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I drew my axe, ready to swing. But by the time I turned, all that remained of Parys and his sly smile was a rush of wind. If he’d been born a terrestrial, his animal form would have been a fox, I was certain.

That wind swirled unnaturally, propelled by Parys’ magic even as he disappeared into the crowd, urging my head in the other direction. To the other side of the courtyard.

Where the Queen of the Elemental Fae had emerged from the shadowed corridor to stand in the sunlight.

She looked good enough to eat. Male and beast alike, every part of me wanted to devour her.

I had no idea how the dress—if it could be called that—stayed on her body. Maybe through magic—though what sort I had no idea.

The deep teal was the color of the dark holly that I’d seen only in the wettest hollows of the Shadow Wood. Fitting, that she was dressed in the color of Annwyn’s most fatal poison.

If I didn’t get inside of her soon, I was going to die.

A single piece of fabric was looped around her neck, either end coming down to cup her full breasts before twisting behind her once again. I couldn’t tell if that long strip ended there or if it was somehow incorporated into her skirt. But I knew when she turned, her back would be bare—a sharp contrast to her legs. For once, the flowing panels of her skirts completely concealed her legs. I already missed the view.

Expanses of navel and back and tantalizing curves of the underside of her breasts—and not a hint of the shapely round ass and legs below her waist. She was actively trying to kill me now, I decided.

Diamonds sparkled at her throat, even brighter amorite at her ears. There was a faint bluish glint buried among the strands of her intricate braid. As she turned to speak with a royal councilor I vaguely recognized, I saw a glint from her stomach as well. Her hair was usually the color of the moon. But today, in the scorching afternoon, it seemed to be the color of the sun’s very center. White hot, like the burning in my loins.

Around her, all the beautiful females dressed in flowing white paled and faded away. Their supple, slender bodies were nothing to the bold, buxom siren before me. She was soft and rounded, her stomach full, breasts generous. But I’d felt the corded muscle beneath, both wrapped around me in passion and straining against me in the training courtyard.

Across the courtyard, over an aural fountain brimming with gold liquor and a hundred undulating bodies dancing to lazy music, Veyka’s eyes found mine.

She was too far away to see my eyes burning with desire. But her mouth curved in that wicked smile nonetheless.

Instead of putting me out of my misery, she turned to speak to her councilor, leaving me there to die.

48

VEYKA

“The priestess will begin soon,” Esa was lecturing. “Your Majesty should ensure that you are at her side. She’s given to vanity. You should not allow her to occupy the stage alone…”

I ignored her and sipped my aural.

Ambitious priestesses? It sounded like a problem forafterMabon. As in—not my problem at all.

My main concern at the moment, given that I could not do anything on this particular night to advance my quest to avenge Arthur, was to make it to nightfall. Once the sun dipped below the horizon, I intended to drag Arran back to my bedchamber bodily and squeeze every ounce of pleasure I could from his magnificent body.

I was done dancing around him.

We both knew what we wanted.

As I’d told Cyara—there was no emotional entanglement between us. But physical need? Oh, Ancestors, yes.

If I didn’t come around his cock soon, I was going to melt into a puddle and then I’d be no use to anyone, living or dead.

“Your Majesty,” Esa intoned, her voice sharper.

I didn’t even look at her. “You are dismissed, Councilor.”

Maybe she blinked in disbelief. Maybe she pulled a face. But either way, she left my side. Unfortunately, she was replaced almost instantly. At least this time, it was Roksana.

“Councilor Esa makes valid points, Majesty,” Roksana said smoothly, calmly. A soothing coolness filled the air. I knew if I looked down, I’d see her fingers flexed, ice swirling around her palms.

“Esa needs to learn to enjoy a party,” I said, swigging back more aural. Two cups would be sufficient to get me drunk enough to throw consequences to the wind and drag Arran back to my bed.

“Is that what you’re doing now, Veyka? Enjoying yourself?” Roksana said carefully.