13. Harven
HARVEN
Foam from the sea-brew spills over the side of my goblet.
I deposit it on the small table for the tenth time since arriving at the dining room. I savor the silence for the first time all day. Typically, dinner was an extension of my council meetings.
From now on, it will be a time for Eve and me to get to know each other.
Eve. I’m eager to see her again in the dark blue dress I’ve asked her to wear.
My body aches for her. It was physically painful to be without her. Countless times I fought my tentacles from pulling me from the throne room and guiding me back towards her door.
They missed her as much as I did.
When she is out of my sight, I feel trapped in my own skin. This need for her—not just her body, but for her soul—deepens. It confounds me.
The mating bond demands I fuck her until my heir is created. These other urges are just as strong. I need to hold her close. To protect her and make her smile.
I crave her bewitching stares and her whispered teases. The way her small hands rove over my skin makes me feel more powerful than my crown.
Her brand of sensual torment is unique.
My Pearls had been skilled in the art of seduction, but it was a preamble to sex. Foreplay meant to heighten desire. Once I left their bed, I never thought twice about their lingering glances or whispered words.
All I can think about is Eve.
Each touch and teasing smile makes me painfully hard.
I'm hard sitting here, waiting for her. My cock pushes firmly against my skirt as I recall the amused tilt of her lips. The way she says my king in that breathy voice of hers makes me want to pin her down.
To claim her for all to see.
My councilmen may see her lack of magic as weakness, but I don’t. She has no need for magic. Eve wields me. I’d kill thousands more if it meant keeping her safe.
The most startling realization from last night is that I’m not alone in my desire.
She had kissed me of her own volition. Her soft moans were sweeter than wine. Her supple body opened to me as did her perfect mouth. Had she not asked me to stop, I would’ve made her come against the wall before taking her to bed.
The restraint I showed seems impossible to me now. If she were to kiss me like that again, I wouldn't be strong enough to pull back.
Her mouth says no, but her body screams at me to take her.
Just as it had this morning outside her door. If I had not had my meetings and Hyra wasn’t in her room, I could’ve persuaded her to let me inside. I know she has reservations.
Once I’m inside her, I’ll alleviate any lingering doubts.
She belongs to me. Forever. This desire for her will never wane. It goes beyond the physical. She is woven into my soul. Her heart nestles next to mine.
My patience wanes the longer she is out of my sight. As much as I wanted to seek her out today, she needed her space. She was still adjusting to her new life.
Between our date tonight and what’s planned for tomorrow, I’ll be taking up a bulk of her evenings.
I’ve ordered a celebration to honor her arrival. It will be a good chance for Eve to see all the wonders that exist in our world. Drinking, dancing, and a night filled with revelry. I’m hoping it will put her at ease.
It would also show my entire court that she is mine. Any threats against her would be met swiftly and decisively.
I had heard the servants whispering about our night together.
Gossip quickly turns to poison. If anyone comes for my mate, I will end them as I did the sharkin who took her. Her safety is more important than ever.
An uprising was afoot. Reports of traitors inside my castle were coming in more frequently. My allies and spies would uncover them, but until I was certain they were all eradicated, I would take every precaution with Eve.
Her safety is what led me into the city this afternoon to personally deal with the latest pair of discovered usurpers. I had personally slaughtered the traitors who meant to overthrow me.
It was a weak rebellion, but I crushed it with force.
Once my heir was safely in Eve’s womb, the unrest would die down. However, I have no intention of rushing Eve to ease my court's concerns. I can get her pregnant and win her heart if I play this right. I desire both equally.
I never thought I would want someone in this way. For centuries, a small part of me grew bored with the fleeting pleasure of my Pearls. I longed for a relationship that went beyond release.
With Eve, I can have it. I won’t be satisfied until I’ve claimed every part of her.
The room's doors peel open, and I can finally breathe easy.
She is a vision in the dark blue dress. The silk wraps over her breasts, exposing her sides and the flat planes of her stomach. High slits on the side bare her legs as a pearl belt rests on her shapely hips. Her golden hair curls away from her face. She looks impossibly soft as always.
Her teasing smile makes my cock rage beneath my skirt.
“Good evening,” she says. “Love the new table.”
It is a fraction of the size of the old one and fitted with only two chairs. I wave at the servants to bring out the food. I push back my chair, and my tentacles snap toward her.
“As I said, you were too far away at the old one.”
Biting her lip, she saunters over. Her dress gapes, revealing her golden skin.
Forgoing her chair, Eve settles into my lap. Her lithe thighs go on either side of my waist. My tentacles skim along her bare back as she looks at me beneath her lashes. Her warm body makes my head spin.
“Better?” she asks, skimming her fingers along my chest.
My hands fall to her waist. Her skin is smooth and slick. I inhale her bright citrus scent and note, with satisfaction, that she still smells faintly of my soap. I place my lips against her ear.
“Much.”
She bestows me a dazzling grin.
I’ve never flirted, as she calls it. With my Pearls, their job was to serve me. With Eve, I want to drive her just as wild as she does to me.
Rocking her gently, I groan at the contact her backside makes with my raging cock. It’s seeking entrance inside her. As are my tentacles, skimming under her dress.
