Chapter 28
M elysah had spoken true. It took nearly an hour for whatever potion she poured down my throat to wear off, and when my scales returned, I let out a sigh of warm relief as it protected me from my melting chains of ice. It turns out I was pretty good at turning ice into water, a lesson I learned fairly quickly as the chains fell to the floor in a melted slush. Draevyn had swum home immediately after receiving the urgent message. While his family had been happy to see him, they had informed him that they’d never summoned him. That’s the message that appeared across my tablet that evening in his signature green ink, along with his decision to stay the extra day to spend time with his family. I’d shifted in my bed, my feet still slightly aching, as I read his promise to return tomorrow afternoon.
And with Mayana assigned to the outposts, that left none other than Kane Ruema guarding my quarters.
I wanted to scream.
I couldn’t take the rising tension anymore. The deep-seated feeling of loneliness, the looming prospect of failure, the idea that I’d have to watch my back even more now that Melysah had gone full psycho, and her lapdog standing guard just outside my door. I refused to tell the others what happened. I refused to cower to that wench. I could handle her, female-to-female.
For the time being, though, all I wanted to do was fall into a familiar comfort, which is why I found myself standing in front of the Fae Flings Bookstore in Borike’n, with the villagers exchanging pleasantries as they purchased their produce from the corner store, the smell of freshly baked bread from the bakery drifting across the street to where I stood. With my heavy wool coat wrapped snuggly around me, I stepped into the store—a grin pulling at my lips as the tiny bell above my head gave a jingle. This wasn’t just any bookstore. It was a fantastic concept, really. Sure, there were mysteries, fantasies—books that were all things paranormal. But if it didn’t have romance, it wasn’t welcome at Fae Flings. It made me want to run to the Above World and open a store just like it, but then I remembered that there wouldn’t be a future for me in the Above World. There wouldn’t be an Above World at all. Not until the ice age passed.
The smell of freshly roasted coffee and sugar-sweet pastries hung in the air as I perused the shelves lining the quaint bookshop. Reneah, like me, shared a love of all things romance books. She mistakenly let slip about her frequent visits to the establishment. Reneah offered to accompany me anytime I’d like, but with the sudden urge to escape the palace and Reneah nowhere to be found, I decided to go on a little solo adventure. It turns out that the unguarded door we’d snuck out of to attend the foam party comes in handy in a pinch, especially when you give an asshole guard the slip as he’s got his back to the door he’s supposed to be guarding.
I gripped the hood of my cloak tighter to my head, chancing a glance around the room. As I suspected, the place was empty at this time of day, with it being midweek and the university classes in session. My refusal to go to another class while Myles was away had nothing to do with Melysah and everything to do with the fact that I was a grown-ass female and needed a mental health day. At least, that’s what I’d told myself. After all, there’s no better therapy than book therapy.
Impressed by the variety—the store featuring both Fae authors and human authors—I selected a shifter romance I had yet to read before my abrupt departure from The Keys and padded toward the checkout counter. I couldn’t help but notice the various drinks available; their infamous Lick It Lattes and Spankuccinos —not to be confused with their Spunkuccinos —were just a few of the popular favorites I’d heard about. Their coffees ranged from Suck It Light Roast, Medium Build Roast , and my favorite, Dirty After Dark Roast . The small sample Reneah had kept in my quarters served as my only introduction to the stuff, and I’d developed a lowkey craving for it.
The middle-aged woman behind the counter greeted me with a soft smile—her light brown hair pulled in a tight ponytail at the back of her head. “Would you like a beverage with your book?”
“Dirty After Dark Roast, please.”
“Perfect.” She waved a hand in front of a glass sphere on the counter. It brightened to a light blue. “And which surname will this be charged to?”
Right. Money.
I’d forgotten how currency worked in Atlantis. The glass sphere magically cataloged each house’s monetary holdings. No credit cards or cash were needed. The currency elementals handled the books of all Atlantians. Still, a surname was required to make a purchase, and the sphere would either burn bright with the correct surname or dim completely if the wrong one was provided. My cover was about to be blown. “Delmar,” I whispered.
The woman leaned in. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that. What name was it?”
I quickly twisted around to make sure I was the only one around and cleared my throat. “Delmar,” I said a little higher this time.
