Chapter 26
Korithax
Idry myself off quickly, tugging on a fresh pair of black silk pants, not bothering with a shirt.
A very, very small part of me enjoyed the way Daisy reacted when my body was on show.
Her little mortal heart probably isn’t used to seeing many seven-foot, muscled, tattooed men.
And despite the fact that there’s something extremely different about my little flower, she is but a woman with eyes.
I wasn’t stupid; I knew I was what the mortals would call ‘hot’, and even though I had large horns curling from my skull, and eyes blacker than night, clearly, I was attractive in her eyes too.
I’m picking at some of the leftover food on the tray when I hear the soft creak of the bathroom door. She slowly walks in, muttering to herself quietly enough that even I can’t hear what she’s saying. I look up to see what’s wrong and pause mid-bite.
Gods above and below.
She’s wrapped in a white nightgown that stops mid-thigh, delicate lace tracing the V of her neckline. Her damp blonde hair clings to her skin, tiny beads of water running down her collarbone. Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s nervously biting her lower, full blush-pink lip.
“Apparently, Lyvia thinks that this is appropriate bed attire.” She mutters, blushing as she tries to dry her hair off with a towel.
I stare, frozen in place, my hands dropping the bread to curl into tight fists at my side. I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from her. She looks up at me, noticing my lack of response, and I quickly offer a frown and clear my throat.
“Here,” I manage, walking toward her and taking the towel from her hands. My voice comes out rough. “Let me dry your hair. My hands will be quicker than the towel. Go sit on that chair over there.”
She hesitates, her eyes trailing slowly up my body.
I internally scoff at the obvious way she’s eying my body.
She obeys my demand, padding across the room to the chair by the window.
I watch her go, the back of the night gown swaying on a phantom breeze with each step, barely covering the curve of her ass.
I bite my knuckles as I watch every single step she takes towards the chair.
“I’m going to kill you, Lyvia,” I mutter under my breath.
She perches on the edge of the chair, the nightgown riding up her thighs, giving me a torturous glimpse of soft, thick creamy flesh and a hint of matching lace panties.
I bite down on my lip to suppress a groan, whilst discreetly adjusting the now growing cock in my pants.
I move, stopping behind her and placing my hands gently into her damp hair.
I summon a low heat into my palms, ensuring I don’t burn her, and rake my fingers softly down her scalp, drying the silky, soft strands with careful precision.
“You did well today,” I say gruffly, distracting myself from the throb in my pants. “Tomorrow, we leave for Aurora’s Veil.”
My hands continue to comb slowly through her hair, drying it section by section, and she lets out a soft moan, the sound making me close my eyes and quietly inhale.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. That just felt so good. I love head scratches.” She giggles, trying to hide how mortified she is.
I chuckle under my breath, ignoring the way the sound made me feel. Gods, what the fuck is wrong with me, getting pleasure from the sight and sounds of a mere mortal.
I spend the next five minutes finishing drying her hair and then step back slightly. “I’m all done,” I announce, stepping in front of her.
She jolts slightly, blinking up at me with dazed eyes. “I must’ve drifted off,” she murmurs, running her fingers through her hair. “Thank you, Korithax.”
“I thought it was Kori now?” I tease, tilting my head.
“Ah, that’s just for show, remember?” She says in a mocking tone.
My smile vanishes, my features instantly hardening as I turn to walk away from her. “Right,” I mutter coldly. Just for show. Of course it was, fool. “You can take the bed,” I continue, “I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she protests.
“It’s fine. Goodnight, Daisy.”
She hesitantly climbs into the bed as I lie down on the cold marble floor, hating every second of it.
The chill seeps into my bones instantly, despite my continuous heat.
I’m so glad I can vanish my wings whenever I please, because it would be painfully uncomfortable laying with them spread out beneath me down here.
I stare at the large glass ceiling, the stars above shimmering softly as I listen to her rustle about the covers, her teeth chattering softly.
“Can you stop that?” I snap.
“Stop what?” She mumbles.
“Chattering your teeth. It’s very annoying when my hearing is considerably a lot stronger than yours.”
“It is?” She squeaks. “I’m sorry. It’s freaking cold in here.”
