Page 63 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #2)
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Briar
I gritted my teeth. If that was Many-Greats barging into another damn bedroom again, he’d get to experience my true wrath, especially with Vad here with me. He couldn't just barge into the future king’s private areas like that!
“Stay here.” Vad bolted up.
By the time I realized what he was doing, he had taken a robe out of his wardrobe, flung it on, and bounded to the door. “What do you want?” he demanded as he pulled the door shut behind him.
Wait. If that was Many-Greats–
Hearty laughter followed on the other side, which confirmed the visitor was definitely not Many-Greats.
Someone pounded on the door. “You cheeky little minx! You just had to make sure Kaylen didn’t pull in the win, didn’t you?” Thalen called from the other side of the door.
Vad made a low grumble, so I tapped into my wolf magic. “If you even think about going in there, I will kill you.”
Something sizzled inside me for a second, and a rush of frustration washed over me that didn’t feel like my own.
Strange.
My wolf hearing flickered out as the strange sensations took front and center.
“How’d you do it, Chaos?” Thalen called out, ignoring Vad.
What in the world was Thalen talking about? I wrapped the blanket around myself, padded to the bedroom door, and cracked it to peek out.
Thalen stood in front of Vad with his arms folded and his expression bright. “Are you serious? ”
Giving him a push toward the outer door, Vad shook his head and said, “Get out and inform him that her home is with me, thus the terms of the vow are fulfilled and she remains here. She is my queen.”
“Really?” Thalen gave Vad a huge smile. “Can I hug the bride?” His gaze slid back to the door, and he froze when he caught me peeking through the crack. “Copper Chaos! You’re staying.” He then bowed dramatically. “I am at your service, my queen.”
Vad smacked his shoulder and then held a hand over Thalen’s eyes. “You do not need to be looking at her right now.”
“She’s completely covered by a door.” Thalen shook off Vad’s hand and gestured toward me as if it should be obvious.
“ Go. You can talk to her later,” Vad rasped, pushing him once again toward the outer door.
“Fine. I’ll go, but only because the sooner it’s done, the sooner I get to see the looks on all those scaffing windbags and Fate twisters when they see who you’re really crowning.” Thalen tapped his brow as he stepped back. “See you soon, Your Majesties.”
Vad returned inside, shaking his head. He shrugged the robe off, letting it drop to the floor.
“I did not intend for us to be interrupted so soon. He was just providing me with updates on various matters, one of which I think will especially please you. Elias has been retrieved, and he is recovering in a safe location.”
My heart leaped as relief flooded me. “So he’s going to be all right?”
“‘All right’ may be a flexible term, but he is receiving the best care possible. You can visit him after the ceremonies.” He sighed and dragged a hand through his hair, then scanned me in a way that made me want him inside me once more.
He groaned, “Feck, why do you have to be such a temptation? There’s much to be done, and it would be wise for us to start the preparation process. We’ll have all night to delight in one another.”
“But…” I walked alongside him and teasingly stroked his beautifully sculpted lower abs down to just above his dick. “What if you have another problem before the coronation and wedding?”
He caught my wrist but didn’t move it. “We’ll just have to savor the anticipation.
” He grimaced as he moved my hand away, as if doing so pained him.
“But I am pleased to hear that the sigil turned gold for you. That means you are unequivocally Fate’s winner in the trials, and I want to take you back to your guest room so that you can see your prize. ”
I nuzzled into him, not in the mood to be separated. The hard planes of his body pressed against me, and his wonderful smoky, spicy scent filled my nostrils. “You mean I won a prize other than you?”
He growled again, then kissed my forehead. “ I am the true winner.”
“And I don’t want to leave you for a moment.
We’ve been separated long enough. If we go out, people will see us, and they’ll want to talk.
” The thought of staying in bed and sharing our bodies with each other thrilled me.
I understood that, for royalty's sake, the coronation and the wedding were required, but maybe we could work something out where we got ready in here instead of having to be apart.
“I have a solution.” He smiled and trapped me between his body and the wall.
If he was trying to calm me down, he wasn’t doing a great job. My wolf whined with the urge to be even closer to him.
