Chapter 27
THE HOT SPRINGS
NESILHAN
Back in our rose quartz chamber, I barely make it through the door before Kaan's shadows slam it shut behind us and he's on me.
"Where were we?" he growls against my throat, teeth grazing the sensitive skin. "Before politics so rudely interrupted."
"You were about to—"
"I was about to make you scream," he finishes, spinning me to face the wall. "And now I'm going to make you pay for every second I had to sit in that throne room pretending I wasn't thinking about bending you over the Queen's table."
"Oh, this should be good," the mirror chimes in. "Round two, everyone. Places, please."
Kaan's shadows freeze mid-caress. His head turns slowly toward the ornate mirror, and the temperature in the room drops several degrees.
"One more word," he says with deadly calm, "and I'll shatter you into a thousand pieces and scatter them across the Void."
"Noted. Shutting up. Mostly."
"Mostly?" I can't help the laugh that escapes.
"Well, I do have feelings," the mirror protests. "Centuries of watching fae fornicate and not once have I—"
A hairline crack appears across the mirror's surface.
"Right. Silent now. Completely silent."
But before Kaan can return his attention to me, the armoire in the corner clears its throat—or whatever sound enchanted furniture makes when trying to get attention.
"If I may interject—"
"You may not," Kaan snarls.
"—it's just that we've been hosting you for days now, and while we appreciate your... enthusiasm... some of us are trying to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere—"
"FAMILY-FRIENDLY?" Kaan's voice could shatter steel. "You're an armoire in the FAE QUEEN'S PALACE. I guarantee you've seen worse than—"
"The chaise lounge has children!" the armoire protests.
"The chaise lounge is upholstered fabric and wood!"
"Still. There's a certain decorum we try to uphold—"
Kaan's shadows explode outward, rattling every piece of furniture in the room. The four-poster bed actually whimpers.
"That's it," he growls, grabbing my hand. "We're leaving."
"Leaving? But you just said—"
"I said I was going to make you scream." His eyes are pure midnight when they meet mine. "I never specified where."
He drags me toward the door, and I'm laughing despite myself at the absurdity of it all—the infamous Shadow Lord, terror of the realms, defeated by judgmental furniture.
We make it exactly three steps into the corridor before I hear Banu's distinctive laugh echoing from around the corner.
"Oh gods," I mutter, frantically trying to smooth my disheveled dress while my hair has apparently decided to audition for the role of 'recently ravished'. "Quick, hide."
"Diplomatic?" Kaan's eyebrow arches. "I am the Lord of the Shadow Court. I don't hide—"
"Then at least try not to look like you were two seconds away from defiling me against the wall—"
"Bold of you to assume I was going to wait for a wall."
I barely suppress a laugh-whimper as Banu rounds the corner, Elcin trailing behind her with that deadly grace that somehow makes me feel like a disheveled disaster in comparison.
"Oh, don't bother hiding," Banu calls out cheerfully. "I can literally smell the arousal from here. Very subtle, you two."
Kaan steps out of the alcove with as much dignity as one can muster while clearly having been interrupted mid-seduction. "We were just—"
"About to fuck somewhere more private?" Banu finishes helpfully. "Yes, we gathered. But before you two disappear to defile some innocent forest clearing, we need to discuss Morwanna's offer."
Elcin's storm-gray eyes assess us both with uncomfortable accuracy.
"Morwanna's offer stands. Two weeks per month in the Fae realm, access to their intelligence networks, and safe harbor when needed.
In exchange for..." she pauses, her jaw tightening almost imperceptibly, "my presence here. The same two weeks."
"Wait—" I start, but she cuts me off with a look.
"The terms are non-negotiable. We accept, or we lose a crucial ally."
"Then why do you look like you've agreed to your own execution?" I press.
Her expression doesn't change. "Because nothing with the Fae Queen is ever simple."
"The terms are what they are," Kaan says, his shadows still restless with frustrated desire. "We have no leverage to negotiate better, and we're running out of time."
"Exactly what I said," Banu confirms cheerfully. "Which is why I've already started spreading delicious rumors that we'll accept. Half the court thinks it's a done deal."
"You what?" I round on her.
She shrugs, unrepentant. "Someone had to make a decision before you two disappeared for another six hours of athletic activities."
"It was forty minutes—"
"That's debatable," the wall murmurs, and Kaan shoots it a murderous glare.
