Chapter 31
“Fuck.”
Not a second after I’d muttered the curse under my breath, Naya was at my side and glanced at the parchment shaking in my hands. Damn it, so much for not involving her in my mess.
My only option left was to deflect.
As if that had ever worked with the tiny, persistent female.
Turning my back to her to shield the contents of the letter, a wheeze was driven out of my lungs as she tackled me from behind. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and she almost strangled me as she pulled herself up, using my body like a climbing wall.
I was much too surprised—and breathless—to react. Naya was clinging to me, currently wrapping her legs around my waist, and with a triumphant noise, she peered over my shoulder.
Temporarily, I forgot my mission of keeping the bad news to myself, since her adorable behavior stunned me.
Thinking back, I’d never seen her this playful before, despite my best attempts to coax such a side out of her.
And now that I’d witnessed this facet of hers, I’d never stop my pursuit to see her let loose.
“Dion? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Hot flashes shot through me, not because of the cute sound she made, but because—gods, my knees buckled. Her lips attacked my sensitive ear, a flick of her tongue whispered against the tip—and she had no idea what she was doing to me.
Bracing my hand against the wall under the sudden onslaught of arousal shooting straight to my cock, I was torn between my yearning to escalate this situation and my poor excuse for restraint, screaming about unpredictable consequences at the fire burning in my veins.
“If you don’t spill the beans, I’ll torment you until you do.”
“Nayana, are you threatening me with a good time?”
“With torture, princeling.”
My wits abandoned me once more as she advanced to my other ear—and assaulted the peak with her blunt human teeth.
Groaning, I leaned firmer against the wall and almost missed as she reached for the parchment.
As much as I enjoyed her attempts at playing dirty, when she’d redirected my attention back to the paper, I’d steeled my will so it would be harder than its rival downstairs, which pressed against the confines of my breeches.
“Alright, alright, I’ll talk. It’s another summons from my grandfather.”
“Again? What does he want?”
“A thorough discussion about my absence. He was preoccupied with Galantan affairs yesterday. This doesn’t come as a surprise, only that this piece of shit arrived so soon. Normally, he enjoys his mind games too much and lets me stew in uncertainty for longer.”
Of course, discussion was his code for severe punishment or downright torture. The prospect wouldn’t have worried me too much if there hadn’t been an unacceptable addendum in his missive—he’d decreed that Nayana’s presence was mandatory as well.
He could kiss my ass, double my chastisement, or cut me open and pour acid over my wounds, but I refused to involve her in any of the private meetings between Galrach and me.
But since my tiny female was as stubborn as she was beautiful, she’d brush off my intentions if she found out about my grandfather’s command.
“Hey, give that back.” Oh, the little minx had used my distracted pondering to snatch the note from my hands, and she slipped off my back with an agility she’d never displayed before. My earlier arousal dissipated as if someone had doused me with icy water.
She sidestepped my desperate efforts to grab her from behind and then even dodged my magic exploding from me.
Her movements only stopped once her hands holding the summons lowered.
With a glare rivaling my own, she spun around and pointed her index finger at me.
Accusation glimmered in her darkened eyes, complementing the scowl she currently bestowed on me.
Belatedly, my tendrils engulfed her, and I used the chance to haul her into my embrace.
“I will accompany you.”
“No.”
“Dion.”
“There are things in this court I won’t have you witnessing. My grandfather’s discussions make the top of that list.”
“I’ll be silent and keep to the story we fabricated. Trust me, I’ll be your obedient little Amplifier.”
Her words—no matter how well she meant them—didn’t help to thaw the ice spreading in my blood.
Tugging her as near as possible, I closed my eyes and rested my chin on the crown of her head.
During the conversation we were going to have, I couldn’t look her in the eye.
“Tiny one, when Galrach says discussion, he means—abuse. And I want you far away from that.”
“I can take whatever he’ll dish out. There’s no need to coddle me.”
“No, you misunderstood. He’ll discipline me, not you. It’s not the first time, Naya. And if I had to guess, he’s particularly interested in observing both of our reactions. As believably as you executed your story, he hasn’t completely swallowed our deception yet.”
