Chapter 37
Yes
A gust of wind whipped past Evelyn and Haydn. Her feet sank into warm sand and she broke their kiss. They stood on the beach in Gryon, no longer on the mountain in Brevig. But something was different.
“This isn’t where we left from,” Evelyn noticed.
“No,” Haydn explained. “We were east of the palace before. I brought us back on the west side and a bit farther away.”
“Why?”
“Plausible deniability. We’ve been here the whole time, but the guards lost track of us.”
“Damien will never believe that.”
“He doesn’t have to. But he can’t prove we’re lying.”
Distant shouts indicated they’d been spotted. Damien and a few guards ran toward them.
“I need you to agree to a deal,” Haydn said quickly. “You can’t tell anyone where we went or how we got there.”
“I won’t say anything,” Evelyn promised.
“I need a Bargain.”
“Why?”
“Because Lochmatten magic is a secret.”
“Then what do I get?”
Haydn smirked. “I won’t tell your guard dog how much you wanted to fuck me in view of a dragon.”
Evelyn glared at him. “Shut up!”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking, Princess. Say yes.”
Evelyn groaned. “Yes.” A sharp pain pinched her waist. “Ow!”
“You have another tattoo, my love.”
Damien caught up with them and escorted Evelyn several feet away from Haydn, who was immediately encircled by guards.
“Are you okay?” Damien asked.
“I’m fine.” Evelyn insisted.
“You disappeared! The guards didn’t know where you were!”
“That sounds like their problem.”
He scowled at her. “Where did you go?”
A burning sensation filled her throat.
Is that the Bargain magic?
“Nowhere,” she lied. “We’ve been here the whole time.”
The burning subsided. So that’s how Haydn enforces Bargains.
Haydn called out, “It’s not very nice to accuse a princess of lying, Captain Fontaine.”
Damien ignored him. “How did you get to this side of the beach?”
“We walked,” Evelyn replied.
“We can demonstrate, if you’d like,” Haydn offered.
Damien dragged Evelyn farther away.
“Let go of me,” she demanded. “I’m not running from you.”
They came to a stop, but he didn’t release her arm. “Tell me why you’re lying to me.”
“I’m not. I’m okay.”
“You were gone, Evelyn. You scared me. I had all the guards searching for you. Your father was panicking.”
“Is he the only one?”
Damien knew what she meant. “I didn’t tell Leo.”
“Why not?”
“He was busy.”
“Busy with what?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does, Damien.”
He cursed. “Leo is with Hannah.”
Evelyn clenched her fists. “Of course he is. So I shouldn’t be in trouble for being with Haydn.”
“It’s not the same. They didn’t vanish.”
“Leo and I left the palace without permission several times. I hope Hannah feels very special that she isn’t a secret like I was.”
“Evelyn—”
“Let go of me.”
Damien removed his hand from her arm. Evelyn stepped between guards to get to Haydn.
He smiled down at her. “Should we resume our walk?”
“No.” Damien snarled. “The princess is needed at the palace. The king is concerned about her whereabouts.”
“Which king?” Haydn asked. “There are still two of them here, right?”
“Evelyn’s father wants to see her,” Damien clarified.
“If we were such a security disaster, shouldn’t the king of this kingdom also have an opinion on the matter?”
Damien didn’t answer, only pointed at the palace.
“We’re going,” Evelyn muttered.
We should’ve stayed in Brevig. I don’t want to see Damien angry or my father disappointed. I certainly don’t want to wait around for Leo and Hannah to get married.
King Tristan was pacing on the patio when they returned. “Evelyn! There you are!”
“I’m fine, Father. I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”
He drew her into a hug. “Where were you?”
The acidic burning of Bargain magic stung Evelyn’s throat.
“On the beach. We went for a walk,” she lied, easing the pain in her neck.
Evelyn moved back to Haydn’s side. King Tristan glanced at Damien, who shrugged unhelpfully.
“We must have gone farther than we planned,” Haydn said. “Evelyn and I were lost in conversation. I’m not sure why the guards couldn’t keep up.”
The king wasn’t dumb enough to fall for the lie either, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. “I think we would all feel better if you stayed inside now.”
“That’s not—” Evelyn started.
“Certainly,” Haydn agreed.
He threw an arm around her and strolled back into the ballroom. Evelyn frowned when she saw Damien had followed them.
