The Princess
I should 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 kissing him or making wild declarations like, You are mine.
What the hell did that even mean?
He was my hunter? My protector? Something… more?
I didn’t know what we were to each other. We were physically attracted to one another. We had built trust between us by saving each other’s lives.
But… what did all that mean?
I was dying. There was no cure. And if I failed in my mission, Calista would kill him for not fulfilling his assignment.
Whatever existed between us was already doomed.
So, why did I say it? Why did I say he was mine?
I couldn’t form a coherent thought. 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.
After our kiss, we hastily made our way down the road, knowing Calista would soon send more guards to investigate. And we didn’t want to be anywhere nearby when they arrived.
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.
But I trusted Theron with my life. I had no hesitation about it. I knew he would keep me safe. He would die to protect me.
It wasn’t because of our bargain; it hadn’t been for a long time. He had risked his life to save mine more than once. And now, 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 morning sun peeking through the trees. Ordinarily, the streets would be crowded with people, but I had a feeling Vikros had enforced another curfew to keep the area clear so his men could ambush us.
It didn’t matter, though. We were now so close to the palace that the spires loomed ahead of us, casting shadows along the road. Once we crossed the bridge that led to the portcullis, we would officially be in the city of Taerin, where the nobles and royals lived.
By the time the villagers emerged from their homes, we would either be inside the palace… or captured.
Just before we reached the bridge, 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.
It hadn’t been since my father had died.
“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.
I would need to try something else.
My hands fisted his shirt, and I pressed my mouth to his, fierce and desperate and bruising.
His lips parted for me instantly, as if he’d been waiting for this.
Yearning for this. My tongue met his, the two colliding with desperate urgency.
He sucked on my lower lip, then nibbled it.
I let out a strangled noise as my blood turned molten.
And in that moment, I decided I was done fighting whatever this was between us. I didn’t care that I was human, 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.
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 his fullness 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?”
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 within 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 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 sent 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. 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 enough for now.
A smile spread across my lips as I considered this a small victory. But my smile fell when my stomach suddenly started churning. A strange heat crept up my body, making my cheeks and neck feel flushed. My head spun. I stopped moving as the world around me tilted, threatening to bring me down.
“Eira?” Theron’s voice sounded so far away.
Shit. I swayed slightly, and then Theron was there, his hands on my waist, securing me in place.
“The poison?” he asked urgently.
Bile crept up my throat, and I feared if I spoke, I would vomit. So instead, I just nodded once.
Theron gently eased up my shirt sleeve and hissed out a low breath. Blinking through the dizziness, I followed his gaze.
The green spots had spread. They now covered almost my entire arm, ending at my wrist.
“Apples,” Theron muttered, grabbing my pack from me and digging through it. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on remaining upright.
A little longer. I just need a bit more time. Please, I can’t die yet. Not yet.
There was still so much I had to do. I had to expose Calista. I had to get my human friends established in the court.
I still had to save my kingdom.
“Here.” Theron thrust an apple in my hands. I immediately took a bite, and the cool juice trickled down my throat. I uttered a soft sigh as I took another, the fog in my mind receding and the hazy fever fading. My breathing slowed, and my heart rate was steady once more.
When I finished the apple, Theron gave me a grim look. “That’s the last one.”
I held his gaze, my expression solemn.
All it would take was one more fever, one more bout of dizziness, and the poison would claim me.
After this, it would be over.