Page 33

I take a slow breath, forcing my voice to remain level. “I need time to consider your demand. The nest faction dispute is complicated. My endorsement carries weight, but I won’t offer it blindly.”

Velna narrows her eyes. “Don’t imagine you can stall indefinitely. I expect your decision soon.”

I step closer, allowing my height and coiled tail to overshadow her. “Do not forget, Velna, that you walk on dangerous ground. You might be the council’s darling, but you’re in my estate now. If you overstep, you won’t leave unscathed.”

She lifts her chin, unbowed. “Threaten me all you like. I know you can’t risk killing me, or the scandal would be even greater.”

A muscle in my jaw twitches. “Then stay out of my path while I deliberate. Betray me once more, and I’ll make certain you regret it.”

She tilts her head, an exaggerated show of compliance.

“I’m so glad we can chat without shedding blood this time.

” With a final pointed glance, she sweeps from the reception chamber, her robes swishing across the floor.

I watch her go, every fiber of me coiled with fury.

She played her hand, and for now, she holds the advantage.

Tension thrums in my veins, each breath sharp.

A swirl of old resentments mixes with the fresh panic that she could destroy everything I’ve built.

My domain stands precariously enough with council scrutiny.

Adding Velna’s blackmail could tip the scales beyond my control.

And Mira—fear stabs my chest. If Velna reveals our bond, the council might seize her as evidence of my heresy. That possibility sets my teeth on edge.

I stand in the empty chamber for an interminable stretch, trying to quell my shaking.

Then I storm out, tail slapping the floor, and head for my private wing.

My mind churns, searching for a plan. If I succumb to Velna’s demands, I become her puppet.

If I resist, I risk losing everything. Is there a middle path?

Perhaps I can glean leverage or orchestrate her downfall.

Eventually, I find myself in the corridor near Mira’s quarters, the weighty quiet of the manor pressing in.

An urge compels me to see her, to anchor myself in her presence.

An urge compels me to see her, to anchor myself in her presence.

We’ve tried to keep a distance, but right now, distance won’t quell the roiling storm inside me.

I knock softly on her door. A few heartbeats pass. Then it opens, revealing her small form wrapped in a simple robe, dark hair pinned with that jade comb. Concern flashes in her eyes at the sight of my tense shoulders and clenched jaw.

“Vahziryn?” she says, voice hushed. “Is something wrong?”

I grit my teeth, stepping inside before I can talk myself out of it. Her room is modest: a narrow bed, a single dresser, a faint lamp lighting the space. The air carries her subtle scent—lavender and soap. My tail flicks behind me, betraying agitation I can’t hide.

She closes the door, face lined with worry. “Tell me.”

Exhaling unsteadily, I lock eyes with her. “Velna arrived,” I say, keeping my voice low. “My ex-betrothed. She’s blackmailing me, threatening to inform the council about us if I don’t endorse her political ambitions.”

Shock ripples across her features. “She’s the one who tried to kill you in the past?” Her hand clenches at her robe’s edge. “Why would she come now?”

“Because she smells weakness,” I murmur, tail curling in frustration. “The council’s scrutiny, the rumors about you and me—she believes she can exploit them.”

Mira’s cheeks pale. “And if you refuse her?”

I swallow the knot in my throat. “She’ll tell the council everything. We risk losing the estate, your freedom—everything.” My voice shakes with suppressed rage. “I refuse to let her manipulate me, but we stand on dangerous ground.”

A hush settles, thick with dread. Then Mira steps closer, placing a hand on my scaled forearm. Her touch sends a surge of heat and longing coursing through me. “We’ll find a way,” she murmurs, gaze steady. “You’re not alone.”

My chest tightens with gratitude, overshadowed by a gnawing hunger for her reassurance.

She stands so near, the lamplight casting warm highlights across her cheeks.

The swirl of old fury at Velna and fresh desire for Mira tangles in my gut, fueling an almost desperate need to cling to something real, something ours.

“Mira,” I whisper, voice breaking. “I can’t stand her presence in these walls, threatening our bond. I?—”

She hushes me gently, hand sliding to my chest. “Don’t let her poison you with fear.” Her eyes flick to the door, verifying it’s closed, then back to me. “You are stronger than her lies, stronger than the council’s threats.”

