Page 75 of Cruelest Kiss and Fairest Blood (Tales So Wicked #2)

Harrow

C atreena’s golden bracelet sits on the arm of my throne, whispering.

It isn’t hard and cold, but soft and pliant.

The golden threads aren’t made of metal.

What could they be? The need to know where it came from and how many more are out there eats away at my thoughts.

There’s too much power in so small a trinket.

I shudder to think how many others have used a bracelet of their own to cheat death.

That type of excess time does something to humans.

They all end up corrupted. Which means anyone sporting a golden bracelet of their own is up to nefarious acts and wicked deeds.

“That thing will drive you mad.” Lenore plops down on my lap, pulling my hand from the bracelet.

“Darling, I’m already mad. For you.”

She giggles as I plant a flurry of kisses across her cheek and neck. Her squirming body bumps into the bracelet, sending it spilling onto the floor. It whispers again, more loudly. We both stare down at it.

“What happened to her?” She doesn’t need to specify. I knew she would ask about Catreena eventually.

“I traded her for my freedom.”

“What does that mean?”

“When Cassius pulled you from the spell, I got trapped in the in-between. Negotiating a way out was my only choice. Drusinnia wanted another wing.”

Lenore gasps, her hands reaching for the tops of my wings. “That evil bitch.”

Her choice of words makes me grin. “She’ll never get these. But she did want something beautiful and uniquely powerful. So I offered her?—”

“Catreena,” Lenore finishes. “So she’s trapped in the in-between forever?”

I nod. “Torment for all eternity. Far worse than she would have had it here. Drusinnia makes my torturous techniques look like I’m coddling the damned.”

Lenore’s smile is devious. “Good.”

Most days I still can’t believe I have Lenore here with me.

After I secured her in her sepulcher and headed back to the Underworld, I feared the worst. The flight home was spent thinking of ways I could help her remember me.

I assumed she would have gone to a silver garden.

The thought of her being as vacant as the others made my heart ache.

I vowed to do whatever it took to help her remember me, us, and herself.

To my great shock, she wasn’t in a garden. I found her wandering around the halls of my palace. She said she awoke in my bed. Lenore insists it’s our true love that allowed her to keep her memories. What happened and why don’t matter to me. Only that I have my Lenore forever.

A crown of thick black spires presses up from her lovely silver head. I run my dark nails through the long bright strands. The first time she died, it took her eye color. When she died for the last time, it took the color from her hair.

Her glassy blue eyes and silver hair make her look like walking starlight. She loves the new look and so do I.

“Well, she won’t be needing her jewelry again anytime soon.” Lenore kicks the bracelet away. It unnerves her. There’s something alive about it. The subtlest hint of a whisper when things get too quiet.

“I’ve been thinking, you need a bit of special jewelry of your own.”

“What about the necklace Cassius gifted me?” Lenore bites her lip, fighting back a grin.

“Wicked woman. What have I told you about speaking his name in my halls?”

I have her flipped over my knee before she can answer. “Don’t you dare!” she squeals.

“Don’t I dare what? Spank you into obedience?” My palm connects with her ass twice. Lenore is too busy laughing to properly protest. Keeping her bent forward, I dangle her new gift in front of her face.

I can’t see her reaction, but I can feel the tightening of her body and hear her swift gasp. “Oh, Harrow.”

Flipping her back onto my lap, I lay the necklace in my palm. She runs her fingertips over each stone.

“May I?” I ask.

Lenore nods quickly, lifting her hair out of the way. The necklace was carefully crafted from the rich green Vivianite that flourishes within the mountain. I chose only the brightest pieces. Five in total, they sit just beneath Lenore’s scar, illuminating it.

“Because nothing about you should ever be hidden again,” I murmur. Her lips find mine, gentle, grateful. “And I mean nothing.”

My hands run the length of her body, starting at the necklace and ending between her thighs. The shadow dress hiding her body from me vanishes.

“Harrow!” Lenore protests as she finds herself naked on my lap. “I’m going to need a non-shadow wardrobe.”

“Not a chance, Roseheart.” I nip at her bottom lip.

The sound of tiny feet scurrying across the throne room floor pulls my attention away from Lenore’s lovely mouth. The furry little face of the Underworld’s most mischievous new resident peers up from the floor.

