Page 64 of Artemysia

“With her, I am no longer alone.” - Riev

W ith Delphine asleep in my arms, we’re an orgasm-addled, boneless heap on the bed, and I’m reveling in an unparalleled high that makes me forget who I am. I never want to stop feeling this way, so I stay awake to savor it.

Our world has been turned upside down, and if it all has to go mad, I want to go up in flames with Delphine by my side. My heart beats a little faster for a bit. Fuck it all. She makes me feel like we can take on the world together.

With her, I am no longer alone.

She snores slightly, her cheek on my bare chest, so I adjust her head back so she can breathe freely.

Gods, she’s gorgeous. She has a strength I’ve never seen in anyone—a strength I do not even possess myself.

She’s everything. My everything.

I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, and her steady breaths lull me to sleep the way the rushing West River used to do in the springtime when I lived with Marije, in the days before Galke and the Academy turned me into a killer.

We skip breakfast, opting to stay in bed to take turns fucking each other into the mattress.

There’s incredible sex…and talking…and sex again.

The flood of emotion every time I hear her say “I’m yours,” or “You’re everything,” is just as good as the explosive releases I have when her tight little pussy clenches around my cock.

I tell her that, and she blushes at my vulgar words.

“I feel the same way.”

Her little throaty sounds vibrate into me, her fingers wedged in my hair as I kneel by the bed to go down on her again.

“And you liked it when I was in charge last night,” I remind her.

“I did. But I absolutely love telling people what to do. Don’t deny me that.”

“Fine, we can take turns.”

“Okay then. My turn. Fuck my mouth, Riev. Deep,” she says, yanking me up by my shoulders.

She grins innocently at my wide-eyed expression as she lays back, asking for me to straddle her face with a flick of her palm. “I can be obscene too.”

I never knew one word could get me this hard, but I’ve only ever heard her say effin’ or a-hole . So when she says the real thing— fuck —it unhinges me.

It’s delicious, the way it slips from her lips.

“Your dirty mouth needs my cock? Open wider, or it’s not going to fit.”

“Don’t be gentle.”

She grunts softly as she takes my full length down her throat, her eyes watering as I do as I’m told. I drive into her relentlessly, because every time I slow down, she whines a complaint and grabs my ass for more.

Good fucking gods.

A midday cannon announces the royal luncheon we are supposed to attend, according to the invitation secured by the Syf.

Delphine mutters something about being hungry, but she stays buried face down in the blankets, naked.

I lovingly pat Delphine’s butt and press a kiss to her shoulder before I roll off the bed to go wash up.

When I’m done, Delphine and I exchange a kiss on her way into the bath. She lingers to nuzzle my neck, sniffing so deeply that it tickles, and tells me I smell really good.

All of this couldn’t be more perfect, and I make it my new ambition in life to always wake up somewhere near Delphine so she will greet me like this in the morning after a shower. I’m not even worried that I’m thinking such deranged thoughts, because deranged people deserve to have goals, too.

I’m pulling on my trousers when a hesitant tap of the door is accompanied by a low male voice.

“Delphine,” he says. “Open the door. It’s an emergency.”

I’m already at the entryway when Delphine, in a towel, peers out of the bathroom.

I open the double doors to reveal Prince Toryl in a cream linen suit, appearing as regal and grim as ever.

“Riev,” he says neutrally, looking down his long, fine nose at me.

“High Lord,” I say with as much disdain as I can fit into two short syllables while imagining crushing his skull with my bare hands.

“The two of you need to leave.” He eyes Delphine as she rushes out of the bathroom, drying her hair with one towel, with another wrapped around her body, barely covering her ass.

I have half a mind to gouge out his eyes for gawking.

“What happened?” Delphine circles around the bed, scoops up the diamond necklace off the nightstand, and pushes past me to invite the prince into the room.

She presses the necklace into his palm. He grips her hand as he takes it. Before I can finish fantasizing about gutting him and watching his entrails spill out, he turns to me .

