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I go to him, wrapping an arm around his stomach. He responds, turning and holding me tight.

“I do not fear my father’s wrath on me,” he tells me, his lips moving against my neck. “I fear his wrath on you. I will not let him touch you.”

I do not respond, allowing Theo this space to grieve. But a storm roils inside my chest, so strong it makes my hands shake. In my mind, it is certain—for what he has done, it ismywrath the king needs to fear.

Chapter 30

Theo and I stay out in the greenhouse until the sky begins the lighten. I hold him until his tears dry, and we stay in comfortable silence, side by side. We watch the stars slide across the sky and eventually fade, our hands clasped.

When he is ready, we make our way back to his chambers, moving stealthily through the secret passageways to avoid the watchful gaze of the guards. We only bump into one person—a startled kitchen porter who nods to us and moves on.

We are exhausted by the time we reach Theo’s chambers, and he promptly collapses into bed. I wearily drag myself behind the screen to change into one of the several nightgowns I have brought to his chambers previously, and by the time I make it to bed with him, he is softly snoring. I look at him, splayed out under the covers and mouth slightly open, and feel a rushof fondness. I climb in next to him and try not to think about the time we have slowly counting down, the blade of the executioner’s axe ever-looming above my neck.

???

The next day is, unsurprisingly, spent at the library. Inez brings us breakfast and tea as we push our way through book after book after book. Both of us, despite being avid readers, are beginning to get sick of the sight of them. After slamming another useless book shut, I sit with my face in my hands, trying to hold back the flood of tears threatening to spill. Without my au’mana, I only have my knowledge and even that is proving worthless.

“Shivani,” Theo says, his voice low and soothing. “I think it is time for a break.”

I groan in response, not moving. I hear his chair scraping back as he rises and moves to stand behind me.

He bends to murmur in my ear, “I will help you.”

Strong hands squeeze my shoulders. He kneads at the tense muscles there until I am forced to relax. I drop my hands from my face and sit up.

Theo’s thumbs push firmly but gently, and I close my eyes, enjoying it despite my frustrations. I twist my neck slightly, feelingevery squeeze.

“Good?” he asks, and I nod, keeping my eyes closed. He continues on for several minutes, until even my ophid relaxes, before brushing my hair to the side. His lips are gentle on the nape of my neck.

“Mmm.” I smile, moving my head to the side to allow him better access to the soft skin there. He responds by grazing his teeth lightly over it and following up with more tender kisses.

“Shivani,” he whispers, his hands on the outside of my upper arms. “There is something I would very much like to do…but stop me if you do not want to.”

My pulse quickens at his words.

“I will,” I whisper.

“Sit on the table for me,” he instructs, his voice soft but dominating. Immediately, I comply, turning to push myself up onto the table and facing him.

He nudges himself between my legs, capturing my face in his hand and bending to kiss me. Although familiar, there is something different this time, something exciting and exhilarating and new. It makes my heart race and anticipation course through my veins.

“Tell me to stop, and I will,” he mumbles against my mouth before moving down, leaving a path of kisses from my jaw to my chest. He continues, further and further, until he is kneeling between my legs.

He looks up at me questioningly, storm grey eyes alight, and I reach down to run my hands through his thick, soft hair. I am nervous but it is swiftly overtaken by my wanting.

“Do not stop,” I breathe.

He smirks and, with ease, pulls one of my legs up onto his shoulder. The skirt of my dress rides up, exposing the bare skin of my thigh above my stockings. He kisses the skin there tenderly, teasingly, looking up at me all the while. I am out of breath even though I have barely moved, and there is a scalding heat throughout my body.

Theo hooks my other leg onto his shoulder before pushing up my skirt. I cannot take my eyes away from him as he leans forward, and his head disappears under the fabric. A beat later, I feel the warmth of his tongue along the most sensitive part of me.

I gasp and grip his hair harder. He takes his time as though savouring me, and each movement of his lips sends a jolt through my body. My moans echo through the library. I pull my skirt up and his eyes stay on mine, looking up and watching me, watching my reaction to him. Theo devours me, and I let him.

He strokes me with the flat of his tongue, deftly,hungrily, as though he is a man starved. He moans against me, sending vibrations of pleasure along my spine. While one hand grips his hair, the other desperately claws at the table.

And then I feel something. He reaches up to press a finger against my entrance, hard and thick in contrast to the softness of his mouth. I instinctively tense but he is gentle, sliding his finger in slowly. Inch by inch, he sinks inside me before drawing back. His tongue sweeps across me, dipping between my folds before circling my sensitive bud. It brings me to the edge.

“Yes,” I gasp, shuddering as wave after wave of pleasure crashes through me. My body jerks, my back arching with each surge, but he does not release me until I am too sensitive to continue. “S-Stop.”