Page 60

Chapter forty-one

Nerys

T hat night, after Nerys walked in the woods with Adelyna, Nerys dressed herself in a white night dress and tucked herself into bed.

What would life be like for her at court if she stayed?

If she took Adelyna’s offer and crafted a role for herself?

She liked the food at court—how could she not?

Everything was fresh, varied, and entertaining .

She liked the clothes, as uncomfortable as they were.

They made her feel like she was someone , and yes, she enjoyed showing herself off to the best possible advantage.

She also liked her bedroom—no drafts, it was heated, and every surface was devoted to beauty.

There was more to being here, though, than the creature comforts of court.

Again, she reveled in how she liked Adelyna. Liked her as a person, and not merely some noble she was forced to cater to. From what she had seen, she was a R?ll she’d be honored to serve.

Yet, there was no possibility she’d see Adelyna reign.

Even if Nerys was successful, she was going to kill the R?ll and leave court forever—to live in an enemy kingdom.

She’d only known the Kor’yitz for less than a month, so why did the prospect sadden her?

Especially with what she would be gaining in exchange—Idris, wealth, a title.

Idris…

Nerys was just drifting off when Vine whispered in her ear, “You have a visitor.” Nerys sat upright and stared at the door.

A servant? Another demon? Why couldn’t the bastard be more specific?

199 Moments later the knob turned. Like he was summoned by her thoughts, Idris stepped in, dressed once again in a noble’s servant’s livery.

When the door closed his normal face re-appeared, nervousness wrought on his expression. Nerves?

“Idris” ?Nerys jumped out of bed and rushed toward him? “what are you doing here? You’re going to get caught and—”

Before she could get another word out, Idris grabbed her and kissed her deeply, his mouth slowly dancing with hers.

All her tension, all her worries, flew away as she lost herself in his embrace.

Her hands worked their way over his face, fingers dancing over stubble until they made their way to his hair, where she gently tugged and pulled him closer to her.

Idris groaned and nudged her back carefully, and she pressed against his hardness as they made their way back to Nerys’s bed.

Standing near the bed, their hips pressed together.

All earlier thoughts of Adelyna were gone.

In that moment she didn’t care about her future with Idris, she didn’t care if they could never be together as anything other than his mistress—she wanted him here and now.

Would they have another chance, anything other than this stolen moment in the night?

There was no way to know, and she wasn’t going take the risk that they may never have the opportunity again.

His lips made their way to her neck and she gasped and shivered with each new touch. No one else had ever made her feel like this, like with every movement he was coaxing her to life.

Idris’s hand froze from where it was exploring her chest over her thin linen gown, the frustrating fabric separating them. “Is this too much? Do you want to stop?”

“Never.” Nerys pulled him down for a kiss once more and Idris smiled as he lifted her under her thighs, plunging her onto the bed, and reaching further under her skirt. It took only moments for him to find her center, where his touch made her writhe against him, begging for more. Always more.

He then braced on his hands and hovered over her, using one hand to undress, revealing tight panes of muscles on his chest. This was the man she remembered from the manor, the warrior who was able to handle multiple soldiers on his own.

A prince he may have been, but he didn’t neglect himself, not like the soft men who lived in this court.

Nervously, Nerys followed suit, tugging her nightdress over her head, leaving herself naked under him.

“Fuck, you’re perfect,” Idris said, tossing his shirt and breeches aside. “Such a pretty little cunt, ready to be fucked.”

“Idris!”

“What?” he grinned. “Am I wrong?” He rubbed the outside of her mound while he touched himself through his undergarments, pulling them down and letting himself free.

Expertly, he maneuvered his hand over his shaft, cupping himself and then twisting his wrist in a mesmerizing dance Nerys couldn’t help but be fascinated by .

With his free hand he explored her, parting her and feeling the slick heat that waited for him. Instinctively, she spread herself wider, begging him to move deeper. Harder.

“If only we had more time,” he muttered. “The ways I’d get so many of those wonderful little moans from you.”

Moments later he was perched on the bed between her legs, using his fingers to cause even more of those little moans. “I always want you like this,” he said. “Ready for me.”

Nothing had prepared her for this. Not Cefin. Not the other men from her home. Nothing. Idris knew how to play and tease her, how to make her dissolve into a mess of cries within moments, begging for him to never stop. She wanted everything.

He nudged at her entrance, already working his way into her. Inch by sweet inch he impaled her until she bit her hand, unable to hold back a scream.

He stopped. “Are you alright?” She gripped his ass in response, plunging him into her as deep as he could go. A feral smile crossed his face as he thrusted inside of her, each movement accompanied by a cry of pleasure. She wrapped her legs around him, and grabbed his hair, urging him on.

“What a greedy little thing,” he said. “And this is the greediest part of all.” He rubbed the nub between her thighs, and she came apart underneath his touch.

“I wouldn’t have to be greedy if you gave enough,” she said.

A single eyebrow rose on his face at the challenge, and he thrusted harder into her as a result. All talk was forgotten as he delved into her, pounding himself against her until their movements blended, a stream of ecstasy from which she never wanted to wake.

The movements from his thrusts were soon accented by her own fingers, which knew exactly what to do to send her to a new level of feeling .

He watched her approvingly, as she worked herself ever further.

And then, just when she didn’t think she could take any more, her pleasure broke over her in a long wave that carried from one moment to the next.

His lips crashed against hers, their experience shared between them.

His release soon followed, spilling into her, awakening her from the blurred bliss they had explored together.

For long moments he hovered over her, locking eyes with hers.

And then he collapsed, utterly spent. Idris’s skin was damp and his breath rapid as he laid next to her, and Nerys smiled as his hands caressed her hips.

“Idris,” she whispered once she caught her breath again. “What are you doing here?”