“And you leaving me behind against his wishes would alert Galrach to the truth right from the start, don’t you think?”
Fuck, she was correct. The compulsion to protect her intensified as I frantically searched for a solution to keep her out of this mess, while also preventing us from showing our cards. There had to be one.
Only when Nayana winced did I notice I was crushing her. Willing my tense arms and magic to relax an inch, I sighed. “Yes. Still—”
“Trust me. I won’t give us away. Whatever he’ll throw at us, I can endure. You know that.”
“Of course, Nayana. I’m well aware of how fucking strong you are. But that’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
My muscles trembled, and I was shaking harder. The pit of despair in my middle expanded, but not because of fear for my imminent future. No, the idea of endangering her—and more—drove me insane.
Nayana painted circles on my back, gentle and calming.
“Also, I don’t want you to see me as weak as he’ll make me.”
“So, your refusal is an ego thing, hm?”
My chest rumbled with displeasure as she not only found the gaping wound but also dug her finger into the pain. Dealing with my grandfather’s procedures was physically unpleasant, but the real torture was what his methods did to my mind. “Stop it.”
“No, Dion. Pay attention.” She leaned back in my arms and faced my gaze.
“As much as such an absurd concept alienates your bloated pride, no one can always be strong. Not even you, oh mighty Dark God. Your magic has a vice in alcohol; you as a whole have one too, in your grandfather. Although I still don’t understand why you don’t fight back. ”
“There’s a good reason. But that’s also a story for another day.”
“I’ll allow you to get away with that excuse only so often, princeling.
” Nayana huffed, her nose wrinkling. “We’re a team.
You confirmed so yourself in Amalach. Which means we’ll support each other, simple as that.
You’ve been with me during some of my weakest moments—now, for the gods’ sakes, give me the same courtesy.
Grant me the chance to take care of you for once.
If we stick together, your psychotic grandfather can’t break either you or me. ”
Her dainty fingers pushed my chin up, closing my mouth that had fallen open at her little speech. Her resolve was infectious and spread through my limbs as she spoke, and a giant wave of fondness threatened to crash down on me.
“Come, let’s not add impatience to his mood. Whatever is waiting for us, we’ll face it. Together.”
What else could I have done but nod?
Yes, I hated the idea of her perceiving me at my most helpless, but she was right. Not long ago, I’d decided I would do anything for her, and this included letting her in.
I’d find the strength to grant her permission to witness my weakness. But should Galrach threaten only one hair on her head, the act we were putting up would be over. “He better not touch you.”
“Even if. Promise me to control yourself. You’ve stated yourself that if the High King ever finds out that we’re friends, we’ll be in for a whole lot of trouble.”
Dipping my chin, I took a deep breath and swallowed around the lump stuck in my throat.
This woman—this tiny female—had no idea how special she was.
How much she mattered to me. And the relief that I wasn’t denying the truth anymore—and had admitted to myself there would be no me without her ever again—seeped through the cracks of my tainted soul.
And if protecting her meant I’d have to deal with her beholding all the broken parts of me, I would do so. I’d manage. I would be strong, even in my weakest moments.
Dion was pacing as I disappeared behind a paravent to change into one of my Ivreian travel dresses. Each step he took was a declaration of war in its own right, his powerful frame taut as a bowstring. Every time he changed directions, his hair billowed around him like an angry storm cloud.
I had to function as his tether so he wouldn’t spiral out of control. For unknown reasons, my presence grounded him, at least so far as to contain all the bottled-up anger and frustration, even if, like yesterday, only by a thread.
Why he granted me so much influence over him was the biggest mystery of all. Except for his grandfather, nothing could sway him even an inch, and why he allowed Galrach such power was another secret I had yet to unveil.
But he was right—since his reasons had to be complex, we didn’t have the time for him to explain everything. But I wouldn’t forget, and as soon as the chance presented itself, I’d convince him to honor me with the truth.
Dion hadn’t told me exactly what kind of punishment awaited him at the hands of the High King, but considering his reaction, plus all the snippets about his past I’d learned during our travels, and how he used the term abuse, my assumptions all pointed in the same direction.