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He released her hair and leaned closer, smashing her between us. His lips found mine, and we kissed over her shoulder. We thrust into her body, finding a rhythm that rubbed our cocks together. A few seconds later, Given shook violently as an orgasm swept her.

The atmosphere changed. Grew savage and more charged. I ripped my mouth from Laurent’s with a growl as we both thrust harder, pumping our dicks in tandem. I clenched my teeth. Given screamed and shuddered all over again.

Laurent threw his head back. “Fuck! I’m coming!”

My own release bore down on me. Panic gathered as I realized I needed to pull out. But the thought arrived a half-second too late. I came on a shout, my dick twitching as I pumped come deep inside Given’s pussy. Laurent thrust a final time and collapsed against her back. For a long moment, the three of us stayed plastered together, our chests heaving as we struggled to catch our breath. Then Laurent pulled out and flopped onto his back, one arm flung over his eyes. “Fuck,” he muttered.

Given stirred against me. I moved to shift us into a more comfortable position just as Laurent rolled to his stomach and thrust his hands under the pillow.

His bellow shook the bed.

Given and I sprang apart as he reeled back, blood spraying across the sheets. Steam rose from his fingers.

A lifetime of training took over. With one mighty sweep of my hand, I shoved Given off the bed. She went sprawling onto the floor, but I didn’t have time to worry if she landed safely. Only one material made a vampire’s skin smoke like that.

Solstone.

I grabbed Laurent around the waist, vaulted off the bed, and shoved him away from the danger. When he tried to step around me, I shoved him again. “Stay back, Your Grace.” He cursed but did as I said, his bleeding hand cradled against his stomach.

I went to the bed and ripped the pillows away. Sure enough, a fucking solstone dagger lay on the mattress. Yellow waves rippled down the blade.

Behind me, Given gave a startled cry. “That’s not where I left—” Her voice cut off abruptly. But it didn’t matter. I was on her in seconds, my fingers biting into her arms as I dragged her onto her toes so I could snarl in her face.

“Finish the fucking sentence,” I demanded.

She winced, her gaze darting over my shoulder, where I sensed Laurent looming. But he didn’t come forward. His life was precious to the realm, and he knew better than to imperil his safety. It was my job to stand between him and would-be assassins. Even if one of those assassins was his wife.

“Do as Lord Varick commands,” he said, his voice deadly quiet.

“I…” Her face crumpled. “Someone gave it to me! But I never meant to use it, I swear it!”

I shook her, sending her pale hair flying around her shoulders. “Who? I’ll have a name right now or I’ll take it from your flesh.”

“I c-can’t—”

“Now!” I roared.

“Rowena,” she gasped. “Rowena of Lar Kessa.”

Laurent hissed. “You mean Rowena of Sithistra.” He rounded me but kept space between himself and Given. “That fucking brother of yours put you up to this, didn’t he? Sent you across the Rift with orders to spread your legs and then stick a solstone dagger in my heart, you traitorous bitch.”

“That is not true! How could you think that?”

“Because there’s a fucking solstone dagger in my bed!”

Her eyes flashed. “I didn’t put it there! Rowena gave it to me—”

“When?”

She clamped her mouth shut.

He surged forward like he meant to grab her.

“Your Grace,” I snapped, ready to block him.

He fell back, but menace flowed off of him. “Answer me, Given. Answer me right now or so help me I’ll—”

“Two weeks ago,” she said, “but I was never going to use it. I swear it to you on all the gods.”