“Weasley,” I grumble. “What have I told you about sneaking around the palace? I’ve given you a forest that covers half the Underworld.”

It seems Lenore’s herd of resurrected animals were tied to her by blood.

They all fell within a week of her passing.

You’d think it would have been a somber occasion.

Instead, the animals rejoiced as they entered my domain.

Every single creature, from doe to sparrow, made an immediate beeline for the palace.

Somehow, they could all sense her presence in the heart of the kingdom.

Maybe because she is the heart of this kingdom now.

The forest grew the first day Lenore joined me here.

Trees sprouted from every patch of scorched earth and every ruined garden.

More flowers have bloomed in the gardens of the dead than ever before.

It’s as if the Underworld was asleep. When Lenore arrived, it awakened and burst to life. Every day I notice more growth.

The weasel’s indignant squeak is one I’ve come to recognize as the little rat “talking back”. He can’t stay away from Lenore. None of them can. I can’t blame them. There’s no one I love to spend my time with more than my Queen of Bones.

“She’s my girl, Weasley.” I pull Lenore deeper onto my lap. “Now off with you.”

Lenore speaks softly. “I just need a quick moment with Harrow. Tell everyone I’ll be down shortly.”

The weasel chirps happily as he hurries back the way he came.

“You lied to the poor creature,” I accuse.

“I would never. How do you mean?”

“You told him all you needed was a quick moment. There’s nothing quick about the things I have planned for you.” The tip of my tongue runs up the left side of her neck.

“I can’t imagine what you’ve devised to tie up my afternoon. I’m starting to think you delight in keeping me locked away in here. You want me all to yourself.”

“I’m greedy and don’t share well,” I growl into her ear. “And now that you mention it, keeping you tied up sounds perfect.”

My movements are quick as I flip Lenore in the air and wrap her in shadows.

I’ve always enjoyed tying her up. More intricate bondage has become a new favorite hobby.

Shadows make perfects ropes—soft, flexible, but strong as hell.

My queen looks too delectable upside down.

Her flowing starry hair hangs down, brushing the top of the shiny emerald floor.

Even the small thatch of hair between her thighs has been stripped of color.

Maybe she never really died and just fell from the heavens instead. A fallen star. Or an angel. That makes more sense. Her beauty and light are too magical to have come from somewhere as bland as the mortal realm.

Lenore watches me undress. My cock is hard and ready as I approach her, leveling the shadows so that her pussy is at mouth height.

“It’s been ages since I’ve tasted you.”

She giggles. “You ate me out before my eyes were even open this morning. That was only a few hours ago.”

“Centuries in the life of an immortal with an addiction to such a perfect pussy.” The flat of my tongue grazes up the length of her. She spreads her knees for me. “Good little raven.”

I send several shadows inside her, stroking her inner walls while I lap at her clit until she shakes.

“Harrow…”

“Mmhmm?” I hum against her.

“I swear if you make me squirt in this position and it gets in my hair I will not be happy. Flip me over.” She squirms. “Better yet, put me on my feet. I want to try something.”

“My, my, Roseheart. You’re awfully bossy for someone getting their cunt devoured.”

She huffs. “That’s because I already had a plan in mind today and you distracted me.”

“Distracted you? With this?” Sucking her clit between my lips, I massage the tip of my tongue over the throbbing flesh.

Lenore’s climax is instant. I’ve calmed the shadows fucking her enough that she doesn’t squirt. When her trembling subsides, I drop into a crouch until we’re eye to eye. “Still want me to stop?”

“That was perfect, but yes. I really want to try something.” She sticks her lip out in a pout.

“Ungrateful,” I mutter, turning her upright and dropping the binds. My hands grip her waist, helping to steady her while she finds her balance.

“Thank you.”

Kissing my way up her neck, I murmur, “Now, what was so important that you stopped me in the middle of a feast?”

Lenore chews her lower lip. I know that look. She’s up to something. “Don’t you ever get tired of being in control? I know the responsibility of your position can weigh you down.”

“Which is why I much prefer positions where I get to weigh you down.” My fingers dip between her thighs.

She backs away. “I’m serious. Haven’t you ever wanted to give up control? Even for a few minutes? It must be exhausting to have to control every aspect of an entire realm and never get the chance to fully surrender to anything.”