When the time is right, I’ll cram so much of myself inside of her there’ll be no way to separate us.
“Did you miss me today?”
She flutters her golden lashes. Working her hips faster, I swallow my groan.
“Yes,” I say through my teeth. “So much.”
“I missed you too.” Her fingers shift through my beard. “The painting supplies had been diverting, but my mind had wandered to you. To our kiss.”
“Do you want another one, my mate?”
Color swims in her freckled cheeks. I wonder where else she blushes so prettily.
“In time,” she sighs.
Her pink tongue teases my throat. Seed leaks from the tip of my cock. It’s so hard it could shatter the marble table. Eve’s eyes dance with mischief as she pulls back.
“Patience is a virtue, my king.” Twisting, her back falls against my chest. “And I’m starving.”
Our meals are served together.
I dig into my plate of boiled fish while my injured tentacle delivers Eve her bowl of stew. She scratches it with her nails before it lowers to her lap.
She moans as she leans against me.
I’ve decided Eve will eat every meal from my lap. Her own chair will no longer be necessary. No matter where we are, this is her place. Whether alone at dinner or before the court, Eve will never sit anywhere but on top of me.
“Eat quickly,” I tell her. “I have much planned for our date. I’ve been doing my research.”
She smiles around her spoon.
“Really? Do tell.”
“Human customs are fascinating. As is the variety of what a date can entail. I’ve decided on a tamer option for us.
” Curling a lock of blonde hair around my finger, I smile.
“Tonight I have prepared a tour of the royal gardens. Once I have shown you the loveliest plants, we will take a trip to the library. Tomorrow, there will be a celebration to honor your arrival.”
“Fancy.” She grins. “What does that entail?”
“Dancing, singing, all manner of merriment.”
My injured tentacle curls loosely around her wrist as she sets her bowl down. Its good sucker suction gently to her skin. Eve runs a soothing hand over it.
She might as well be touching my cock.
“Sounds fun. I haven’t been to a party in a long time.” She looks up at me. “I’m full, my king. I’m ready to start the rest of our date and eager to see more of the castle.”
Lowering her to the floor, I rise and take her hand.
As I exit the room, my mood instantly darkens at the sight of the three figures in the hall. Bly and Seera stand close together, but Nixie breaks away and heads toward us. Eve steps closer to my side.
My tentacles envelop her, ready to strike the siren down if necessary.
“King Harven,” she purrs, bowing deeply to show off the low neckline of her dress. “I look forward to performing for you during the celebration. You always said I was a lovely dancer.”
I can’t recall ever bestowing the compliment. My patience for the siren is already dangerously low.
Eve looks up at me, brows arched. The wariness in her gaze makes my stomach feel hollow. From the corner of my eye, I watch Nixie’s face twist as I pull Eve harder against me.
Nixie steps closer. Too close.
The siren lifts her hand.
“My king, I’ve missed you. My bed has grown so cold—”
My growl vibrates down the hall. Seera and Bly step up and take Nixie’s arms before she can touch me. She hisses at them and tries in vain to break free.
“Out of my sight, all of you,” I snap, glaring at the siren. “If I were you, Nixie, I wouldn’t vex me further.”
“King Harven, I only meant to—let go of me!”
Seera and Bly drag her down the hall, casting apologetic smiles in their wake. Eve turns to watch her go. A strange expression washes over her features. The hint of unease nearly sends me to the floor. Another unpleasant emotion I can’t name dims her bright eyes.
I twist her towards me and grip her chin.
“She means nothing to me. None of them do. You are what’s important.”
Gnawing on her lip, Eve doesn’t respond. The uneasy look returns to her eyes.
Conflicting feelings race through me. I understand humans have different customs, but would Eve object to me keeping my Pearls?
At present, I can’t stand the idea of anyone but her touching me, but that could change.
There may come a day when Eve doesn’t want me anymore.
I wouldn’t force myself upon her when my Pearls were the obvious solution.
The practice of the King’s Pearls was meant to further procreation. However, no one but Eve will ever bear my children. With that in mind, shouldn’t that end the practice of keeping Pearls? I’ll never want them more than I do Eve—I’ll never love them.
Love.
The word rattles around in my head. Love. My kind saw it as a weakness.
For humans, it means a great deal. Is that what Eve seeks from me? Could I ever earn her love?
Giving so much of myself to her would be dangerous. Yet, as I take her fragile hand in mine and lead her down the hall, I can’t help but want to risk it all. I’ve done unspeakable things to find Eve.
She’s right. We owe it to all the people I’ve killed to make a go of things. Their deaths wouldn’t be in vain if I could convince her to love a monster with a soul as stained as mine.
I’d like to win Eve’s heart.
My heirs would be the product of true love. I could raise them to act with the same bravery and kindness as their mother. They could change things. We could raise them with love and compassion.
They wouldn’t need to fight over the throne. It could pass peacefully to one of my sons.
Gripping Eve’s hand tighter, I realize she holds my wretched heart squarely in her palm. She has changed everything. With her in my life, the future is bright. The possibilities are endless.
I’ll kill for her—I’ll die for her. My desperation to make her mine roars to life. With her heart on the line, the need to claim her reaches a new peak.
She is my madness. I pray to the gods I stay under her affliction for the rest of my life.