m still a saloes . That will never change.”

Neve shrugged. “You can’t help what you are any more than I can. Best just accept that about each other, no?” He leaned down and brushed his lips across her forehead. “Get some sleep.”

“Goodnight, niliov .”

“Goodnight, wife.”

At some point during the night, he’d curled himself around Lia. She wiggled and he groaned, tightening his arm around her waist. Just a few minutes more . He pressed his nose into her hair and tried to slip back into sleep.

His little human wiggled again, shifting in the bed. He lifted his hand slightly and she rolled toward him. Neve settled his hand on her hip and pulled her closer as she slung her leg over his own. He caught the crook of her bare knee and hiked it over his hip. She sighed, and he smiled sleepily, brushing his fingertips up her bare thigh over the edge of her shift, and pulled her body into his own. She was so warm and soft.

She sighed, her breath brushing his lips. Neve cracked his eyes open. Dahlia lay entangled in his arms, her expression one of complete peace, lips slightly parted. Heat surged in his belly and longing crashed into Neve. When was the last time someone had trusted him enough to sleep in his arms?

He froze as her eyes blinked open; his hearts stuttered as she offered him a beatific smile. Stunning . She might be human and different, but she slayed him all the same. Would she scream once reality set in? Or curse him out with that wicked mouth?

Neither happened.

Instead, his little wife snuggled closer, cold nose touching his chest, and went back to sleep, her breath evening out once again.

His fingers flexed against her back as he settled against the pillow. She was a dangerous creature that would break him if he wasn’t careful. But it was worth the risk.

Sleep tugged at him, and he followed its call with his wife sleeping in his arms.

It felt like mere moments had passed when he registered Lia’s touch along his jaw. He kept his eyes closed, savoring the soft caresses that ventured to his sensitive ears and down his neck. His body burned and ached for the valles as she explored. His right arm tightened around her, and he blinked open his blurry eyes.

Dahlia stared up at him, pulling back her hand, the shadows in the room casting her features in hues of blue and gray. He caught her fingers and pressed a kiss to her knuckles and whispered, “Don’t stop.”

Having her touch was one of the best feelings he’d ever experienced. Neve didn’t know what power she possessed over him, but he liked it and craved it. He placed her palm on his cheek and then draped his hand lazily over her tiny waist and waited.

Seittae . Please touch me.

His hearts clenched as she traced his lips, and longing struck him hard. All he wanted was to taste her again. The memory of their kiss had haunted him for days. His hand wandered over her back, kneading muscles and drawing circles over her thin garment.

Her little fingers slipped underneath his hair and cupped the back of his neck. He watched as emotion flickered across her face before she settled into resignation.

“What?” he murmured.

“Just this once,” she breathed as she applied pressure to the back of his neck, urging him closer.

Neve leaned down and kissed his little wife. He’d never been interested in humans as a whole, especially in their mating rituals, but in the days since Neve had tasted Lia’s lips, he’d managed to find a few books on it in the library—kissing in particular. And he loved it.

He threaded his fingers into her hair and cradled her face. The bones beneath her skin were so delicate, and he didn’t want to hurt her. Her fingers brushed the skin of his jaw with tenderness. This kiss wasn’t anything like the one he’d given her in frustration and pent-up desire. It was gentle, tantalizing, and so bloody soft that he could drown. When had anyone ever touched him like this?

Never.

He wanted all of it.