Chapter Thirty-Four #2
He sighed. “Zenobia began seeing me shortly after I became Warden. I knew that Daegal wanted my lands. I also knew dragons would do anything for family, so I was aware that Zenobia’s interest in me wasn’t merely romantic.
I exploited our relationship to feed her disinformation for Daegal, but at some point her feelings for me became real, as did mine for her. ”
Punch, stomp, punch!
This time, it wasn’t the Beast trying to free itself. It was my heart taking the beating. Remy had just admitted that he’d romantically exploit someone if it suited his purposes. Yes, Zenobia had done it to him first, but he could have stayed away from her! Not done it better and more thoroughly!
“So, I gave her a chance to prove she’d never betray me again,” Remy went on. “I offered to make her my céile if she publicly renounced her loyalty to both dragons and her family.”
“That’s extreme,” I muttered, still fighting the pain.
His mouth tightened. “There’s a reason Wardens were first made from humans.
We can’t be another species to avoid the appearance of favoritism.
We also can’t marry another species without them first renouncing their loyalty to it.
Zenobia knew that. Her refusal showed she didn’t truly regret her initial deception with me.
It also showed that Zenobia was willing to risk my being unseated as Warden because of her, if my offer was genuine.
It wasn’t, but Zenobia didn’t know that.
As I said, it was a test, but her refusal to renounce her family meant that she still intended to weaken my position as Warden, thus still assisting Daegal’s attempts to claim my territories. ”
Wow. Remy was ice-cold. And so were Daegal and Zenobia.
Dragons never refuse family, Daegal had taunted Remy. It’s what ended your engagement when Zenobia was your future céile.
I hadn’t realized how vicious Daegal was being, flaunting how Zenobia never stopped being his spy despite Remy giving her a chance to atone for it.
And which Remy was I with now? The one who would fuck Zenobia just to out-manipulate her? Or the one who was willing to forgive a betrayal if his betrayer was truly remorseful?
I hoped it was the latter, but I didn’t know. That’s why my feelings for him were so problematic. To cover my conflicting emotions, I smiled as if I wasn’t getting battered by my inner turmoil.
“Well, then I’m glad you didn’t waste your céile bestowment on Zenobia, and again, I’ll give mine back if you need it.”
“You can’t,” Remy said with a slanted look. “Once that power is given, only the recipient’s death can return it.”
“Then how could you do that?” I burst out, losing my blasé act. “You could live another two-hundred-plus years!”
Remy shrugged. “It’s no more a sacrifice than others have made. Mandal gave up his chance to grow old with the man he loved when he took the power to become my chief advisor over sixty years ago. You gave up the same chance, too.”
What? “I wasn’t in love with anyone.”
Remy’s smile was a brief, grim slash. “You could be, later. You knew if you took my power, you’d live an unusually long life.
You also knew you’d be chaining yourself to the monster you despised for the entirety of that extended life, and still, you didn’t hesitate.
If you’re going to be impressed by someone’s sacrifice, Raine, you should start with your own. ”
I looked away. “My life was already shit. I could never have any real relationships, so I wasn’t giving up much.”
Before I knew it, I was backed against the wall. Remy was so close that his face was all I could see.
“Don’t ever disrespect the things you denied yourself to keep others safe.
” Each word landed like a soft, heated blow.
“Kings and queens don’t show that same devotion, and you did it since you were a teenager.
And no, I’m not fucking you to manipulate you, since you obviously keep wondering that.
I’m doing it because I can barely keep my hands off you. ”
Before I could reply, his mouth devoured mine like he’d been poisoned and my lips were the only antidote.
And I fucking loved it. I plunged my hands into his hair to hold him closer.
His grip tightened, and then I was lifted until our faces were level.
His hips pinned me against the wall, keeping me aloft with the pressure from his body.
Then his hands ran over all my skin that the magically fitted dress revealed.
My fingers fisted in his hair. He was already hard. Feeling that long, thick length made me want to rip off both our clothes, and if his kiss were any hotter, I’d be incinerated by it. I arched my hips, rubbing against him. Lights seemed to explode in me at the friction.
“I want you so much,” I moaned against his mouth.
“Do that again, and you’ll have me,” he warned roughly.
If that was a dare, I was taking it. No one else was up here, and the trapeze and silk artists were too busy not falling to pay us any mind.
I ran my hands down his back, gripping his ass while I hiked my leg up.
It brought his cock even tighter against me, until he had to feel my heat through our clothes.
“Do what?” I breathed into his mouth. “This?” As I ground against him once more.
His growl felt like he was lashing my clit with his tongue. My moan choked off into a gasp. I’d wanted him before, but now I was aching for him, especially when I felt him yank up my dress by the fistful. His hot, bare hands ran along my thighs before he gripped them to lift me even higher—
“Ahem.”
I froze.
“Seriously?” Remy all but snarled against my neck.
“I could let you continue,” Mandal said coolly, “but then you wouldn’t know that Lord Morsyn just arrived.”
Ice replaced my desire. The dragon had come after all.