“We don’t need a babysitter,” she snapped.
“I disagree,” Damien said stubbornly.
Haydn stood behind Evelyn and hugged her against him. She hated seeing Damien’s expression at the intimate gesture.
It’s more than surprise. Damien looks… hurt.
“You’re welcome to watch us, Fontaine,” Haydn purred, his head resting on Evelyn’s shoulder. “Unless you’d rather join in?”
Evelyn blushed at the implication.
I’m going to store that fantasy away for later. Did Damien also turn a bit pink?
“That’s enough,” Evelyn whispered. Haydn only kissed her neck in response.
Damien’s hand flexed, like he was deciding between a sword or dagger to attack Haydn with. “The princess has a soldier stationed outside her door in addition to her guards. And I don’t think you have a room here, Councilor.”
“Oh, I don’t mind sharing,” Haydn said.
“I have what?” Evelyn asked.
“There will be a sergeant at your door until your new friend boards a ship home,” Damien explained.
“You can’t do that!”
“I absolutely can.”
“I’m not a child, Damien!” Evelyn yelled, straining against Haydn’s hold on her.
“No, you’re a princess. And there are two kings here who will support my decision.”
“You ass! You’re putting my room on military lockdown now? You think I need more supervision after a walk with a High Councilor than after the king’s murder?”
Betrayal flashed across Damien’s green eyes. “You weren’t lying to me two days ago!”
I’m sorry, Damien. I’m still your friend. I don’t want to lie to you.
“I’ll take Evelyn to her door,” Haydn announced, “and then I’ll leave. Is that acceptable, Captain Fontaine?”
Damien hesitated, sensing a trick. “Yes. You leaving would be ideal.”
“Okay then.” Haydn took Evelyn’s hand. “Have a good night.”
Damien didn’t follow them down the hallway, but two new guards did.
“Why did you agree to that so easily?” Evelyn whispered.
“You’ll see,” Haydn whispered back.
“Are you really leaving?”
“Only if you want me to.”
“I don’t.”
“Then trust me.”
Evelyn froze in front of the sitting room. Leo and Hannah were on a couch and… he was kissing her. The kiss was light, not passionate, but it was still a kiss.
Evelyn’s whole being went numb. She wasn’t angry or going to cry. She felt like a candle whose flame had been blown out.
No.
Haydn cleared his throat. “Come on, Princess.”
Leo broke the kiss with Hannah and paled when he saw Evelyn.
She finally remembered she wasn’t in a void and continued up to the third floor with Haydn. Damien hadn’t been kidding about the soldier at her door.
“Good night, my love.” Haydn kissed her again, then whispered in her ear, “Give me ten minutes.”
“Did you miss me?”
Evelyn spun around from her spot by the window. Haydn stood just a few feet from her.
“How did you get there?” she asked.
“My—what did you call it?—weird Traveling magic.”
“It works inside the palace?”
“It works everywhere.” Haydn ran a finger down her jaw. “My love, you look unhappy. Are you upset about Alexander?”
“No,” Evelyn lied.
“You haven’t seen him and Hannah together before, have you?”
She shook her head.
Haydn pressed his body against hers. “I can make you forget.” He kissed her cheek. “I can make you feel better.” He kissed her jawline. “I can make you powerful.” He kissed a sensitive spot below her ear.
Evelyn’s breathing grew heavy.
I’m ready to forget. I’m ready for something new.
“Let me make you happy, Princess. Let me have you. Let me love you.”
I don’t love Haydn. I know that. I’m intoxicated by him, ever since the night we met in the bar, but that’s not the same thing as love.
His next words were a command, not a wish. “Say yes.”
But if he can promise to love me… I can try.
“Yes.”
He took a step back, which was not the reaction Evelyn expected.
“Haydn?”
“Take off your dress,” he ordered. When she didn’t move right away, he spoke again. “Do it now or I will rip it off you.”
Slowly, Evelyn removed her dress and undergarments, tossing everything onto a chair. Haydn watched her every second, hardly blinking. She expected to feel embarrassed or nervous under his gaze, but she didn’t.
This is another one of his games. This time, I want to play.
Completed naked, she looked up at him. “Now what?”
Haydn rushed forward. Evelyn gasped as he gripped the hair at the back of her head, angling her face to kiss her deeper than before.