A raw, desperate feeling surges in me. I dip my head, resting my forehead against hers. “I want to believe that,” I murmur. “But the weight of it...”

She rises on her toes, lips brushing mine in a feather-light caress.

The contact sends a lightning bolt of need through my body.

A trembling exhale escapes me, tail automatically coiling around her waist, drawing her close.

My anger over Velna’s intrusion blends with a hungry desire to reaffirm what’s truly mine.

She kisses me again, more firmly. I respond with a low growl, tangling my hand in her hair.

The comb clatters to the floor, a small casualty of our urgency.

Our mouths meet with a fervor that devours caution.

Her robe slips, revealing her smooth shoulders.

The flicker of lamplight on her bare skin ignites every protective, possessive instinct in me.

“Mira,” I breathe, voice thick with longing. My tail loops around her thighs, lifting her so our faces align. Her arms wind around my neck, eyes shining with trust and raw want.

We come together in a rush of kisses that scour away my anger at Velna, at the council, at everything that threatens to tear us apart.

Her mouth moves over mine with a desperation mirroring my own.

My scales rasp softly against the cloth of her robe as I pull her flush to my chest. She gasps, arching against me, and the sweet sound fuels my desire.

In a frantic bid for closeness, I guide her to the narrow bed.

The mattress creaks under our weight as I settle above her, tail coiled around her waist and thigh in a protective circle.

She pushes aside the edges of my robe, palms sliding across my scaled forearms, exploring the ridges that lead to my shoulders.

A shudder of pleasure arcs through me at her touch.

I lower my head, pressing open-mouthed kisses down her neck.

She tilts her chin up, offering more skin to my lips.

My fangs graze lightly, careful not to break the surface.

She moans softly, threading her fingers into my hair.

Heat builds between us, wiping away rational thought.

I need her warmth, her acceptance, the reminder that even in a world of brutal politics, we can claim a moment of solace.

Her robe slips further, baring her soft curves.

My tail shifts, hooking around her leg, opening her to me.

I can barely breathe, consumed by hunger for her.

Our first time was driven by impulsive need.

Now, the anger that Velna stoked fans my desire, but also a fierce tenderness emerges—an urge to soothe and protect all at once.

I slip my hand along her hip, feeling her tremble under my touch. She meets my gaze, eyes reflecting a deep spark. “I want this,” she whispers, cheeks flushed. “I’m not afraid.”

Relief mingles with passion. “Hold me,” I murmur, voice rough, as my double shafts grow rigid, barbs faintly ridged. A flicker of concern crosses her eyes, but she nods, remembering how we navigated this before. She grips my shoulders, bracing for that powerful intrusion.

With measured care, I align myself, pressing the first shaft into her heat.

Her body yields to me with a gasp. The tight clasp around my length steals my breath, reminiscent of that moment in the library but threaded with deeper meaning.

My tail anchors around her, stabilizing her.

She moans, arms tightening around my neck, drawing me closer.

I begin a slow rhythm, ensuring she adjusts, reading every hitch in her breath.

Each thrust sends spirals of ecstasy through me, the barbs providing a friction that makes her whimper in sweet delight.

When I introduce the second shaft, her nails dig into my skin, a mix of shock and pleasure flaring in her eyes.

She lets out a trembling moan, and I fight to remain gentle, mindful of her comfort.

She clenches around me, tears glistening, though not from pain but the force of sensation.

My entire being vibrates with an intense awareness that this act is more than mere physical release.

It’s a reclamation of what Velna threatens to break.

My fangs slide over her shoulder, grazing skin, but I hold back from biting too hard.

Instead, I kiss the juncture, a worshipful press of lips that conveys the devotion I cannot speak aloud without endangering us.

Our movements sync, building a relentless heat that drowns out every fear.

I bury my face against her neck, inhaling her faint lavender scent.

She arches under me, lips parted in a silent plea.

We lose ourselves in a tangle of limbs, forging unity from the storm raging outside.

I thrust deeper, barbs anchoring in a way that binds us momentarily, making her cry out my name.