“It seems the real Marquis and Marchioness of the Outer Riverlands have sent word. They were held captive by Syf but managed to sneak out a message to warn the palace—to warn me that there might be impostors .” He throws me a knowing look, and I glower right back, planning to strike him unconscious before he can detain us.

Break that delicate nose of his so it’s crooked for life. Maybe knock a few teeth loose.

It depends on his next words.

To my slight disappointment, but lucky for him, his next words save him.

“I’ve told the guards to take their midday break.

” He fishes out a key from his breast pocket.

“This unlocks a hidden passageway on the fourth floor. The portrait of me. It will take you outside of the manor, but you’re on your own to escape.

The king has just been informed and guards will be coming for you.

My father stalls only to devise a plan that avoids causing a scene.

He can’t lose face in front of his nobles. ”

He offers the key to Delphine. I wonder how she did it—charmed him, pried out the secrets of his kingdom, and even now, made him want to help her.

Am I under her spell, too? Of course I am.

Suspicion flares in my chest. “Why are you helping—?”

“Thank you, Prince Toryl,” Delphine interrupts.

“Let’s say you opened my eyes to the possibilities of both strategy and the heart—your intent to do good for all is a rare thing.

And while I don’t know if love is for me, what you two have…

maybe it’s worth not destroying right now.

I may be spoiled. I may not be entirely good, but I’m not evil.

” He grins warmly at Delphine as if it’s an inside joke, and I bristle.

She hugs him tightly, still in her towel, and he returns her embrace. He politely holds back, and I do my best to ignore the new, recent phenomenon of jealousy spiking in me all the time. Perhaps they understand each other somehow, even in such a short time.

It’s what Delphine does to people.

Maybe he isn’t as big of a dickhole as I thought—for nobility, that is.

Toryl turns to leave, but takes one last glimpse of Delphine over his shoulder. I try to avoid thinking stabby thoughts again .

“Good luck, Delphine,” he says. Maybe I imagine the tinge of sadness, but I know if I had to say goodbye to her, I’d have the same longing in my voice. “May we meet again.” He strides out, hurries down the hall, and disappears through a smaller side corridor.

Delphine shuts the door behind him. “There’s no time, Riev, let’s go.” She dips back into the bathroom and rushes to change into trousers and a clean white shirt.

I check the window. “What do you think—climb down? There’s a chance the passageway is a trap.”

“Everyone’s out on the lawn for the luncheon. They’ll see us. We’ll have to trust the passageway. Try to find some elk once we’re out.”

I frown. “You trust that tall, handsome jerk then.”

“He’s a little odd and spoiled, but he means well.”

“Passageway it is. I snuck weapons into your trunk. Under your undergarments.”

“Smart.” She glances at me appreciatively.

I rummage past the clothing in her luggage, unpacking our blades. “They checked my bags and flipped through your dresses, but assumed the weight at the bottom was jewelry and shoes. I may have commented on your love of heavy, expensive gems and gold.”

She snorts out a nervous laugh as she braids her hair back from her face.

Her mood sobers, her expression delightfully ruthless. I relish the idea of fighting alongside her again.

If only one person has my back, I want it to be Delphine. She’s unstoppable.

I lay out our small but efficient arsenal of weapons on the bedspread. Delphine straps on her double holster. She sheathes her two short swords and her broadsword.

I have a bandolier of daggers along with my blade.

She adjusts a twist in my leathers and buckles my sword on my hips.

“Us against the world, right?” I snap on an extra set of knives across her chest. “In our case, it’s actually true.”

She nods once. “Us against the world.”

I plant a quick kiss on her forehead. “Burn it or save it. We’ll do it together. ”

“Together.” She grasps my hand, and I lock my fingers tightly with hers.

At the same time, I unsheathe my sword, she draws her blade, and we throw open the double doors of our bedroom.