The woman’s back went ramrod straight, her eyes bulging. “You’re not…are you?”
I pulled her cloak a little tighter with a wince. “I am. And if it’s alright with you, I’d like to keep my presence here quiet so I can be in peace. Just for a bit.”
The woman’s face brightened. “No worries, Your Highness. Your secret is safe with me,” she said with a wink. With a flick of her wrist, she murmured my surname under her breath, and the glass sphere burned bright blue.
I breathed out slowly, my shoulders sagging. “Thank you.”
The woman pushed the crisp, new shifter book across the counter. “Of course. My name is Ezra. I’m the owner of this naughty establishment,” she beamed. “I think you’ll find the seating in the back room to be the most discreet. It’s where we send our customers who don’t want to be disturbed, so they can be comfortable during their visit. I’ll get your coffee ready for you and bring it right over. Cream and sugar?”
“Please. And thank you.” I picked up my new book and padded to the quiet back room, where the warmth from the fireplace enveloped me, and more bookshelves lined the walls. With the wainscoting wrapping around the room, it felt more like a home than a bookstore. Two sets of wingback chairs bracketed small tables in front of two arching windows, the bright light shining through and providing plenty of reading light.
As I pulled the chair back, my steps faltered, and my brows furrowed. An outstretched foot with a male-looking shoe rested on the floor before the other table. I found it curious that a male would seek refuge in a romance bookshop but to each their own. I admired any male who embraced the romance genre. While I wouldn’t dare to blow my cover, I was fascinated to see who it was, but his cloak made it impossible to see his face. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who wished to remain unseen. I respected his right to privacy and took the seat facing away from him.
Minutes into the first chapter of my shifter romance, the sound of a rattling cup on a saucer captured my attention. Ezra placed my coffee on the shiny wooden table with a cheery smile. “Here you go, Your Highness,” she whispered with a quick glance to the neighboring table. “That is a wonderful book. I just finished it last week.”
“Seems really great so far,” I agreed.
“I’m sure you’ll love it. I’ll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything else.” She turned on her heel out of the room.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed a quiet afternoon just reading. The fire crackling in the fireplace seemed to be the only peaceful, soothing sound as I delved into chapter after chapter—the rest of the world fading away around me. It was why, when my eyes absorbed every word of chapter fifty-five and the heroine finally escaped the secret lair of werewolves, I failed to notice the male behind me rising from his seat. It would take several seconds longer before I noticed him standing beside my table. My eyes left my book and scanned the perfectly polished shoes, the perfectly pressed trousers, and the button-down shirt, all the way to the face that regarded me with curiosity: the one belonging to Lux Nacan, Prince of Corenathia.
My book dropped on the table with a thud. “What are you doing here?” I whispered hissed.
“I would ask you the same thing,” Lux said with no lack of amusement. He reached for my book. “It appears I have my answer, though.”
I snatched the book back, glaring at him. “I thought this would be a safe place to relax and get away.”
“It is.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because it’s a safe place to relax and get away.”
We regarded each other like two opponents sizing one another before a match. A tinge of unease crawled up my spine as I glared up at him from where I sat, feeling like he had the high ground.
“Everything okay over here?” Ezra interrupted, her gaze bouncing between us.
Lux turned toward her, his expression softening. “Everything’s fine, Ezra.”
She placed a comforting hand on his arm, her brows knitting. “You’re sure, Your Highness?”
My mouth parted.
“Of course. I was just about to keep the Princess company. Another Dirty After Dark Roast would be great.” He twisted around to me. “If that’s okay with you?”
I wanted to say hell no , but I realized there was a budding curiosity I couldn’t deny. What was the Prince of Corenathia doing in a romance bookshop in Borike’n in the middle of the day?
He was likely asking the same question about me.
My gaze shifted to Ezra. “Make that two.”
“On my tab, please,” Lux insisted. “Thank you, Ezra.”
She pulled a velvet curtain across the doorway I hadn’t noticed upon entering as Lux slowly slid into the chair across from me, his cautious gaze never leaving mine. A book poked out of the inner pocket of his cloak. I flicked my head toward it. “I think it’s only fair you show me what you’re reading.”
