Chapter Nine #3
Narrowed eyes held suspicion. Slowly he rose from the table and followed me out, keeping a healthy distance between us. When we were far enough away from Alisdair’s earshot, I rounded on him.
“How do you do it?” I demanded. “One minute, Aeris can’t stand the sight of you, and the next it’s a good thing she’s sitting because she’s about to pass out from swooning. How do I do that? How do I get Alisdair to... do that?” I finished, flushing deep.
Bradach frowned at me, then his brows smoothed out. “Oh, I see. You’re asking me how to make him fall in love with you.”
I don’t know why him stating it plainly made me want to run and hide, but I didn’t. I simply nodded.
“And you’ve come to me because I’m his closest companion and most trusted advisor.” He puffed out his chest, ever the vain, cocky raven. “I’m flattered, my queen, and more than happy to help, but we men are grossly simple creatures.”
“What do you mean?”
“We all want what we can’t have,” he explained.
“Our lord already has you, or so he thinks.” Bradach smirked, winking.
“Make him know he doesn’t, and that he has to work, bleed, and sweat to have you.
All the things he will discover through want of winning you will naturally lead to love, for how could any man who knows you, not love you? ”
My face warmed, heart fluttering in my chest. Oh yes, I could definitely understand how Bradach was thawing the ice around Aeris’s heart.
“Thank you,” I said lightly. “That’s... good advice.”
Aeris and Eadaoin chose that moment to come around the corner, looking for me.
Bradach gave me one last bow and a wink, kissed Aeris’s blushing cheek, and walked off.
My companions fell in step with me as I burped my way through the halls, pinching Aeris’s lips tighter and tighter. Eadaoin couldn’t hold back her giggles at the both of us.
“You continue to surprise me, Lady Ana,” Eadaoin said. “But how will you tackle your daring escape in this state? I could practically roll you down the hall.”
I laughed. “No running, no rolling, no daring escape. I have something else planned for Alisdair tonight.”
Fifteen minutes later, a large hulking shadow crossed the threshold of our bedroom. He observed me reclined on the bed—relaxed.
“What manner of trick is this?” Alisdair breathed deep, scenting a trap. “Why are you lying there? Why aren’t you running or hiding in a pile of manure?”
“That was an act of desperation that I’ll never repeat again,” I snapped. “Mostly because it didn’t work.”
He circled me, back gliding against the wall—keeping me in sight. “And what about this is supposed to work?” Alisdair chuckled. “Let me guess. You’re going to suddenly leap off the bed and throw yourself off the cliff where Bradach will be waiting to fly you away?”
I smiled back. “Now that’s good. I probably would’ve done just that if Bradach wasn’t wary of me by now. But no, I have something else planned for tonight.”
Alisdair tensed like I was going to attack him. His lips peeled back, growls leaking through his fangs as he readied for my strike.
“Woo me.”
The growls stopped. “Excuse me?”
“Seduce me, husband.” I peeled back my robe, letting it fall off my shoulder. I wore it and nothing else. “If you want to have me... you’ll have to earn it.”
The predator stalked closer. “Is that so?”
“You’ve gotten everything your way, but not me.”
“Hmm.” He moved around the headboard. His voice rolled over me, shivering my spine. “I seem to recall having you my way last night, and the night before that, and three times the night before that.”
“Not anymore,” I rushed. “You wanted a mate, Lumenfell. A queen to rule and wage war by your side. A partner to have and raise your babies. You burned your promises to me on your soul, and now it’s time for you to deliver.
By day I am your queen, but at night, you’re my husband.
Act like it. Seduce me, woo me, tempt me, flirt with me, compliment me. ”
“No.”
“And if you do, I’ll—” I blinked, the words halting on my lips. “What?”
“I said no. You’re speaking utter nonsense, woman, as usual.”
As usual?!
“What reason have you to say no to me? I bet you wouldn’t say no to Bradach.”
“You—” His face crumpled. “Bradach? What on earth are you talking about? What does he have to do with this?”
“Don’t give me that. I know everything. I see the way you laugh, joke, and touch him. I see how he laughs, jokes, and touches you. I know he’s your companion.”
Alisdair’s eyes blew wide, jaw slackening. I’d never seen that look on his face. I don’t think anyone’s had for a thousand years. “He’s my— Don’t be absurd!”
