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Soon, Shaye would return to his rightful place by her side.

“Did you two hear anything worthwhile as we waited for an anticlimactic speech?” Daeanna asked, directing her question to Thaddeus. The man approached the bed, his pupils swelling with desire as his gaze lowered to where her skirts lifted along her legs. Far too many eves had passed since their last session in bed, and she craved his prowess as much as he hungered to share it with her.

As he braced his arms on the bed, Daeanna lifted her foot to his shoulder and stopped him. She motioned toward Katherine with a nod of her head.

“Does she not appeal to your tastes?” Daeanna casually shifted her attention to Katherine, whose cheeks darkened. “She’s a cute human, is she not? I thought you might enjoy warming up before I exhaust you. Some time has passed, after all.”

Thaddeus ducked his head, gaze shifting from her to the mortal standing a few feet away, appearing uncomfortable and self-conscious as Daeanna toyed with the handsome Fae man. The corner of his mouth began to tilt in a scowl, but he quickly schooled his expression.

Good boy. Show me you still remain loyal and will do as I say, however low I command you go.

After a few tenuous moments, Thaddeus chuckled. His eyes flashed when they returned to Daeanna.

“You wish for me to show you what I have in mind for you? Are you certain you wish to watch another woman receive the pleasure meant for you?” Those delicious lips of his curled into a heart-melting grin. “Will she comply?”

“I dare you to find out.” Daeanna licked her lips, sitting up and bringing her face close to Thaddeus. She teased the carnal beast that stalked the surface of his otherwise composed self. “She’s full of fire.” Slowly, she flicked her tongue out and traced his bottom lip. “But first, tell me what you heard this morn.”

“After Liam’s announcement and Shaye’s refusal to partake in what should have been a joyous occasion, whispers of Moira’s death prevailed. Those around me shared their disheartened belief that she died during childbirth and Shaye’s absence this morn is further proof he mourns her death.” He shoved himself off the bed and casually unbuttoned his shirt. All for her exquisite pleasure. And what pleasure the sight of his muscled body delivered. “None mentioned feeling traces of her energy. Liam’s lack of disclosureseemed to seal those foolish Fae’s thoughts about Moira’s unfortunate demise.”

“What of you, Thaddeus? Do you believe she is dead?”

Thaddeus shrugged his shirt off, letting it fall to the floor at his feet. A soft squeak drew her attention to the mortal. The woman shamelessly gawked at Thaddeus’s perfect physique, every finely honed curve, cut, and cord of muscle.

“I believe had he spoken untruths—which we know is impossible—that the Talaenian world would have fallen beneath the spirits’ sorrow. Their realm is closely linked to the deities and spirits led by the Goddess. The sky would have been dark and the land wouldn’t have held promise with their appearance. Alas, I do believe that Shaye would have brought his son for his people to see if he were not in a state of mourning.”

Thaddeus angled himself away from Daeanna, giving Katherine a full view of his impeccable perfection. Katherine’s face heated beneath a sheen of red, her eyes darkening, if ’twas possible for eyes as dark as hers to darken further. He stretched his arm toward her, his sultry grin and heavy-lidded eyes hiding the disdain he felt for the human.

“Come, Katherine. You need to relax, and I can help you with that matter.”

Katherine shuffled toward him like a woman under a spell, then stopped short. She blinked several times, but the lust that shone from her eyes couldn’t be muted.

“What’re your intentions?” she asked. Instead of fighting her desire, she gave into it with a slow lick of her lips. Daeanna sniggered, gaze lowering to the woman’s pert nipples under her shirt as she inhaled the faint scent of her arousal. “I’m engaged.”

“Ahh, Katherine—”

The woman shot her a hard glower. “Kate. It’s Kate.”

Daeanna waved her insistence aside. “Katherine is your given name, so shall it be here.”

She sat up in the bed, reaching for Thaddeus. She trailed her fingers down the rippled geography of his abs and crooned. His cock pressed against his leather pants, an impressive sight even confined as it was.

“Do you wish to pass up an opportunity to lay with a Fae man? A man as magnificent as Thaddeus?” She hooked her fingers on his leather pants, leaning into him to lick the delicious V of his hip. “Allow yourself something any mortal woman could only dream of.” Resting her head against Thaddeus’s side, she played a sensual grin over her mouth and met a conflicted Katherine’s gaze. “Once you taste him, you will crave him in your bed every eve.”

“This wasn’t part of our agreement. I’m not going to be your whore.” Katherine struggled to make her point convincing, but Daeanna heard the woman’s desire in her words. Still, the mortal motioned toward Dagda. “Why don’t you let him go?” Her eyes narrowed. “How is he still alive?”

“He’s immortal.” Daeanna palmed the large mound in Thaddeus’s pants, enjoying the way his muscles grew taut. “I have no reason to release him. You know naught of deceit. Not until you’ve suffered deceit at the hand of your own father. ’Tis how I ended up in your miserable mortal world, struggling to survive without so much as a dime to my name.” Daeanna dropped her hand and pushed away from Thaddeus, casting a deep scowl toward the fiery cage. “Aye, he’s my father, but naught more than a tiny seed that I sprouted from.”

Shrugging off the dour mood mention of her father poured onto her shoulders, she found her smile once more.

“So, dear Katherine, I do say you are about to lose your opportunity to experience the pleasure Thaddeus can deliverto you. I shall not extend such generosity again. After all, I don’t care to share my men.” Daeanna climbed from the bed in one fluid motion, hooked her arm through Thaddeus’s, and led him toward the lust-ladened woman. “Alas, you’ve suffered a tremendous betrayal. I believe you are well within your rights to indulge your desires.”

Katherine’s dark eyes lifted to Thaddeus. The battle to suppress her need was lost at last. After all, Thaddeus was an easily desirable man. Daeanna nudged Thaddeus forward, eager to witness his wicked foreplay unfold.

Thaddeus stepped up to Katherine, lifting her chin with a single finger to press an airy kiss to her trembling lips like that of a first-time lover. The mortal woman's uncertainty abandoned her when Thaddeus slanted his mouth and indulged in a deeper kiss as he caressed the clothing from the human woman’s body.

Daeanna pressed a finger to her lips as the heat and excitement of watching this seduction unfold suffused every inch of her. She sucked the tip of her appendage between her lips, heat pooling between her legs as she watched her lover’s hand slip between the mortal’s thighs and draw a gasp of pleasure.

Aye.