Chapter 21 #2
She laced her fingers with mine as another bar dissolved. “My family sent me knowing full well what happened to the others.”
She jerked her head back as Marianne leaped upon one of the bars, a spike of fire impaled through her torso. She ripped it out and snapped it over her knee, tossing the smoldering embers toward the crowd who scurried back, cheering wildly.
“But,” she sighed, “I don’t want to die.”
“Good. So, we plan to go visit your family. Discuss wedding arrangements or post-marital visits or how many grandchildren they want, whatever is most believable, and we’ll get the fuck out of here.”
“Simple.”
I nodded. “It’s genius if you ask me.” Siobhan had given me a bag of money and an expanse of ideas. I’d busy myself putting everything into motion and at the last moment, I’d whisk Lilyanna away and the prince and that Goddessdamned haunted castle would be none the wiser.
Clement though? My stupid heart ached already. I’d have to ignore it. It was just lust. Pent up, fully saturated, ridiculous feelings toward a man I hardly knew.
The second to last bar disappeared, the crowd obscured by a smoky cloud that serpentined toward the night sky. The dragon roared and dived toward Marianne.
“But the prince can’t get wind of it. None of them can. We have to pretend like we’re coming back,” I said.
She squeezed my hand. “Then we can send for the prince. Perhaps he will come visit me, and we can live in the West instead. He could be trapped by that creepy castle as well. Maybe that’s what the signs are saying, that our paths still cross, but just not here.”
The last bar disappeared, and the crowd roared. Marianne spread her arms wide, and the dragon launched at her. They rolled across the ground in a large fireball until she managed to wrestle it back inside the small box.
She put the box in her pocket, stood and took a deep bow, the tips of her hair smoking. She turned and gestured for us to join her.
I put on my most sincere voice, hoping she wouldn’t notice. “I’ve often thought that as well. Why else would he stay?” I painted a smile on my face and grasped Marianne’s slick hand, falling into a bow with Lilyanna bent beside me.
The prince would not be visiting her because before we left, I’d finish my job.
There was nowhere for me to run. Siobhan would always find me and that was worse than just delivering a small scratch.
Perhaps it would be a welcome relief for him.
If he were truly trapped, he could create a new life of freedom in the afterlife. Lilyanna would get over it.
The prince wasted no time in reclaiming her, and we moved toward the outskirts for the finale of the evening. Clement trailed behind them, his body pressed against mine, tugging me back and allowing the gap to widen. Bryn fell into step on the prince’s left with a small shake of her head.
I pointed at her and raised my eyebrows.
“She’ll be fine.” He shrugged. “She owes me, anyway. She was stationed with my sister for years, and I know full well they took any chance they could get to sneak out together.” He ran his hand down my back, tucking his fingers into the waistband of my leggings.
“I don’t know what you’re planning, Tamara, but it turns me on watching you try and hide it from me. ”
“You really do have an active imagination, my friend. Is there not enough danger threatening the prince today that you’re turning your attention to me?”
“My attention is always on you.” He shot me a not-so-subtle grin before he grabbed my ass and swung me to the side.
He backed me against the canvas of the last stall, shadows softly falling from the overhang and enrobing us in darkness.
He turned me around, his hands slowly roving my front while he pressed up hard against my back.
The prince stood barely feet in front of us with his hand in Lilyanna’s, illuminated in the multi-colored glow of the fairy lights.
Their faces were upturned as the night sky erupted in dazzling streams of color and light and sound.
Each firework carried a different essence—lemon, saffron, honey—the scents infusing the air as the giant aerial show began.
Clement’s clever fingers wasted no time. He found my breast, tweaking my nipple until it peaked. I arched into him, his erection already straining against my lower back. His other hand slid down my stomach, tracing circles upon my flushed skin, his movements hurried but so persuasive.
In front of us, the prince stiffened. The tips of his ears reddened as the muscles of his neck went taut. Could he hear?
Clement’s fingers teased open my waistband, gliding over the front of my lacy underwear. At the slightest pressure, an infuriatingly brief shudder of pleasure fired through me before he paused. He nibbled my ear, his breath warm and heady as he whispered, “Yes?”
The prince definitely knew. The forearm that encircled Lilyanna’s waist corded; his muscles enhanced by the flashes of shadows as the fireworks faded.
And I didn’t care.
I nodded, and Clement let out a muffled groan, his mouth caressing my neck. A pinwheel of gold screamed in the sky above us, shards of light piercing the shadows all around as he plunged his fingers inside me. My gasp was swallowed entirely by the noise.
Sweet melon scent infused the air around us, but I could barely sense it. My breath was shallow, head light with my every focus on his stroking fingers, the squeeze of my nipple in his other hand, the lapping of his tongue against my neck, the tightening coil of heat in my abdomen.
There was a lull as the last stars of gold rained down upon the crowd, but his hands kept moving, hips rocking against my back.
Small ribbons of purple and silver leaped into the sky, unfurling into sleek dragons, the two colors writhing and winding around each other in a sensual dance. Lavender and lychee perfumed the air.
As the dragons rose, readying themselves for the final embrace, the coil inside of me snapped.
Heat flooded my system, my body arching into his.
He wrapped one hand around my mouth, muffling my cry while his fingers still worked, drawing out every last ounce of pleasure, until my body sagged against his.
He stilled against me, both of us watching the spots of color fade from the sky. A low hum pulsed from all around, the wooden stalls vibrating and the fairy lights tremoring. People murmured, casting eager glances up into the sky waiting for the finale.
The prince softly kissed Lilyanna’s cheek, and she leaned into him, but the movement was stilted, his head turned for too long. His attention was still on us, but why did he care?
Clement slipped his hand out and brought it to his lips. I turned to him, his dark eyes hungry, pupils blown. “Beautiful,” he whispered, slowly sucking his fingers, his mouth glossy and swollen.
My lips parted, a soft moan escaping and he kissed me deeply, his tongue claiming my mouth as his arm tightened around me again.
“My turn.” He eased away, kissing down my jaw, sucking and nibbling on the exact point on my neck that sent me wild.
I raised my head, extending my neck to present myself to him.
One arm held me tight, his hand splayed on my stomach while the other freed his erection, pumping with strong, smooth strokes.
I giggled. What was wrong with me? I didn’t giggle.
He smiled against my skin, his breath warm, tongue never ceasing as it swirled, tasting every inch.
What would happen to him when I got the prince? Would it ruin him? Could he come with me?
Fireworks screamed into the sky, exploding in blinding flashes of color, light, and scent. I gripped Clement’s arm, tightening his hold around my stomach. His strokes were wild now, his body straining against mine.
He suspected I was up to something. He knew more than anyone, more than he should. If he found out what I was planning, would he stop me?
The air thickened, the final medley of patterns claiming the night sky. He bit down on my neck, his body collapsing against mine with a groan that was primal and dominating and Goddessdamn it, so sexy.
He pressed a kiss to my cheek and rested his chin atop my hair as orange-scented flares twirled to the ground around us.
Lilyanna turned to smile at me, her face aglow, eyes bright. I grinned back with both Clement’s arms now wrapped casually around me. She turned back and snuggled into the prince.
She still believed he was good, that he was innocent, and I would try and save them both. She thought someone else was controlling the castle, but even if that was true, I had no choice.
My life wasn’t the only one on the line.