Page 29

A frantic, hungry light sparked bright in that one blue eye, and her sharp nails dug so deep into my back I’d be surprised if there wasn’t blood springing beneath them.

“Do your worst, Irin. But don’t make empty promises.”

Her words, almost as bestial of a snarl as mine, unhinged me completely.

One of my hands wrapped around her throat, the span almost large enough to touch my fingertips at the back, and I let my hips swing freely as I pulled back and drove into her at a wild pace. Her own hand snapped up to hold mine and slipped a couple of fingers in between my palm and the front of her throat, like she was making sure I wouldn’t grip tight enough to choke her. Somehow, that made the whole experience that much more potent. She trusted me to keep my control, but was also prepared to react if she felt threatened.

My release slammed into me, shooting straight into my brain with the most potent feeling of relief mixed with carnal satisfaction I’d ever felt in my life. It was like taking that first gulp of air after being underwater, the feeling of depriving myself of something and getting it back all at once, sending my senses reeling almost to the point of blacking out. Haron was right on the edge of falling over into that pit with me. I could tell by the way she clenched so deliciously and began to tremble. Her free hand slipped down between us, the back of it slidingagainst my tensed abs, and that was all it took to snap me from my stupor.

Iwanted to be the one to push her over that edge to insanity.Iwanted to be the only one responsible for her coming all over my cock.

“I don’t fucking think so.” I nipped her jaw and pushed her hand out of the way before those creeping fingers made their way to her clit. “This pussy ismine.”

Haron threw her head back, pushing it as far as she could into the mattress as her back bowed up to make as much friction as she could, andlaughed. She laughed like I’d said the most absurd thing, even as I continued to pound the rest of my release into her.

“Then fuckingdo somethingwith it, little princeling.”

The fact she didn’t deny my claim brought a triumphant smile to my lips that her eyes locked onto. Instead of pushing herself to her own orgasm, she wrapped her hand around my own throat to mimic my own. That was all the permission I needed to plunge my own hand down and press the pads of my fingers against her clit. It was already so slick they slipped smoothly across the nub, and her answering gasp had saliva pooling in my mouth. How she brought out equal instincts to tear a claiming bite into her shoulder and drive my cock impossibly deep threatened to make my thoughts scatter completely.

“Ungh, gods!”

That. That was it. That feminine cry from Haron’s lips decided for me. Every muscle in her body seemed to contract as one, squeezing me so impossibly tight in her channel that my next thrust hardly drew me from her. The taste of blood flooded my mouth, and I realized I’d bitten the inside of my cheek to keep a beastly howl from erupting past my clenched teeth. Instead, my hips snapped forward to finally bury myself all the way inside her, just as the last of my release shuddered through me.

Her responding groan was so enticing I wanted to eat her whole.

Instead, I settled for running my tongue up her neck until I reached her mouth, still gasping for air, and hungrily kissed her swollen lips. Haron wrapped her arms loosely around my neck, her face holding the softest, most satisfied expression with a heavy-lidded stare. My hips tucked closer to hers, unwilling to let myself slip out of her warmth just yet.

“That,” she gasped, once she could break loose from my lips. “Was well worth the risk of being eaten alive.”

I froze. My eyes narrowed slightly as I glared from above, braced on my elbows to keep from crushing her. Although at this very moment, Haron could probably use a little smothering. A disbelieving snort left my mouth, and I rolled my eyes. “You’re insane,” I muttered.

“Probably.” She propped herself up on her elbows to kiss the tip of my nose. “Now let me up, so I can clean myself a bit.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.” A wolfish grin spread across my lips. I lowered myself down slowly, making sure every inch of skin on the fronts of our bodies rubbed on the way, until my hands gripped her hips, and my face was just above her enticing cunt. Keeping her interested gaze, I ran my tongue through her folds all the way up to her clit, applying just enough pressure to make her squirm in my tight hold.

“I’ll be sure to clean you thoroughly.”

Chapter Ten

Haron

Today, I finally had the opportunity to visit the remnants of Julra and the Clifftombs. Requesting approval from the

rest of the Council was challenging. They feared the land was tainted, cursed by whatever twisted magic the

Golathian spellcasters set loose on the world. Sinna insisted on joining me for the short journey. She said she had to

see for herself the remains of her country. She needed closure, to accept the royal family she clearly loved was truly

gone.

-"The Tragic History of Julra," by High Scholar Yuret Wend, Year 39 of Ber's First Reign

Ithought it was considerate enough to give Jinon a couple of days to recoup from his little party before paying him a visit myself. This time, I was much more confrontational as he stepped into his study, dressed in his night clothes as if going to bed soon. Since leaving Irin sprawled on his bed early yesterday morning, I tried to keep my head low and my presence absent from The Hanging Cat, in case he came looking for me again. I couldn't afford to be distracted, even with the promise of good dick. Most of the past two days were spent searching the surrounding Ber's Forest for more poorly hidden bodies. If Trisne's body was more than a one-off result of a ritual, I would have a much larger problem on my hands than a neglectful father. There hadn't been others tucked away in the forest to rot… yet.

Despite the current setting, my toes curled in their boots just thinking about my night with the little princeling. There were no regrets to be had, but I certainly couldn't afford to be led astray from my true mission.

What was wrong with having a little fun, though?