He’s done being gentle. This kiss isn’t to convince me because he’s already done that. Haydn is claiming me.
She leaned into him and the numbness from earlier melted away, replaced by heat and desperate need.
Haydn reached for the soft, warm skin between her legs. One fingertip slipped inside her. She arched her back, wanting to feel more of him.
“You’re already wet, Princess.”
His breath tickled her ear and Evelyn shivered. Haydn moved her toward the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to remember how to use her legs. Her head was foggy, but her skin seared at every point of contact with him.
He’s going too fast, being too aggressive. But fuck if I’m going to tell him to stop. The two kisses with Leo weren’t enough. Haydn can do whatever he wants with me.
The back of Evelyn’s thighs hit the side of the bed. Haydn pushed her down onto the duvet, and she whimpered at the sudden loss of his touch.
He huffed out a laugh before sinking to his knees. “You have to be quiet, my love.”
Haydn pulled Evelyn’s hips to the edge of the bed and hooked her legs over his shoulders. She gritted her teeth to stop herself from moaning as his tongue trailed up her center.
Evelyn writhed. “Haydn!”
He growled and the vibration coursed through her. He dipped one finger inside of her, then a second. She rocked while his fingers slipped in and out. Haydn pushed his other hand low against her stomach, forcing her down.
“If you want my tongue to stay where it is, you have to be still,” he warned.
“Yes,” Evelyn agreed. “Please.”
He licked and sucked the bundle of nerves between her legs. Evelyn’s breaths were ragged. It took all the self-control she had left to be quiet and keep her hips where Haydn wanted them. But when his fingers curled inside her, a strangled cry escaped Evelyn’s lips.
Haydn stood up. “I hope your guards didn’t hear that, because I’m not leaving this room until I am done fucking you.”
We’re nowhere near done. He still has his clothes on.
His hand left her stomach to cover her mouth. Evelyn’s eyes widened but closed again when his fingers slipped back inside her. With Haydn’s tongue out of play, she began riding his hand. He moved faster, applying more pressure, and rubbed her clit with his thumb. Tension built inside her core.
“Come for me. I want to see you break while I’m touching you.”
His voice sent Evelyn over the edge. Her hips bucked as waves of pleasure rolled through her body. Haydn didn’t slow, coaxing out every last drop of her release. His other hand muffled sounds she didn’t even know she was making.
Evelyn was limp as a ragdoll when Haydn let her go. He tugged his shirt over his head and threw it on the floor. She blinked stars out of her eyes to look at him.
“I’m not done with you yet.” Haydn flipped Evelyn onto her stomach and removed the rest of his clothing. He leaned over her so she could feel his hard length against her backside. Then he reached between Evelyn and the duvet to pinch her nipples. She squirmed and gripped the sheets.
“I’ve wanted you in this position since we met.” Haydn settled himself at her entrance. “Have you thought about this too?”
“Yes,” she confessed.
“That’s my favorite word.”
He pushed himself all the way in. Evelyn gasped as her core stretched to make room for him. She was slick from what they had done already.
Haydn eased himself out. “Tell me what you want.”
“More,” she begged. “Faster.”
He thrust into her again and set a quick pace.
Gods, this feels amazing. I needed Haydn to take control tonight. No asking questions, no arguing, no hoping. Just him inside me.
“Let me make you happy, Princess. Let me have you. Let me love you.”
She felt the pressure building again. Haydn noticed the shift in her breathing and pounded harder.
“Oh, gods! Haydn!”
With the smallest spark of clarity, Evelyn reached out to grab a pillow.
She buried her face in it to hide her scream as another shockwave tore through her.
This orgasm was stronger than the first. Evelyn lost all sense of the world around her, as if gravity had disappeared and she was drifting in a cloud of pleasure.
A sudden burst of warmth between her legs let her know that Haydn found his own release. He jerked against her once more before pulling away. Evelyn’s skin chilled where he had been touching her.
Haydn flipped her onto her back again, then climbed over to straddle her hips. His flushed skin was slick with sweat. Evelyn reached up and stroked her fingers over his chest and shoulders.
He leaned down to kiss her, gently this time. “Come to Lochmatten with me. I want to hear you scream my name in every room of the castle.”
Evelyn blushed. “I don’t think that will make us very popular.”
“I don’t care. I just need you to be mine.”