The Princess
I am yours, Eira.
The words rang in my mind again and again like the chiming of a bell, the echo endless and eternal.
I am yours. I am yours. I am yours.
With desire thrumming through my body, I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought his mouth fully against mine. Together, we staggered backward until we hit the wall, making the nearest sconce rattle.
His lips were moist and deliciously warm as they moved over mine, claiming me, devouring me, tasting me thoroughly. His tongue slid between my lips, and I responded with my own, ravishing him fully.
My hands slid along his chest, roaming the firm expanse of his broad shoulders. Gods, he was a masterpiece. His tan, sculpted muscles rippled with each movement. My fingers ran along the ridges of his abdomen. He groaned from my light touches, and satisfaction bloomed inside of me.
Yes, I certainly did love to torment him.
“Eira.” The sound of Theron murmuring my name, his voice hoarse and ragged, nearly undid me.
His mouth was on mine again, his kisses more urgent and desperate, as if he couldn’t hold back any longer.
His hips pressed against me, pinning me fully to the wall.
With a moan, I raised my legs, wrapping them around him and bracing my back against the wall.
Heat and longing throbbed in my core. Yearning for more, I ground myself against him.
The friction of our clothes and bodies elicited a gasp from me.
More. I needed more.
“Take me to one of those cots,” I ordered.
His mouth was on my neck, and I threw my head back, offering more skin for his lips to explore. When he responded, his breath tickled my throat, making me clench my legs tighter around him.
“Those tiny cots,” he whispered, panting against my neck, “will not suffice. There is not enough space… for the things I want to do to you, princess.”
Flames of desire and need coursed through me mercilessly.
Shivering bones, this man drew out the most intense arousal I had ever experienced in my life.
Nothing—nothing—had ever felt this potent, this violent.
I was torn between shoving him onto a cot myself and begging for him to take me right here against this wall.
All I could manage was a small whimper, and I hated myself for it. It gave him power over me.
He chuckled, and his teeth scraped against my throat.
Oh, yes, I was done for. There was no point in fighting it.
My fingernails dug into his back, and he rolled his hips with a low growl. Encouraged by this, I raked my nails along his shoulder blades, rubbing my core against him. He moaned, the sound strangled, and I knew I was driving him mad, too.
We would undo each other completely. A frenzied collision that ensured mutual destruction.
Nothing sounded more appealing to me.
“Take it off,” I gasped, my hands tangling in his hair as he ran his tongue along my neck. “Please.”
“What? Your clothes? Or mine?”
“Yes. Both. Everything.” I couldn’t think straight. All I knew was his hot tongue was gliding up and down my throat, and good gods, it was the most intoxicating experience, to have him taste me so completely.
His mouth remained on my skin while his hands dipped just beneath my rear. He shifted slightly, and then his trousers fell to the floor.
And, blood and ice, he was there. Every glorious inch of his length was taut and pressed fully against me.
But he wasn’t finished. His hands were on my waist now, his fingers sliding beneath my trousers. He curled one finger down low, just above my center.
I gave a sharp gasp. He was so close, yet still so far from where I needed him to be. “Gods, Theron,” I moaned.
“You aren’t the only one who knows how to torment, princess,” he breathed. “Tell me what it is you want.”
“I want…” Shivering bones, I couldn’t think. Stars burst in my vision as his finger trailed lower. I bucked against him, my hips grinding. “Theron—” His name was a weak sigh on my lips.
“Mmm.” His mouth was on my throat again. “Yes, my queen?”
He had never called me that before, and I liked it a little too much. The desire to taunt him bled through the heated chaos of my thoughts, and I teased, “I command you to service your queen.”
“I believe that’s what I’m doing.”
I tugged on a fistful of his hair, jerking his head backward to look into his eyes. They scorched into mine, burning with intensity.
“Touch me,” I said. “I want you to do despicable things to me, hunter.”
A sly grin spread across his face. If one look could melt me, this was it. The way his lips curled upward, the glint in his eyes, the pink swollenness of his mouth from kissing me… All of it was enough to set me on fire.
“As you wish.”
He tugged on my trousers until they fell to the floor, leaving me half naked. His grip tightened around my thighs as he pinned me against the wall, then shifted me upward until my legs rested on his shoulders.
And then, he brought his mouth to my center.
I stiffened, the back of my head hitting the wall with a loud thud.