A subtle blush crept across his face before he reached into his pocket, retrieving the book. He slid it across the table, and my eyes went wide. “Midnight Dragons? But this is a why choose romance.”
His face reddened further. “I’m aware.”
“But you’re…”
“A male. Last time I checked.”
I scoffed. “I know you’re a male.”
“But you’re welcome to confirm—”
“I will not.”
A shrug. “Didn’t think so, but it was worth a shot.”
It was my turn to blush. I returned my attention to his book. “This is one of my favorites.”
Lux perked up at that. “Is it now? What do you like about it?” he asked, his penetrating gaze making my stomach flip. I fell silent as Lux regarded me, his chin resting on his hand with an elbow upon the chair rest. “Oh, come on now. This is a safe space. Is it the idea of having multiple men at your mercy? Or is it the M-M-F-M-M that does it for you?”
I straightened my spine and lifted my chin. “Both.”
The corners of his full lips lifted. “Interesting.”
The tell-tale clattering of coffee cups alerted us to Ezra’s approach. We remained staring at each other as she placed the cups before us and exited just as quickly.
Lux reached for his cup, taking a long sip. “So, what classes are you missing today, Princess?”
“None,” I replied, picking at a thread on my cloak. “Myles is out of town. I decided I didn’t want to have sessions with Melysah.”
“Ah. Melysah.”
My head snapped up. “Are the two of you acquainted?” I asked.
“Acquainted,” he said, face unreadable. “I know more of Melysah than I care to know, from her head down to her perfectly polished toes.”
I winced, taking a sip of my delicious coffee. “Maybe I don’t need to know.” I decided to change the subject. “What classes are you missing?”
He raked his fingers through his fire-red hair. “Intro to Corenathia.”
“I would think you could teach the class yourself.”
He let loose a charming chuckle. “That’s exactly why I’m here. Professor Wyles and I have an understanding; he keeps me informed of the tests I need to take. Additionally, I must answer any questions about life in Corenathia. For some reason, the fool has an interest in my realm.” I held back my surprise at the veiled negativity of that statement. “I come here to have a little free time of my own,” he continued, “I try and blend in like a normal Fae, giving me just a little glimpse of what it’s like to be unknown. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
I felt a pang of sympathy for him. It was the very reason I sought refuge in the back room of the bookshop; I just wanted a little slice of normal again. “I get it.”
Lux tilted his head back and forth in introspection. “Yes, but at least you know what it’s like to be normal. At least…your parents had the sense to send you to the Above World to grow up. That must have been freeing compared to the confines of Atlantis.”
My lips pursed. “I never thought of it that way.”
“They cared.”
“And your mother doesn’t?” The question slipped unbidden from my lips.
“No,” he answered through a tightly clenched jaw.
“Hmm. Touchy subject?”
“You have no idea.”
“Enlighten me.”
Lux leaned forward, resting his arms on the table, his mouth tightening. “I meant what I said when we first met, Asherah. Things aren’t always as they seem. Both of us were raised differently. There are rights I could never dream of having in Corenathia that I enjoy here in Atlantis. I very much value my freedoms here.”
I couldn’t help but to prod further. “Do you plan to stay here?”
His shoulders sagged. “I wish I could, but I can’t.” He seemed to check himself and gestured around the room. “So, I’ll take my freedoms where I can.”
“I’m sorry.” I lowered my gaze to the table. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…I just wanted to understand.”
Lux’s hand entered my line of vision, resting upon mine. “It’s okay, Asherah. Really.” I looked up and felt the warmth of his gaze. “It’s nice to spend time with someone other than myself.”
I gave him a genuine smile. “I suppose it is.”
Lux’s gaze held where his hand rested upon mine, his brow furrowing. He turned over my wrist and observed my elemental mark. With his other hand, he traced the tiny circle that had set my mark apart from my mother’s. “That is so curious. It’s different from Queen Sessi’s.”
My brows lifted. “Your mother has the same?”
“All the Queens do.” His eyes narrowed as he gave the circle another rotation with this fingertip—his fingers much smoother than Draevyn’s. “But yours has a dot. That’s puzzling.”
“You think it means something?”
“It must. Atabay’s marks are very intentional.”
I pulled my hand back to my lap, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. “And you’ll tell your mother?”