Vad leaned in and put his hands on either side of my head.
“There are ways to allow for fastest transportation throughout the palace and realms without walking. Spells and charms alike can help. Some people embed the sigils into jewelry or bracers or something similar. Some make it temporary. That room obviously won’t be your regular quarters anymore, of course. ”
“Oh? Whose room am I staying in?” I smiled.
He narrowed his eyes and grinned. “My woman sleeps in my bed with me.” A low growl curled from his throat and set me on fire. "Which is why it is now known as our bed."
“Even if I want to sleep somewhere else because someone doesn’t want me to have all the blankets?” I cocked my head and pouted.
“I assure you, my queen, I will always keep you at the perfect temperature. So long as I have any say, we will never sleep apart.” He kissed my chin, then my nose, then my lips.
“And rest assured, my body will always be at your disposal.” He kissed me and pulled back a little with a groan.
“Now…as I was saying, I’m having Thalen put a charm in your former room so that I can whisk you there. ”
“Why on earth would I want to go back to that room?” I tugged at his hair and whispered against his ear, “I like what’s in this room far better.”
He shuddered. “These chambers will be far less grand in your absence.” He kissed me slowly then pulled back. “After Thalen places the charm, I can take you directly to your room through the shadows and my magic rather than having to pass through the halls and risk you being seen.”
“Clever. But how am I to get back to our room without being seen, hmm? And that still doesn’t answer why I would want to be in there without you.”
“If you would let me finish, I would tell you.” He smirked and took my hands in his.
His thumb caressed the backs of my hands.
“In a bridal competition such as this, Fate’s ultimate winner will have her bedchamber transformed to celebrate her victory.
Fate even provides the gown in which you are to be coronated and married.
It will be uniquely designed and tailored to you, and it will not be wearable by anyone else. ”
My heart skipped as my chest expanded, and I squeezed his hands tighter. “Fate really designs a dress? Through magic?” No one had ever designed a dress for me. I got my clothes from thrift stores and bargain sales. “What if you decided not to pick me? What would happen?”
“It’s a beautiful honor, and I wouldn’t think of depriving you of it. If I had not chosen you as queen, you would still have received the dress, because Fate blesses the one she chooses. As for how you will get back, you’ll take this.” He opened the wardrobe and reached inside.
I could just make out that the shelf had numerous small boxes.
When he drew his hand out, he held a small box with the lid up and a small gold ring with a black stone nestled inside.
“This will bring you here. As you learn to use the magic, you’ll be able to enter other open rooms in the royal family quarters as well as other restricted spaces throughout the palace.
But let’s keep it simple. When you want to use it, press any of your fingers against the stone and visualize yourself in this room.
The magic will see to the rest.” He slid the ring onto my pinky finger and beamed.
“By Fate, this looks like it was always meant to be yours.”
“Guess I’ll have to be careful not to lose it then.” I lifted a brow. “Otherwise, we might wind up with more surprise guests in your living room or, even worse, in our bedroom.”
He smirked, then nuzzled me before stepping away.
“Yes, well, that would be exceptionally unfortunate for anyone who tried. I don’t share what’s mine.
I’m not even fond of others seeing you at all, unless all they are capable of is admiration.
But, to your point, the ring isn’t something to concern yourself about.
It is bound to you now. It will work only inside the castle and without risk to you.
Beyond that, it may take some building of your skills.
For instance, you won’t be able to use it to come straight back after we visit your sister. We’ll have to go to a portal for that.”
“Can we see Ember soon?” I bit the inside of my cheek as I watched him walk away, feeling the chill of his absence. “I don’t want to stay there forever, but I do miss her. She’s protected me from so much, and we’ve always been there for each other.”
“Very soon.” He picked up his robe and wrapped it around me, his hands lingering to massage my shoulders in lazy strokes and then sliding down to briefly cup my breasts. His throaty groan confirmed how hard it was for him to pull free, and I knew well that that wasn’t the only thing hard now.
Smiling, I burrowed into the soft fabric and inhaled his scent. If I couldn’t have his body around me, this was the closest thing to heaven.