He pulled back and laughed. “Careful, my queen, or you’ll attract some unwanted attention.”
I was burning, burning, burning. I couldn’t even form a clever response.
He brought his mouth to my core again and flicked his tongue between my legs.
Oh gods, I would die right here. My thighs tightened around him, bringing his face closer.
His tongue slid deeper into me. My hips rolled as I moaned.
If not for his body pressing me to the wall, I would have collapsed.
My fingers worked their way through his hair, scratching his scalp.
“I can’t—I can’t—” I didn’t even know what I was trying to say.
“Can’t what?” he murmured against me.
“Can’t… breathe. Can’t…” I broke off with a curse, my eyes closing as he dragged his tongue up and down ever so slowly.
When his teeth nipped at me, a scream built up in my throat. Hastily, I shoved my knuckles in my mouth to block out the sound.
Theron laughed. He was enjoying this.
“I’ve never felt more satisfied to weaken my prey,” he said, his tone smug.
“I swear to the gods, if you don’t take me right now, Theron,” I said, my voice ragged, “I will torment you for all eternity.”
“Hmm, I might still enjoy that.”
“Damn you.”
“Tell me you’re mine, Eira.”
I had to pause to take a breath. Stars ignited in my vision, and I feared I might pass out. “I—”
“Yes?”
Gods, his arrogance was infuriating. There was no way I would let him win this. “I’ll say it if you take off my shirt.”
He chuckled. “So demanding.”
“Well, I am your queen.”
“Yes, you are.”
Slowly, he slid me back down until my legs were around his waist once more.
His hands tugged at the laces of my corset until the loose fabric fell down my shoulders.
I shrugged out of the corset and tunic, and he discarded both onto the floor.
His hands went to my shoulders, then traveled down to my breasts.
His thumbs circled my nipples, and a riot of pleasure coursed through me.
My heels dug into his back. Moisture pooled between my legs, and I rubbed more persistently against him.
“Cot,” I moaned. “Now.”
“No, I like you right here, princess.”
“It’s queen.” I shoved against the wall until he stumbled backward, his hands on my ass. Together we staggered, and with a loud thump, we sank to the floor. He laughed as his head fell backward, his arms still around me, keeping me from sliding off him.
Now straddling him and fully in control, I wriggled my hips, feeling his arousal nudging closer to my core. His eyelids fluttered, and a low, husky sound emitted from his throat.
“What was that?” I teased, dragging my center against the length of him.
His moans grew louder, his head thrown back, his back arching. The muscles and veins stood out against his neck and shoulders. “Eira,” he panted.
“Hmm, I like the sound of that.” A smirk played on my lips. “It sounds like you want something from me.”
He laughed, but the sound was more of a wheeze. “Well played, princess.”
“Queen.” My hand gripped his cock firmly, and he cursed.
“Queen,” he said in a rasp.
“That’s better.”
“Eira—Eira—” His words broke off with a strangled groan as I squeezed. “Shit, Eira.”
“Consider this retribution for the torture you put me through.”
I ran my fingers up and down his length, stroking and teasing.
“Please,” he begged. “Blood and ice, please…”
The sound of desperation in his voice made me ache. I was torturing myself as well as him by prolonging this.
No more. I couldn’t take it.
In one swift movement, I sank onto him, allowing him to fill me completely. I gasped as heat filled my core. His flesh was hot against mine, throbbing and pulsing within me. I closed my eyes, biting my lip to keep from crying out.
“Oh,” he panted. “Oh.” His hands tightened on my thighs, and I rocked against him, driving him deeper. He lifted his hips, and I couldn’t stifle the moan that burst from my mouth.
“That’s it,” he breathed. “Harder, Eira.”
My hips rolled, my legs spreading wider. Pleasure, intense and volatile, consumed me until I couldn’t see. All I felt was him, slamming into me, deeper, deeper, deeper…
“Theron,” I gasped, leaning forward, bracing my hands along his chest. He grunted, thrusting harder, faster.
Together, our bodies found a rhythm. The floor shook beneath us. My sweat mingled with his, making our skin slick. His hands pressed into the small of my back, grounding me. The friction of him burrowing into me was too much. Too much.
I threw my head back, uttering several breathy sighs of satisfaction, the only sounds I could manage with the sensations firing through my body.
I couldn’t even feel my own skin; my bones had melted from the sheer intensity of it.
He had pierced through me, shattering me into pieces.