Lux’s jaw went tight. “No, Asherah. I will not.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that…you’re a Fire Fae.”
“I know what I am, but I’m capable of keeping my own secrets. You don’t have to worry. Not even my mother’s spies know of my visits to Fae Flings. I’ve become somewhat of an expert at keeping my comings and goings from their traitorous lips.” His fingers drummed on the table as he continued staring at the place where my hand had disappeared underneath the table. “Have you looked into it at all?”
I shook my head, my thumb rubbing at the mark. “I honestly haven’t thought about it.”
“You should. I’d be happy to help.”
I debated whether I should agree to meet my enemy Prince again. It wasn’t the best idea, but sitting in the bookstore sipping coffee in solitude did things to one’s mental faculties. “Sure. That would be great.”
Lux reared back. “For real?”
“For real. You’ll have to let me know when. I won’t always be free like this. Just reach out to Reneah, my chambermaid. My friend. She’ll let me know.”
His eyes lit up as he rose from his chair and placed his book back in his pocket. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you around, Ash.”
“Same. Enjoy your book.”
He winked. “I always do.”
I managed to sneak back into the castle undetected—the sound of my silk-slippered feet ascending the stone steps that led to my quarters barely ricocheted off the palace walls. When I turned down the hallway, I almost breathed a sigh of relief, but I lost that breath as I stopped in my tracks.
“You fucking brat. Do you have any idea how much trouble I’m going to be in?” Kane seethed through his teeth, his face burning scarlet. “I was told to escort you to your lesson. Where the hell have you been?”
I crossed my arms, holding my book tightly to my chest. “I don’t believe I owe you an explanation.”
The veins in Kane’s neck throbbed. “You don’t believe you owe me an explanation?”
“No.”
His gaze shifted to the book I held tightly to my chest. He stormed forward, snatched it out of my grasp, and began reading the back of the book.
“Follow Ella and her four dragon shifter men,” he spat the words through gritted teeth, shoving the book back at me. “A smutty shifter book. This is what you ditched your lesson for, huh? Does the throne of Atlantis mean nothing to you? You’d rather ditch learning about your people to read book porn?”
Anger spiraled in the pit of my stomach. “How dare you!”
Before I could register his movement, Kane slammed me up against the wall. I winced from the impact as his fingers dug into my throat. Real genuine fear snaked down my spine. For some foolish reason, I’d never registered Kane as a threat, but as he glared at me with pure loathing, I knew I’d made a grave mistake.
“You little entitled bitch. You come to Atlantis all high and mighty like our people owe you something. Like we should bow down to you. Yet, you wear no crown. You have no power.” He leaned in closer, his hot breath tickling against my ear, causing me to cringe. “You will never be Queen, and I’ll enjoy every minute watching you try.” He released my throat, and I slid down the wall, gasping for air. “You can guard your damn self,” he bit out as he descended the stairs, leaving me on the floor.
I leaned my head back against the wall, my breaths steadying and his words wedging themselves in my mind. I didn’t want anything he said to cement itself.
But it did.
When did all of the drama end? Melysah’s outward hatred for my existence seemed to have no end—constantly looking over the shoulder to make sure she or her lapdog didn’t accost me. It was exhausting.
In truth, I understood Kane’s departure left me vulnerable, but I’d rather be vulnerable than at his mercy. I picked myself off the floor and entered my quarters, locking the door behind me.
The tears started to fall a second later.
The door to my quarters opened a few hours later. By then, my tears had stopped flowing, but the puffiness around my eyes couldn’t be helped. Based on the way Draevyn’s smile fell when he took in my appearance as I lay on the living room sofa with a throw covering me, I knew I wasn’t fooling anybody today—least of all him.
I don’t know why I started tearing up again at the sight of him standing in my doorway. Maybe it was the feeling of loneliness welling up inside me. Perhaps it was those damn feelings of not being good enough to lead this queendom despite the encouragement of those around me. The incident in the throne room. Melysah and her fucking lessons. Kane Asshat Ruema.
Take your pick.
But as the warmth of Draevyn’s arms encompassed me, I just let them fall again. And I was grateful that he was there to catch them.
When I was finally able to catch my breath, I reached for a tissue on the coffee table and blew my nose in the most unattractive way. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to break down like that,” I breathed.