I sigh, returning my focus to the night sky above.
I manage to endure it for a few minutes longer, gritting my teeth against the sound.
Finally, with an exasperated sigh, I push myself up off the ground and stride to the edge of the bed.
I yank back the covers, making her yelp and sit up in surprise, and slide in beside her.
“Come here,” I grumble. “If I have to listen to that all night, I might just bash my head off of these shiny fucking floors until my skull caves in.” She scoots over hesitantly, shuffling close to me. Her body brushes mine—and holy fucking shit, she’s freezing. “Gods above Daisy,” I mutter.
“I told you!” She softly shouts as I squirm at the touch of her freezing body on mine. She presses her ice-cold feet against my legs, and I hiss, making her giggle. “Thank you,” she whispers.
I don’t respond, feeling her body slowly warm up with my body pressed against hers, her head resting gently on my arm.
I lay there stiffly until her breathing evens out, and I dare a glance at her.
Her lips are slightly parted, her hair falling over her face as she softly snores.
I feel the tug between our souls pull gently as I watch her, the sensation so strange it makes me twitch
“Goodnight, little flower,” I whisper, gently wrapping my arm around her to pull her closer into me.
I awaken to find her still curled into my chest, my arm still wrapped protectively around her as if she were mine to keep safe.
I guess she is now. My future wife, my future queen.
This small, breakable mortal, her golden hair spilling across me like a river of light.
She’s still asleep, her chest rising and falling steadily, her soft little snores barely audible.
I watch her, unmoving. Her face is peaceful, relaxed in a way I’ve never seen before. The morning light makes the soft freckles on her pale skin stand out even more, each one like a smattering of the cosmos across her little button nose.
Gods, she’s infuriatingly beautiful.
I stroke a hand gently down her back, feeling the delicate curve of her body beneath my fingers, savouring how nice it felt to have contact like this.
This was not something I did at all in my world.
I either had quick fucks or nights of long, filthy sex that would make any mortal blush.
But afterward, they would be kicked out of my chambers, and I would lie alone.
That’s the way I like it, the way I have always liked it.
I’m not a physical contact type of man, I’m the—I will destroy your body in the best of ways, then tell you to fuck off—kind of man.
Yet here, right now, the feel of her soft body pressed against mine felt indescribable.
Her eyes flutter open, meeting mine in sleepy confusion. Fuck. I clear my throat and untangle myself from her immediately, standing to grab a shirt that I threw over a nearby chair.
“I’ll go collect us breakfast,” I say, my voice still gruff from sleep. “Is there anything you would like?”
She yawns, sitting up against the pillows. “Do they have coffee?”
“I shall find out,” I reply. “A maid will assist you in dressing. Your clothing is in the pack.”
Before she can respond, I stride from the room, needing a moment away from her. I need to create distance, instantly. That’s the first and last time I will lay with her beside me. She was cold, and I couldn’t handle listening to her stupid teeth chattering all night. I need my sleep.
I’m halfway down the glass-lined corridor, the sunrise streaming in and painting the hallway in bright orange and pink hues, when one of Virena’s guards steps into my path.
“Her grace requests your presence in the throne room, immediately.” He says stiffly, his spear glittering in the soft light.
I grind my teeth, forcing my irritation down. I’m not even in my own realm, and I’m still constantly being summoned by someone who thinks they’re better than me. “Fine,” I mutter, changing the direction I was heading in to follow the guard.
The throne room is quieter this morning, the mist now swirling around the entire floor, giving the illusion that we’re walking on clouds. Virena lounges on her diamond throne, her pale, mismatched eyes fixing on me the moment I step into the room.
“You captured that mortal girl,” she says, voice sharp, yet smooth. Like a knife, but hidden in silk.
I bristle, the accusation instantly pissing me off. “I did not capture anyone.”
“I heard of your little predicament with the Divine Six,” she continues, “they forced you to find a bride.” I say nothing, raising a brow whilst crossing my arms across my chest. “You have your pick of any woman in your realm,” she says, slowly rising from her throne, her tone dropping.
“Not to mention many women from many other realms. And you choose a mortal girl?”
I clench my jaw, keeping my face stony as she glares at me. “What are you getting at, Virena?”