He chuckled softly in her ear. “That’s the only thing you can say?” He kissed her shoulders and she felt him stiffening again, pressing against her thigh.

“No. I mean…” She turned to face him. “That was….”

“I know. ”

A familiar shadow moved over the floor behind Idris and her heart dropped. Vine. Nerys closed her eyes. How much did he see? 200 More importantly, why was he here? Nerys wasn’t sure whether she should burn from embarrassment or anger. She tucked her blanket over her head.

“What is it?” Idris frowned. “Why are you hiding yourself?” Idris tugged the blanket back down, revealing her breasts.

Nerys squirmed, her face burning. “My demon saw the whole thing. I think.”

“So?” Idris’s eyes twinkled. “They see stranger things than that when people don’t know they’re there.”

“You’re not bothered? That someone watched us?”

“Why? They’re not human. They probably find it as interesting as us watching cows eat grass.” 201

Unlikely, but she desperately wanted to talk about anything else. She’d deal with Vine later. “Why are you here tonight ? You finally had a chance to get away?”

“That. But, Nerys, this” ?Idris motioned his hand over the both of them? “isn’t the only reason I came here. I mean, I didn’t expect—that is, I came here because you need to hurry.”

Nerys sat upright, making sure that the blanket was still in place. Vine had seen enough for one night. “What are you talking about?”

Idris sat up too and faced her. He, apparently, didn’t care that he was uncovered, his cock exposed. “This is not what I wanted to talk about after my first time taking you.”

“Too late now.” Later she would think about what he meant by “first” time. As in…not the last. As in…could she really hope that he meant what he said? That they’d be together after their task was done?

Idris gave her a wry smile that begrudgingly disappeared.

“Listen, Nerys. I heard rumors, disturbing ones, from my spies. Another village was attacked. I’m not sure how many sacrifices the R?ll has already, but he has to be getting close.

I think you have a week— at most—during which we can guarantee he won’t strike again.

We can’t guarantee that the next time won’t be all the sacrifices he needs.

” He took a deep breath and gently ran his fingers through her hair.

“I’m sorry, but we are almost out of time. ”

Nerys sighed. “But the R?ll wants nothing to do with me. He has...other distractions.”

“Like what?”

“Haven’t you heard? He found other women. Three, to be exact.”

“Hardly an issue.” Idris smiled. “You can change that. I know it. You just need to find an opening with the R?ll.” His hand moved from her head and lightly caressed her face with his fingers.

“I know you can be very distracting yourself. Attend his awakening ceremonies. Every single court event you can. He goes through women quickly—and you just need his attention for one night.”

“That might be difficult—there’s been another complication. The Kor’yitz seems to like me. She has asked me to be a High Maid.”

Idris didn’t answer and instead stared at a point behind Nerys’s head. “Idris? Did you hear me?”

“Yes.” He shook his head, as if shaking himself awake. “I did. No, you cannot become a High Maid.”

Nerys stiffened. “Why ever not?”

“Because. Aren’t you curious about why the Kor’yitz asked you , of all people, to have that role?

You’re going to be the lowest ranked person in that position.

By far. The others won’t stand for it—they’ll make your life difficult.

And for what?” Idris gripped the sheet in his fist. “She’s planning something. You can’t trust her.”

“Planning something? She said it was because I saved her life. And she likes me.”

“Wants to fuck you, more like.”

Nerys clenched her fists. “Which is it? Is she plotting to hurt me or fuck me?”

“Both. Neither. I don’t know.” Idris sighed. “Forget it—the last thing I want is to fight with you. My point is that you should be suspicious. Even if the Kor’yitz has nothing worse planned, it’s going to make you a target at court—and distract you from the R?ll.”

Qiana had said much the same. But that made no sense.

Adelyna took her High Maids with her around the R?ll all the time.

Surely, it was better that the R?ll be reminded that she existed.

What was her other option, standing in the crowds and hoping he looked her way?

She cared for Idris—maybe even loved him?

—but he spent all his time in the stables.

He didn’t understand the court, not this one, at any rate. The decision was hers .

But something about Idris’s news bothered her, other than the massacre. “Idris, how do you know that the R?ll hasn’t completed the ritual already? It’s not like he would’ve announced it.”

Idris paused. “I’m still alive.”

“You’re just a prince…”

“…I’m the heir.”

“Oh.” Nerys’s mouth dropped. He could’ve mentioned that one earlier. And here he was, with her ?

Between the Kor’yitz on one hand, a crown prince on another, and a perplexing demon resting where a third hand would be, Nerys had a lot to juggle.

All three were entwined with their lands’ rule.

At times like this, she missed Raven’s Crest. There was an easiness to life there that didn’t exist at court.

It was a place where the only debate was what poor animal made it into the dinner pot.

“I know that look,” Idris said. “You’re worried.”

“How can I not be?”

“Is it my title?” When Nerys didn’t answer, he said, “Please know that it means nothing. It doesn’t affect how I feel for you.”

No. Maybe. But it meant they could never be together formally.

Even if Idris the prince managed to convince his family to let him marry a mere lady, that wouldn’t be an option for Cerdoran’s future king.

He had obligations. Expectations. Nerys took a deep breath and tried to stop the tears from rising.

“Nerys…I love you. Please believe me—I do.”

What? Her heart stopped. Did he really say that? He. Loved. Her.

Too bad it didn’t matter if he did. Mere love was never the final word on a matter.

“Everything will work out,” he said. “Please, trust me.”

“You will be king, Idris. There is no place for you to be with me—as a king.”

“Yes. I will be king,” Idris said, his expression turning to iron. “We will accomplish our goal here. We will go back to Cerdoran, and we will be together. And as king, I can change the rules as I see fit.”