A slight grin pulled at his lips as he fetched the trashcan for my snotty tissue. Ever the knight in shining armor, this one. “Do you want to tell me why you’re crying?” he finally asked.
And so I told him. Every last detail. Melysah’s teaching methods, her remarks about Behuko, and her quest for the throne. Kane.
And I had the common sense to stop when I noticed his face growing red after informing him of the incident with Kane in the hallway. Gone was the Draevyn who’d dried my tears. He was the Commander now. “I’ll kill them both with my bare fucking hands.”
I shook my head. “You can’t.”
“I can.”
“I mean, I know you can, but there’s something bigger happening here. Can’t you see? The Akani, Melysah’s quest for the throne, Kane doing her bidding. We go after any of them, and we lose a chance to study the game.”
His eyes searched mine as his mouth hung open slightly—my words settling in. “I’m getting some wine. Would you like some?”
Wine sounded great right about now. “Sure.”
Draevyn rose from the couch, pouring the thick, burgundy liquid into two crystal glasses that sat on top of a charming bar cart against the wall of the darkened living room. His worried expression was unmoving as he handed me my glass. “They can’t keep coming after you like this: game or no game. And you’re right; there is something bigger going on, something I can’t hide from Dax. Or your father. I need to summon them, Asherah. We’ll need their help. We can’t do it on our own.”
I held his gaze for a long moment, his eyes imploring me before my head dipped in a nod. “I trust you.”
He blew out a breath. “I’ll ask them to come to your quarters.”
With the message sent to meet us in my quarters, he seemed more relaxed, his thumb tracing the intricate patterns on his etched wine glass as we waited for them to arrive. “You know, you’re allowed to take a break, Asherah.”
A wince came across my face. “Am I, though?” Kane’s words churned over in my head.
Draevyn turned fully toward me. His knee rested against my thigh as he said, “I’ll not lie to you. Some may frown upon you taking a little time to yourself with the looming ice age and the prospect of more humans arriving in Atlantis. But they don’t understand the pressures you’re facing, not completely anyway. So, it doesn’t matter what they think or if they understand. They don’t know about Melysah’s scheming or challenges in the council weighing down on your shoulders. So, you took a mental health day. That’s okay. Your mind is a priority and is more important than their opinions. If your mind isn’t just as strong as your body, not only are you at an extreme disadvantage, but you’re setting yourself up for failure. It’s important to take time for yourself, especially in moments of chaos. How can you survive if you don’t take care of your health?”
I thanked all the brightest stars in the sky for Draevyn, his words meaning more to me than he knew. I squeezed his hand. “Thank you. For understanding. Even if others aren’t going to.”
The dimple on his cheek emerged. “You’re welcome.” His brows furrowed when he caught sight of the book lying on the coffee table. “Just what were you trying to read anyway?”
I huffed out a laugh. “Just a romance novel.”
Understanding dawned on his face. “Ah. You went to Fae Flings. Good coffee,” he said with a wink.
“Yes, the coffee was good.” I debated whether to tell him the next bit but decided it was best not to keep it from him. “The company was interesting, too.”
“Ezra? Yes, she’s a bit eccentric, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is. But I wasn’t talking about Ezra.”
“Oh? And who kept you company? Did you make some new romance book buddies?” he asked, sipping his wine.
I tapped a nail against my glass. “Um…yes, actually. The Prince of Corenathia is my new book buddy.”
Draevyn spit out his wine, the drops sprinkling across the table. “What the hell were you doing with the Prince of Corenathia in a romance bookstore?” He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.
I grabbed my book and dried the droplets of wine with a clean tissue. “I know, right? Strange finding him there. Apparently, he’s a frequent customer.”
“At Fae Flings?”
“Yup. I was just as surprised as you are.”
Draevyn’s mouth fell open a bit. “Did he say anything to you?”
“Well, not at first. He kept to himself for a bit. We were the only ones in the shop at the time. Lux was reading his book, and I was reading mine. I think he may have heard Ezra whisper to me. I guess she wasn’t discreet enough.”
“Hmph. Not a bad place to pick up the ladies, I guess.”
“Actually, I don’t think he was there to pick up anyone. He was reading a really good book. I read it a few years back.” I patted his leg. “You have to be in romance circles to know about those. So, he has to be a fan.”
