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Chapter fifty

Nerys

T hat night, Nerys tucked herself into bed and tried to sleep.

Much like how obtaining bloody vengeance was not a good idea with a full bladder, regicide was not best done while lacking sleep.

She was just managing to lull off when her door creaked open.

Darting awake, her heart leapt into her throat.

Idris, still disguised as a manservant, stepped into her room and closed the door softly.

An instant later his face changed from that of the non-descript soldier back to normal.

Back to him . It wasn’t fair that any one man was so handsome that he had to disguise his face to go unnoticed. Her mouth went dry.

So handsome. So brave.

And he was hers.

“Idris,” she whispered and leaped out of the bed, the cool air hitting her through her thin nightgown. He grabbed her in his arms and brought his mouth down to hers. A cry escaped her lips, pressed under his own—it had been too long without him. And after tomorrow, they would never be apart again.

He consumed her slowly, his mouth taking sweet long moments to savor every bit. Strong fingers worked down her back, to her ass, bracing her against him. This was paradise, and if she wanted to keep it, she could not fail.

He must have felt her stiffen, because he tensed and reluctantly broke away from her. “Nerys,” Idris said, still holding her hands while he searched her face. “Are you alright?”

“Yes. No.” She shook her head. “Nervous, more than anything. Did Qiana tell you?”

“She told me enough.” Idris smiled with pride. “I knew you could do it. I knew you could get Abnar’s attention. The hard part is done.”

“Is it?”

“Yes—you have nothing to be nervous about.”

Easy for him to say—he’d be waiting in the stables.

His hands wouldn’t be touching the fleshy old man, rousing his desires, and then sticking him with a knife until she found the parts that would divest him of life.

“Really? Nothing? What if something goes wrong? What if I’m alone with him and can’t do it?

I’ve never killed someone before. Even after what he did to Adilette—” Her voice broke.

“Fina was right. I might not be able to do it after all.”

Idris nodded and rubbed his thumb lightly over her lips.

Nerys quivered, heat stirring in her core even as her fears prickled her.

Gaze softened, he lowered his voice so that it washed over her, as comforting as gentle waters.

“You have a kind heart, after all you’ve been through, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of that.

But that’s part of the reason I came here—I wanted to tell you that I changed our plan. ”

“How so?” Nerys’s forehead creased. Surely Qiana would’ve said something. Did Idris tell Qiana?

Idris took a deep breath. “I care about you, Nerys. More than care. I…before, back at the lodge, at first, I was content to let you risk your life and make you responsible for your own fate, but I can’t stand by anymore.”

“And I care about you—”

“I’ll be in the passageways, waiting for you while you’re with the R?ll—Qiana told me what rooms to expect you to be in. I will be there. I’ll listen. And if things sound like they’re not going to plan, I will step in.”

“What sort of sounds are you listening for?”

“Ones that sound like you…might have lost your resolve. Or if the R?ll somehow overpowers you. I don’t want to interfere unless I have to.

Even I can’t make myself invisible for long and it could risk the R?ll calling for aid—not to mention that I’ll have to hide from any servants as it is.

” Idris held her gaze, his glistening eyes overwhelmed with emotion.

“But if things go poorly, if you aren’t able to do it, you aren’t going to do this alone.

At the very least, I’ll be there to make sure you’re able to escape.

I won’t leave you.” Idris’s eyes misted. “I promise.”

No matter what, Idris would be with her. She wouldn’t be doing this alone. She lost her family. She lost Adilette. But she had him, and she always would.

“Tomorrow this will all be over, won’t it?” Nerys asked, letting her heart melt as he methodically rubbed his thumbs over the back of her hands. “This life, court…it will all be done with.”

“Of course it will, my love.” He pulled her closer to him. “Tomorrow your new life will begin. With me.”

A moment later his lips touched hers once more, kissing and biting gently. The earlier heat in her core grew, overtaking her reason. What reason? She had no virtue to guard, no real title to maintain—in this, she had freedom. And, fuck, she wanted Idris.

With her hands pressed against his cheeks, she kissed him back, furiously, as if he would disappear when she stopped.

And she wasn’t going to stop. He tasted sweet, like honey and mint, and the scent of him filled her nose.

The stiff fabric of his uniform brushed against her thin shift, reminding her of just how little she was wearing underneath.

Together, they moved towards her bed, until the mattress collided with the back of her legs.

“Are you sure you want to do this? Take the chance of being interrupted, caught with a servant?” Idris asked jokingly. His member pressed against her, indicating what he wanted to do.

Nerys grinned. “What if I say ‘no’?”

“Then I’ll leave, but I will deem you the cruelest woman alive.”

“I think you know my answer.” She grabbed him between his legs, rubbing his cock through the fabric, his size filling her hand. The heat in her core turned to an incessant throbbing.

He hissed, watching her already work him through his garments. “Gods, Nerys, you’re impatient.”

“We’ve had to wait a long time. It’s been hours .”

He gave her another grin. “Any amount of time is too long.”

Arms around her, he lowered her back onto the bed, following and resting above her. His hands never stopped, moving over every inch of her skin, spending lingering moments on the curve of her neck, her hips, and her breasts. His long blonde hair draped around her, a cascading shower of bright gold.