“You’re absurd if you think you’re going to lie to me now. Bradach told me himself. He’s your right hand, your most trusted advisor, your sage counsel, your truest comrade, and your closest companion.” I smiled at him in equal parts irritation and triumph. “Are you calling Bradach a liar?”
“Unreservedly and without hesitation,” he dropped, tone flat. “That fool is none of those things to me. He’s only bold enough to say otherwise because he’s proven extraordinarily difficult to kill,” he gritted. “Blast him and those fucking wings.”
My jaw worked. “Oh.”
While it made me feel marginally better to know he wasn’t denying me because he preferred someone else’s company, it was hard to swallow that the only reason Alisdair Shadowsoul had a friend... was because he hadn’t figured out how to kill him yet.
I cleared my throat, shaking away the thought. “Well, then, if that’s the case, you have no reason to say no. Woo me, husband.”
He snorted. “I have no reason to say yes. I fulfill my husbandly duties to perfection nightly. I cater to your pleasure above my own—as is the Wind and Wild way. I do not let you sleep until you’ve completed at least four times.
I ensure you can’t walk in the morning for limping.
Beyond that, I’ve bestowed my protection on you, making sure my enemies dare not lay a hand on you, and I waste considerable time teaching you to fight and rule my country.
“No other husbandly duties are required of me.” Alisdair ripped off his clothes. “Now hands and knees. Head down. Ass up.”
My jaw worked but nothing came out. I didn’t know where to begin.
Marking me was to protect me? It wasn’t to cheat or make it harder for me to run?
Was that true? Could I possibly believe it was?
But more importantly, did he just say putting my pleasure above his own was no more than a faeriken custom?
Did that mean he didn’t enjoy his nights with me?
Why did the thought of that cut as deep as him saying every minute he spent with me—teaching me to rule and fight—was a waste of his time?
Why would this man put any effort into winning me? He already had a pet. He didn’t need a wife.
I turned away, my lips pressed tight to stop them trembling. “You’re right,” I rasped, drawing up my robe. “Just forget it.”
“What’s this?” he demanded. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing happened.” I blew out the candle on the nightstand. “You win, okay? I ran, you caught me. Let’s just go to bed.”
“No, you’re crying. Why are you doing that?”
I hurriedly wiped my eyes. “I’m not crying, I’m tired. It’s been a long day, and I wouldn’t want you to waste any more time on me.”
A heavy silence filled the room.
“I see,” he said. “Very well. I will seduce you.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Prepare yourself, woman.”
“I don’t— Ah!” A hand grabbed my ankle and slid me across the bed, depositing me gaping beneath him.
Slowly, deliberately, Alisdair ran a finger down the length of my body—from my neck to the crown of my thighs, parting my robe.
The fabric fell to the sides, exposing me to his cold eyes—something that’s happened every night since I met the man, but that night, I shivered under his gaze.
Dropping down, Alisdair pressed a light, tickling kiss to my ankle, then continued the trail—dropping soft pecks along my leg, knee, and up my thigh—coming to my slit where he passed over and went to the other thigh, and gifted it the same tender treatment.
I was wide-eyed and still, afraid to move and break whatever spell he was under. Where was the man who barked at me to put my ass up, then took me before I had the chance?
Alisdair rose over me, cupping the back of my head. I gasped as he kissed me—a slow, tender creation that parted my lips with the softest nip, and invited my tongue to dance—unhurried and teasing.
I didn’t have to search my memory. This was the first Alisdair had ever kissed me in this way. He rarely kissed me at all, but when he did, he was rough, fierce, and passionate. I felt like I was in a hurricane, clinging to the ground by a blade of grass.
But this kiss... felt like we were both in that hurricane, but Alisdair was holding me. Protecting me. Anchoring me through the storm.
Eyes so cold. Words so harsh, but his lips were soft and warm. They banished my hate, anger, and fear, leaving nothing behind, except me and Alisdair.
He guided me onto the pillows, our bodies and mouths still connected.
I’d never drunk to excess before, though I had to believe this is what it was like.
My head spun. Pulse raced. Breaths quickened.
I felt clear and silly at the same time.
Like I was about to jump off a cliff without wings, but the joy of falling through the air was worth the end.
His tongue tangled with mine, inviting me to play. I moaned as he caressed me, his hands trailing up and down my body, and I was suddenly sure that this was nothing like being drunk. If wine gave this feeling, no one in the land would set down a bottle.
Fingers tickled me, skating higher along my thigh and slipping between. I dropped my knee, making clear what I wanted him to do.