Draevyn knitted his eyebrows. “I’ll be damned.”
Now came the part I was afraid to tell him. Would he or wouldn’t he accept our new ally? I cleared my throat. “He sat with me for a bit and had a coffee. He seemed to take an interest in my elemental mark.”
His nostrils flared. “Why would he want to know about that?”
My shoulder lifted in a shrug. “I don’t know. He noticed my mark was different from his mother’s.”
“All the Queens have the same mark.”
“All but me.” I flipped my wrist over. “There’s a dot just below. His mother, the other Queens. They don’t have a dot. But mine does.” My gaze flicked up to his blank expression.
And then it dawned on me.
“You knew that already, didn’t you? You noticed it at the Elemental Ball when I first received my mark.”
Draevyn’s eyes searched mine for a beat before he replied, “I did. I didn’t think much of it, to be honest.” He reached out, his thumb moving idly back and forth over the mark.
“He wants to help me research the mark, why it’s different.”
Draevyn froze. “And you trust him?”
“I know,” I said, sighing. “He’s a Fire Fae. And a Prince.”
“It’s risky.”
“It is. But there’s something about him.”
“Something about him?” Draevyn quirked an eyebrow. “Should I be worried?”
I tsked. “No. Not like that. What I mean is that he doesn’t seem evil. He seems…lost? Maybe that’s not the right word. Despite my first impression of him, my gut tells me something’s going on. Something maybe he can’t—or won’t—tell me.” I stared off across the room. “Could his mother compel him to silence?”
“To be sure. She’s a master compeller, probably one of the best in existence. You think she may have compelled him to secrecy?”
“Wouldn’t you if you were sending your son to live amongst your enemy?”
Draevyn stroked the stubble along his jaw. “Yeah. I guess I would. What do you think he knows?”
“I think he knows about the mark. I think he knows what the dot means. Or he at least knows where to start looking. The only other person who’d had that reaction was the Bohiti Loma, but if she knew what it meant, she didn’t say anything.”
“She might not have known then, but she may now.”
“We could ask.” I glanced at him sideways. “That’s if you want to go with me.”
He gave me a most delicious grin. “Of course.”
I nodded. “I’ll wait for Lux to get in touch with Reneah. He wants to do some research in the library. I’ll probably need some help meeting with him in secret.”
Draevyn let loose a long sigh. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to get in trouble for this?”
“What could you get in trouble for?”
“For helping you conspire with the Prince of Corenathia.”
“We’re not conspiring ,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Then what shall we call it?”
“Studying.”
Draevyn bit back a smile. “You take lessons alone, Asherah.”
“Well, we’ll have to be sneaky about our study sessions then. If they ask, he’s my study partner. We’ll call it Fae cooperation.”
Draevyn tapped the tip of my nose. “You’re adorable when you’re conspiring.”
I opened my mouth to retort, but a knock at the door interrupted us. The door opened, and Dad and Dax strode into the room.
“Got your note, Commander,” Dad said.
“Goddess, I can’t stand that woman,” Dax exclaimed. “She’s ridiculous.”
“You’re telling me,” I murmured.
They came to stand before us, Dad resting his hands on his hips. “Tell us everything.”
I let loose a sigh at the challenge of retelling all the details to them, but I painstakingly did—both of them falling in the chairs across from us as I unleashed everything. “Plan or no plan, Kane will be held accountable for his actions. What he did…it’s unacceptable,” Dax said in a guilt-ridden tone, his eyes filled with everything I didn’t want him to feel.
“It’s not your fault, Dax.”
“But he is my guard. And he’s my responsibility. For that, I’m sorry.”
“We need to stop them,” Dad declared, the bags under his eyes more prominent than the last time I’d seen him. His gaze rose from where it was absently held on the floor. “Are you okay, Sher? You know I want nothing more than to run out of here and formally reprimand her for what she’s done. Games and politics aside. What she did was not okay. Not even a bit.”
“I’m fine, Dad. Really. I just want to figure out what the plan is.” I tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. “Any ideas on what we should do?”
“Well, for starters, I’ll have Myles advise the council not to send Melysah to teach your lessons anymore. She’s become unhinged.”