He was her prince—truly hers. They may not have met as equals, or even as allies, but what they had, it was something beyond friendship, beyond mere love. Together, they were going to save their kingdoms, and gain vengeance for those who had suffered.

Together.

Nerys let out a soft moan when lush lips brushed against her neck, followed by gentle bites.

“I could taste you forever,” he whispered. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave any marks.”

“Good.” She smiled .

His hand reached under her nightgown, moving the delicate fabric up inch by inch. Unwilling to stay still, her hands worked at his breeches, tugging at the laces and unbuttoning his doublet, still in that servant’s costume.

“Here.” He gently grabbed her hands. “How about we take turns?” She nodded in reply. “Alright. Me first.”

A few practiced movements later and his doublet was gone, followed by his shirt—and her mouth went dry.

His chest was marbled, exquisite. Each angle of muscle caught in the light, reflecting over and over that this was not a prince content to a life of leisure in his palace.

His eyes caught hers, and for a moment she could see a flash of the gold in them, reminding her that this just wasn’t a prince—he had powers of his own.

“I’m yours,” he said, bowing and kissing her hands. “All of what you see, is yours.”

She smirked and looked knowingly at his breeches—and what they still covered. Smiling back, Idris pulled them down, along with his underclothes and everything else he was wearing, tossing them to the floor.

Oh…

Now entirely naked, Idris was a statuesque god, fully hard and moving towards her. The prodding heat in her core now escalated with a rush of need, the dampness already catching on her night clothes. Could she touch him? She wanted to touch it.

“Your turn.”

Trembling, unable to take her eyes off Idris and how evidently ready he was for her, she pulled the nightdress over her head, discarding it to the floor.

The cool air hit her skin, prickling her nipples and sending bumps over her arms. They were forgotten a moment later, when Nerys noticed the intensity in which he looked at her, like he was going to take her and ruin her. And she was going to love every moment.

He seemed like he was going to say something, but instead, he pounced, pushing her back against the bed, consuming her mouth and moving his hands over her body, touching every inch that he could reach.

Why should he be the only one to have fun?

She ran her hands over his arms and sides, fingers exploring every crevasse and dent that she was trying to memorize.

This was no longer a figment of her imagination, a dream banished by morning—this was really him.

He would come back to her, again and again.

His mouth left hers and left a trail of kisses, moving lower and lower.

His cock pressed against her thigh, leaving drops of moisture along its path.

Firmly, his hands grabbed her legs and spread them, and before she could utter a cry of surprise, his mouth clamped onto her, changing the cry into moans of pleasure .

He sucked on her, nibbling and teasing the nub between her legs, the brush of his teeth the slightest bit of texture.

Gripping the clumps of the bedcovers in her fists, she turned her head from first one side and to the other.

A finger entered her, and he groaned along with her.

Her hips moved against his mouth, moving them the perfect way to bring her on the path of release.

This was perfection—it wouldn’t take long.

Idris seemed to think the same thing, for he lifted his head and gave her a feral grin.

“I’m not sure how I want to do this. Do I want you to come from my mouth?

” He kissed between her legs. “Or my cock?” He moved his hand over his member, stroking himself in a way that was impossible to look away from.

“Do I get a say?”

“Always.”

“Both.”

Idris chuckled. “In time. In time. But for tonight, I think I want to see your face as you take your pleasure.” He moved two fingers into her, flicking them.

“I want to watch it build, and then I want you desperate. And then” ?he moved his fingers in a clever rhythm? “I want you to fall apart. On me. How does that sound?”

Nerys could only nod, and Idris smiled.

Slowly, he moved over her, positioning himself carefully and wetting himself on her slick. “You’re ready for me.”

She was. Fuck, she was.

She let her legs relax and gasped at the unfamiliar push against her entrance. It was too much—he was too much—but then he slid in and she was left with nothing but a satisfied fullness.

“Nerys,” he whispered in her ears between slow thrusts. “You’re so tight.”

“Take me,” she said. “You said I would fall apart. Prove it.”

A wicked gleam entered his eyes. “Gladly.”

He pleasured her with measured movements, alternating between slow and fast, shallow and deep, whatever he seemed to sense would elicit the most response.

Carefully, her hand joined his, precisely maneuvering the nub between her legs.

Already she struggled to imagine him parting from her, leaving her empty and alone in this bed.

She could— would —take anything he had for her.

He rescued her from the army, gave her an opportunity for both life and revenge.

Whatever came next, they would handle it. Together .

“Idris,” she moaned. The pleasure between her thighs grew to a deep heat that made her center contract. Nothing mattered. She thrashed against him, seeking more of that perfect friction. Idris reached down and flicked his fingers, somehow timing it with his thrusts to bring her further.

“More,” she begged.

“Always.”

Her release overtook her, his mouth stifling her cries with a kiss that devoured her.

His own release followed with a hard breath, their pleasure blending into one.

Gently, she ran her fingers through his hair.

Had they really just done that again? They did.

And if she had her way, they would do it many more times.

“Nerys.” He kissed her. On the mouth. The forehead. Her neck. Her chest. Between each kiss he whispered an act of worship, praising everything about her. “My beautiful love. My perfect, beautiful love.”

“Love?” she asked, half-dazed from pleasure.

“What else could it be?” he asked, pulling out of her and laying against her. Protecting her. “You are my treasure. My queen. After tomorrow a whole future awaits us.”