Chapter 38 #2
“Like you said,” I add with a tight smile. “I made this choice.”
His hands land on my hips. “Now, it is I who doesn’t understand you.”
My blood warms.
“That’s funny. Because I’m an open book. Ask me anything. I won’t lie.”
“Hm.” He lifts an arm and wraps one of my loose curls around his finger, studying the strands. “Do you desire me?”
I suck in a breath. “What?”
Blue eyes lock on mine. “Do you desire me, Elara Stonebloom? The way I desire you?”
Gods…
I lick my lips. “You desire me?”
“I do.”
A bolt of lust strikes me in my core. I struggle not to let it take hold. Not like I did with our kiss.
“From my perspective, you’ve been courting another woman while we’ve been here.”
Iris’s triumphant and nasty glares flash across my mind.
Rian’s lips twitch. “Is that what you want? To be courted?”
“I…” My forehead furrows. I drop my hand from his face, but I don’t step away. “What?”
“Do you wish to court?” he asks casually. No teasing flickers in his gaze.
The light magic in my veins flutters, but my furrowed brow deepens.
“You can’t court me.”
“No?” He tucks the curl behind my ear.
“No,” I confirm with a firm shake of my head.
Not only is Rian Fae royalty, but he's tangled in some sort of political intrigue with Iris and her parents.
His lips twitch. “Care to share why?”
“Because you are the Shadow Prince, and I’m—”
“Part Fae,” he interrupts. “And one with light magic that isn’t meant to exist.”
My throat tightens.
I choke out, “So?”
“So, we aren’t as incompatible as you think.” The hand resting on my waist draws me closer.
His head tilts, deep-blue eyes studying me. “What other objections do you have to giving in to this…need between us?”
Heat gathers between my legs. At the same time, my heart seems to take flight. I strive to bring it back down to earth.
Rian can’t truly believe anything lasting can develop between us.
He’s the prince, the heir to King Marek and the throne that’s shrouded in evil and literal darkness.
There is no future here.
My power writhes in disagreement.
Rian watches me without saying a word. His touch is steady, as is his gaze.
I lick my dry lips. “I don’t need you.”
I aim to sound indignant, but the words come out breathless.
“No?” He wraps both arms around me, his hands pressing against my back, drawing me in. “Well, I can think of no other word to describe the way I feel when I’m around you.”
He bends and presses a hot kiss to my neck.
Every nerve in my body lights up.
Rian declared the words so pointedly. Without hesitation.
My knees weaken as he continues to pepper kisses along the column of my throat.
I moan and tip my head to the side.
He nips at my skin. “Tell me I can have you, Elara. Despite recent events, tell me you want this, too.”
I do.
Gods know I do.
And after weeks of enduring his presence, after that kiss, there will be no convincing myself otherwise.
My eyes flutter closed, and I take a deep breath.
Then I admit the words that feel like I’m sealing my fate. “I want you, Rian.”
A sexy, desperate sound vibrates from his throat. “Finally.”
My eyes fly open right as he dives forward.
His lips capture mine. I slide my arms around his neck and press myself into his body, rising on my toes to deepen the fierce kiss.
Darkness flies across my eyelids.
I crack them wide enough to confirm that shadows weave around us chaotically, unbound. As untethered as the storm of lust whipping through my own body and soul.
Rian lifts me. My legs wrap around his waist, the skirt of my dress bunching at my hips, and we pick up right where we left off days ago in my room.
He walks, spins, and pins me against the wall.
A framed picture clatters to the ground. We don’t break our kiss.
Tongues dance. Teeth collide. His hands grip my thighs, holding me firmly as his mouth devours mine.
My hands roam his face, shoulders, biceps, squeezing and caressing, meeting him stroke for stroke, lick for lick.
Then—
Rian jerks back. “Wait.”
NO!
“No,” I moan, wrapping my arm around his neck to bring him back to me. “Not again.”
Rian presses a firm palm against my chest, holding me at bay. “We shouldn’t.”
I want to scream.
“Yes, we should.” I’m too riddled with lust to be embarrassed by my boldness.
I grab his wrist and try to yank it out of the way, but he’s too strong. He jerks his head once.
“Not like this.” His handsome features twist even as his rapidly darkening eyes swirl with desire. “Not with Lover’s Temptation in your system.”
My lips part.
Is he worried I’m unable to consent?
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
My power burned away the last remnants of the elixir’s lusty haze ages ago.
I release his wrist and slide my hand up to cup the side of his face.
I smile gently. “That’s not—”
A loud siren blares, cutting off my words.
I wince and jerk back, slamming my hands over my ears.
Rian’s attention snaps toward the window across the corridor. Out toward the sea.
Where dozens of fires now burn along the top of Virendrell’s tall sea wall.
“Fuck,” he hisses as shadows ripple over his shoulders, and his fangs descend. “They’re here.”