“That’s an understatement,” Draevyn agreed. “When it comes to Asherah, she can’t seem to control herself.” He rubbed his chin. “I do have an idea, though,” he continued. “Dax has given some of us a couple of days rest after being a complete hard ass at training.”
“That’s entirely subjective,” Dax said defensively, crossing his arms.
Draevyn cleared his throat. “I’d like to take Asherah to Sabana…to meet my parents.”
Dax winced. “You think that’ll be relaxing for her? You know how your father will feel about—”
“It’s not intended to be relaxing,” Draevyn interrupted, glaring at Dax. “I mean, I’m sure she’ll find our home relaxing, but it’s more for her protection.”
“And to meet the parents,” Dad said, his brow arching. I ducked my head as my face instantly heated.
“I don’t think that’s the flex you think it is, Cathan,” Dax chided.
He squinted at Dax and Draevyn. “What are you two not saying?”
Draevyn rested his head on the back of the couch. “It’s such a long story.”
“In short, Draevyn’s parents—well, more his father—wanted Draevyn to take over the family business,” Dax supplied.
Dad tilted his head. “But your elemental mark is for Guardianship.”
“Much to my father’s disappointment,” he replied in a flat tone.
I fidgeted in my seat. “I thought they were over it.”
Draevyn twisted his head to look at me. “It’s never over for a fourteenth-generation farmer.”
My eyes went impossibly wide. “Fourteen generations?”
“Yup,” Dax mused, “and there’s no telling what he’s going to say when he finds out about you.” Dax wagged his bushy blond brows.
And, yup, my face just got hotter.
The room fell silent, with all types of things left unsaid. Dad was the one to break the silence. “Will she be safe with you and your family, Draevyn?”
He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “The safest, Your Highness. You have my word.”
Dad nodded. “Very well. Are you okay with that, Sher?”
I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but the tension in the palace could be felt a mile away. The whole reason I went to the bookstore was to escape all the madness. “I think a trip to the farmlands is a good idea. I can get to meet the Atlantians out there.”
With one final look at Draevyn, the little fleeting look of concern that crested his features stirred my worry anew.
Draevyn left with Dad and Dax to make arrangements for the trip to Sabana. With the events of the day pressing in on me, I decided a little self-care was in order to let my worries wash away. The steam rose from the water pouring into the massive black stone tub—large enough for a few adult Fae.
A jar of rose-scented bath salts rested on the side of the tub. When I tipped the glass jar, tiny salt crystals plunked into the water, the rich rose scent immediately permeating the air. The warmth of the water climbed up my body as I lowered myself. I let loose a sigh that was a borderline moan, resting my head on the edge of the tub, my eyes coming closed. It was only when I heard the sound of Draevyn returning that I opened an eye.
He padded into the bathroom without a word, his eyes immediately zeroing in on my naked body, just visible beneath the surface. His gaze was hungry. Thirsty. Longing. After the time apart, I had no doubt my gaze wasn’t any less of those things.
Succumbing to the uncontrollable urge, I fixed my hooded gaze on him and moved my hands slowly up the contours of my ribcage. I took my nipples between my thumbs and forefingers, twisting them, biting my lip softly, enjoying the growing expression of hunger on his face.
Draevyn swallowed hard. “You mean to torture me, Asherah?”
With a teasing smirk, I moved one of my hands across the panes of my tight stomach to its destination between my thighs, cupping my center and rubbing the sensitive nub I desperately wanted him to explore. “I mean to entice you,” I told him in a seductive tone I hadn’t recognized was my own.
“Consider me enticed.”
My lips parted as my finger danced a rhythm on my swelling bud. “Then, what are you waiting for?”
Draevyn needed no more invitations. His eyes fixed on the hand that ramped up my desire as he dropped his scales, revealing every inch of chiseled body and glorious manhood—ready for taking. He was akin to a god, the faelights flickering and casting shadows across his beautiful body as he massaged his long, raging length. I could’ve come just by watching him, but luckily, I didn’t have to.