"The Fae realm has opinions now?"
"The Fae realm is always listening, darling." Banu grins. "But yes, the deal is done. Morwanna gets her amusement watching you navigate court politics, we get safe passage and resources. Everyone wins."
"Except for those of us who have to endure more Fae hospitality," Kaan mutters.
I turn to Elcin, who's been unusually composed about all of this. "You agreed. To two weeks every month in the Fae realm. Without even arguing."
Something flickers in her storm-gray eyes before her political mask slides back into place. "Some debts are worth paying."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer you're getting." But there's a warning in her gaze—not here, not now.
"Elcin—"
"The terms are acceptable," she cuts me off with regal finality. "We agree, we play Morwanna's games for a few more days, and then we return to deal with the real threats. This is distraction, nothing more."
Banu bounces on her toes, entirely too pleased with herself. "Perfect. Now, Shadow Boy—" she makes shooing motions at Kaan, "—go wait for your wife in the eastern gardens. The one with the ridiculous fountain of naked sprites. I need exactly three minutes with Nesilhan."
Kaan's shadows coil protectively. "If this is another one of your—"
"Relax, I'm not drugging her again." Banu's grin is absolutely wicked. "This time. Now go. Shoo. Your brooding presence is interfering with girl talk."
"I don't brood—"
"Eastern gardens. Naked sprite fountain. Three minutes." Banu physically starts pushing him down the corridor despite him being three times her size. "Go contemplate the mysteries of the universe or whatever it is you do when you're not ravishing your wife."
He shoots me a look that promises retribution before his shadows carry him away with far more dignity than Banu's shoving deserves.
The moment he's gone, Banu loops her arm through mine and Elcin's, physically pulling us into an empty alcove.
"Right," Elcin says dryly. "I'm leaving before whatever chaos you're planning unfolds. I'll see you both at dinner. Or tomorrow. Whenever you resurface from whatever forest clearing you're about to defile." She glides away with that warrior's grace before Banu can protest.
***
"Now then," Banu says, immediately producing a small crystal vial from thin air.
"No," I say firmly. "Whatever that is—no."
"Oh, don't be such a prude." She uncorks it, and the scent of jasmine and something wild fills the air. "This isn't like last time. This is just a little... enhancement."
"The last time you 'enhanced' anything, I woke up with half the palace having heard me scream Kaan's name."
"And you're welcome for that, by the way.
The servants are still talking about it.
" She grins. "Besides, you're already planning to ravage him somewhere.
I'm just ensuring you have the stamina to make it memorable.
And trust me—" her voice drops to something almost serious, "—when you get back to Shadow Court and finally get your hands on Emir, you'll thank me for the practice. "
"I am not—"
Before I can finish, she blows the sparkling dust directly into my face.
The effect is immediate and devastating.
Heat floods through my veins like liquid fire, pooling low in my belly with an intensity that makes my knees buckle.
Every nerve ending comes alive, hypersensitive, and the phantom memory of Kaan's touch makes me gasp.
My nipples harden against my bodice, and I can feel myself getting wet, slick with need.
"Banu!" I grip the wall for support. "What did you—"
"Nothing permanent," she assures me breezily. "Just a little fairy aphrodisiac. The kind that makes everything feel better. Much better. Trust me, you're going to need it."
The heat is intensifying with every second, making it hard to think about anything except getting my hands on Kaan. His mouth. His cock. His shadows pinning me down while he—
"Now, listen carefully because I'm only saying this once.
" Banu leans in conspiratorially. "There are hot springs in the forest, about a quarter mile northwest of here.
Follow the path past the silver birch grove, then listen for running water.
You'll find a clearing with natural pools heated by underground springs. "
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because the palace walls have ears, opinions about decorum, and an annoying tendency to interrupt at crucial moments.
" She rolls her eyes. "The springs are private.
Secluded. And the water has certain... properties that enhance physical sensations.
Every touch, every stroke, every thrust—" she grins wickedly, "—magnified. "
The image her words conjure makes me whimper. I can already imagine the water lapping at my skin while Kaan takes me apart, the heat intensifying every sensation until I can't tell where pleasure ends and I begin.
"And one more thing," Banu adds, her voice turning serious for just a moment. "You deserve this. Deserve to feel good, to forget the horrors waiting back home, even if just for a few hours. So go. Let yourself have this."