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Again with that.

“Just the Shadow King?” I drawled, wrestling my blissed-out eyes open.

He chuckled. “Yes.”

I withdrew my hand. He released it, though I was fairly certain I sensed some reluctance as he did so. “What are you doing out there?”

“You may not have noticed, Love, but you’re naked. And my court is full of very, very curious fae who keep attempting to sneak out here to see the fated mate their stubborn king has waited so long to meet. I’d hate to have to kill them for catching a glimpse of those perfect breasts.”

My eyes widened, my face flushing. “You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, I would.” His voice was playful, but there was a level of certainty behind the words that made me sure he was telling the truth.

I sputtered, “Why?”

“A man doesn’t wait to meet his mate for as long as I have with the intention of sharing his female.”

Stars.

“You’re insane,” I snapped, making sure the tent was closed tightly.

“Sanity is overrated,” he said, his voice flooded with humor.

Shaking my head, I lowered myself to the mattress that smelled so deliciously like the man outside the tent. “I’m going to sleep. If you stick so much as a finger in this tent uninvited, you can consider our connection voided.”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

As much as I wished I didn’t, I believed him.

Despite everything, he had never lied to me or tried to force my hand.

And as much as I didn’t want to, I trusted him.

Stars, I hated that.

And loved it, at the same time.

Chapter9

Namir wokeme up to eat a few hours later, with a ticklish touch of a shadowy tendril against my cheek. I hoped I’d fall back asleep after I ate, but when my stomach was full of the incredible hot food someone had brought us, I wasn’t tired in the slightest.

“I’m coming out,” I told Namir, knowing he was still sitting right outside. There was still a tendril of his shadows waving back and forth in the tent, brushing my skin every now and then.

“Put these on, then.” I heard fabric rustling, and then his hand slipped through the tent’s flaps, holding a thick silver bag.

I grimaced at it, but took it.

Opening the flap that hung over the top to close it, I peered into the bag.

White fabric with silver decorative embroidery.

My stomach clenched, and I closed the bag. I tossed it back through the tent’s flaps, crashing back to the mattress. “Never mind.”

There was a moment’s pause. “Is something wrong with the clothes?” Namir’s voice was surprised, and I heard him grab the bag, rustling around in it. “It just looks like a dress and undergarment. It feels comfortable; I told Lavee to get you whatever would feel the best against your skin.”

My face twisted in a grimace, and I debated keeping my mouth shut.

“Diora?” He practically growled at me. “Tell me the problem.”