With a grace only a Guardian possessed, he stepped into the steaming water and swam to me, floating over my body until his lips were mere inches from mine. “I’m going to devour you now,” he whispered, his breath minty and warm as his tongue delved into my mouth. A soft moan of pleasure escaped my lips as his strong hands traveled down to my ass and gripped me tighter to him—pinning my hand between us. I instantly reached for his length, gently stroking—his skin so tight and full within my grasp. Draevyn let out a toe-curling groan, fueling my aching core. That sound would drive me to madness. His hand came to mine, stopping my movement. Draevyn sucked my pouting bottom lip in his mouth. “Not yet, nanichi . Let me take care of what you started.”
With his eyes never leaving mine, Draevyn slowly dipped below the surface. I gasped when his lips grazed my inner thighs, nibbling a path until he finally reached where I desperately needed him. My entire body shivered as his skilled tongue licked through my folds, finding my swollen bud ready and waiting for him. And then he sucked.
Hard.
I bucked into his mouth and couldn’t help but wrap the long strands of his hair around my fingers to steady myself. In my naivete, I wondered when he’d come up for air. But Draevyn didn’t need air, of course. He planned to stay underwater until I found my release. The thought of my release becoming his oxygen was entirely arousing.
His delicious tongue circled my aching clit in torturous swirls, my thighs twitching at every rotation. His thick fingers found my entrance and pushed inside, thrusting with the movement of his tongue. I tilted my head back, bright stars appearing behind my eyelids.
“Draevyn…I’m going to—”
He gripped my pussy tighter to his mouth—devouring, licking, sucking.
Taking.
I rode the waves of pleasure that coursed throughout my body. But I needed more.
I wanted more.
Draevyn rose out of the water, smashing his mouth to mine, his tongue seeking with such need it made my legs weak. He broke away and twisted me around, guiding my hands to the edge of the tub. His hot breath crested across the shell of my tipped ear as he breathed, “Keep your hands there.” His thick, muscular thigh nudged my legs apart. He moved my hair over my shoulder, placing soft kisses along my back while his large hands caressed the aching peaks of my breasts. His tongue traced a line between my shoulder blades, causing my skin to pebble in its wake. The warring sensations were entirely overwhelming. I ached for him to take me, my desire building yet again.
Draevyn’s hands moved from my breasts and coasted over the curves of my hips until he reached my bottom. When his fingers dug into my ass, parting me for his viewing pleasure, I couldn’t hold back my gasp. He groaned in delight. “Your pussy is simply divine,” he said in a dark, masculine voice. I didn’t know if my face was flaming red from the hot steam rising from the water or the vulnerability of being so exposed to him, but when he guided the tip of his engorged shaft to breach my entrance, I forgot to feel embarrassed. He slid his thickness into my wet heat. My moan echoed across the walls as he stretched me wide. “That’s it, Asherah. Fuck. Look how well you take my cock.” He reached into the water, pulling my knees apart and wrapping my legs back around his waist until my front floated on the surface. “Hold on tight.”
And then he moved with abandon.
Draevyn’s nails dug into my quad muscles as he pounded into me. These were not the actions of a man who wanted to make love. These were the actions of a male embracing something instinctual. Something primal. I was his to devour, and I gladly handed my body over to him for his pleasure.
I tightened my grip on the edge with each thrust of his powerful hips—the rough stone biting into my palms. The feel of him moving in and out of me, the water lapping against my torso with every slap of his body against mine ramped up a desire in me so potent I could scarcely breathe. Just when I thought I could take no more, Draevyn anchored me with one hand on my hip and reached for my throbbing clit with the other—driving me to madness with the precision of his fingers rubbing over and over and over. My body was his musical instrument. My sounding cry was his melody. I squeezed around him as my release tore through me. “Draevyn!”
“That’s it, my Queen. Fuck. You feel so good coming around me.” The most erotic masculine moan escaped his lips before the pace of his hips heightened, the water splashing where our bodies met. His hands came to press against mine on the ledge as he molded tightly to me. He grunted his release with one final thrust of his pulsing cock.
As we came down from the height of pleasure, he leaned up to massage my lower back, touching his way up to my shoulders. “I’ll never get enough of you.”
I let out a blissfully spent sigh. “Neither will I.”
Draevyn guided my back to his chest, his satisfied length slowly pulling out of me as I rested my head upon his shoulder. We floated together until the water cooled—just the two of us in silence, the struggles of tomorrow waiting patiently beyond the palace doors. I would deal with it.
Tomorrow.