Mind-numbing release enveloped me, dissolving me until there was nothing left.
This man, this hunter, had completely destroyed me.
I was his. Now and forever.
No force in the world could rip me away from him.
I pressed my hands to his chest as his hips jerked, and he shuddered, meeting his own release. He let out a loud, slow groan, his eyes closed and his eyebrows lifting. He drove into me one final time before he collapsed underneath me, panting and slick with sweat.
I smiled contentedly and lay my head against his chest, enjoying the rapid thudding of his heartbeat.
I wasn’t sure how long we lay there. I could have stayed like that for hours. Days, even. Theron’s hand stroked small circles along my bare back, the soothing rhythm almost putting me to sleep.
“I made a bargain with you, you know,” he murmured, his voice a soft rumble.
“Hmm?” I asked sleepily.
“In the mountains. When you were drunk on the Winterwing Brew that the pixies gave you.”
I frowned and lifted my head to look at him. His eyes were closed, but a lazy smile was on his face. He looked so relaxed. So at ease. “What are you talking about?” My memories of that day were hazy, thanks to the brew.
“You were quite persistent in your advances. You wanted me to kiss you and… do other things to you.”
My face heated, but I found myself chuckling. “Did I, now?”
His smile widened. “You did. And… the only way I could get you to stop was if I swore to kiss you at some point in the future.”
I covered my mouth, my eyes growing wide. “Theron, you didn’t.”
He laughed. “Truth be told, I knew if I didn’t make that bargain with you, you would break down my defenses. I might have relented. I might have given in and kissed you. Perhaps taken you against the cave wall like you were begging me to.”
I let my head fall against his chest again, my face on fire. “I can’t believe this.” I whacked him lightly on the arm. “And I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
“I wasn’t planning to. After that moment in the alley when we were hiding from the soldiers, my bargain was fulfilled. I didn’t need to bring it up again. But… After kissing you once… I knew it wouldn’t be enough. I would want more. I will always want more of you, Eira.”
I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. His mouth captured mine once, fervent and tender, before I curled up against his chest again.
“I would make a thousand more bargains just to kiss you, Eira,” he whispered as his hand resumed its circular motions along my bare back.
I grinned into his chest, drinking in his scent and relishing this feeling.
Just us, two lovers lying together, reminiscing of fond memories we had shared together.
For one beautiful moment, we were merely two people in love. Nothing more. No threat of death or war hanging over our heads. No bargains to fulfill. No bloodthirsty queen seeking our deaths.
Eventually, Theron’s hand dropped, and I felt his breathing slow as he dozed off. His eyes were closed, his arms around me now limp.
I watched him with a smile, pleased with how peaceful he looked. His eyebrows were raised, his expression relaxed. I was so accustomed to seeing him scowl, his brow furrowed, the weight of the world darkening his face, that for just one second, I allowed myself to enjoy this carefree Theron.
I knew there was so much we had to do still. But for a few minutes, I could give him this respite from the world.
I only wished I could join him. Though he’d effectively exhausted me, I couldn’t sleep.
There was too much on my mind.
My gaze snagged on my bare arm. The green spots had now spread to my hand, the small specks dotting each of my fingers. My entire left arm was covered in the poison.
Carefully, I eased off Theron, keeping my hands against his chest to hold him steady.
When I was certain he wouldn’t wake, I quietly tugged my clothes back on.
Then, I crept back over to the table with the basin of water.
Our bags lay on the floor, and I dug through them until I found what I was looking for.
The mirror.
With everything going on, I’d almost forgotten about it. But the poison spreading through my body was constantly on my mind, reminding me I was on borrowed time.
I was almost certain that when I uttered the words, the mirror would show me the poison had spread everywhere and I only had a few minutes left before my heart gave out.
But still… I had to know.
If these were my last moments alive, I could certainly have done worse. Making love to Theron was a delight I never could have predicted.
I only wished I could have taken Calista down before my death. I wished I could have carried on my father’s legacy.
Just as I raised the mirror to my face, I heard her voice.
I see you, Snow Princess.
My blood ran cold. For one horrible moment, I thought she’d found her way into the infirmary.
But no. Through the reflection of the mirror, I saw her smirking at me, her eyes full of triumph.
Calista. My stepmother.
She’d found me.
The poison in my body burned hot. Fire scorched my veins. Darkness clouded my mind, and I was powerless to fight it.
Come to me, Calista commanded. Bring me the mirror.