Page 45

Morgana

“ D id you know about Caledon?”

The words are out of my mouth as soon as I lock eyes with Leon, before I notice that Fairon is standing next to him outside the throne room. I must’ve interrupted their conversation and am about to apologize, but Leon speaks first.

“Caledon? He’s the Temple leader, isn’t he? What did my grandfather say about him?”

The confusion on Leon’s face knocks something out of me, and I exhale.

“I’m sorry,” I rub my forehead and look cautiously toward the closed doors of the throne room. “I think some of your grandfather’s magic is still hanging around.”

“How did it go?” Leon asks gently, stepping beside me and placing a hand at the small of my back. I can tell Fairon doesn’t miss the gesture.

“Let’s go to your parlor, Leonidas,” Fairon says. “I’m sure Her Highness has had a trying time. Perhaps we should put some distance between her and all this pressure ,” he says meaningfully.

When we’re in the parlor, away from prying eyes and even more prying sensic magic, I answer Leon’s question.

“He told me that the Grand Bearer is a solari,” I say.

Fairon and I have sat down, but Leon stands beside my seat, hovering protectively.

“That his celestial power means he can drain people of their magic. And when he drains a solari, he can take some of their power and lifespan for himself. That’s why he had us classed as heretics.

It’s all so he could capture other solari and use them to make himself stronger. ”

“He’s not punishing solari, he’s harvesting them,” Fairon says gravely, getting there faster than I did. It’s an accurate description, but his wording still makes me nauseous.

“My grandfather has never shared this with me, Ana,” Leon says firmly.

“I believe you,” I say. He’d have no reason to keep it from me when he found out I was a solari. If anything, this news would’ve made me more willing to go with him to Filusia, as frightened as I was of being found out by the clerics back in Trova.

“Our grandfather likes to keep people in the dark unless strictly necessary,” Fairon says, and he looks a little distant.

“However, I do know he’s been gathering information about Marek Caledon for several years now, constantly worried about the Temple declaring war on Filusia.

He used to speak to me about his concerns, but I’m afraid I’m still catching up after being gone for so long.

I didn’t know he’d decided to act on this information by bringing it to you, Princess Morgana. ”

“He sees Ana as an opportunity he doesn’t want to waste,” Leon says, a bitter note in his voice.

“She’s proven that she’s powerful, and even better, just by her very nature, she and Caledon are certain enemies.

There’ll be no cozying up to the Ethirans with her in charge.

He wants her as incentivized as possible to see the Temple fall.

” Leon turns to me. “What else did he tell you? Did he ask you to do anything for him?”

I hesitate, glancing toward Fairon. He already looks better than he did yesterday, with more color to his face and more ease to his movements. I imagine the dryads have been hard at work.

“I’m sorry, Prince Fairon,” I say. “I didn’t ask you how you’re feeling.”

He smiles softly. “I suspect it will be a while before I’m my old self again. I barely remember the last two years, and even my memories from before then are fuzzy. But the dryads tell me they’re optimistic that with some time and healing, all will be well.”

“Fairon owes you his life, Ana,” Leon says, guessing why I hesitated before. “We can trust him.”

I nod, then proceed to recount everything Respen told me about Caledon. Then I get to the part about him asking me to target Caledon before I go after my aunt.

“And what did you tell him?” Leon asks.

“I told him I’d think about it.”

Fairon chuckles, a light, friendly noise.

“What?” I ask. “Was that the wrong thing to say?”

“No,” Fairon says. “Actually, it was perfect. I just don’t think my grandfather is used to people taking his suggestions as anything other than direct orders. He obviously needed to be reminded that you’re no pushover, Your Highness,” he says.

“Damn right she’s not,” Leon grunts.

Fairon stands. I don’t miss the way he has to use the arm of the chair to help him to his feet, and I can tell that Leon doesn’t, either. I hope the healers are right about him getting his full strength back soon.

“I’ll leave you now. It sounds like you need some space to talk things over and consider the king’s suggestion ,” he says with an ironic smile.

Once the door clicks shut and Leon and I are alone again, I consider what I didn’t tell him about my meeting with Respen.

Specifically, his grandfather warning me off him.

There was a lot about that conversation which hammered my dislike for Respen into place, but nothing more than that moment.

I hate how he doesn’t see Leon as anything more than a weapon.

Someone who will bend to his every whim.

“I’m not going to do what your grandfather wants,” I say to Leon, staring up at him.

“I still want to go after Oclanna first. Caledon can wait.” I sigh, wondering if I should reveal exactly how conflicted I am.

Does it make me sound heartless? Or cowardly?

“Honestly, I don’t know if I want to face Caledon at all,” I admit.

For just a second, I wonder if Leon’s reaction will confirm everything Respen said about him. If he’ll tell me to reconsider and push me to follow his grandfather’s advice. After all, the fae king has sat on his throne for centuries, and I’m just a silly human woman who’s never ruled anything.

Leon looks down at me, his eyes intense enough to pull me right into their depths.

“If it’s your aunt’s life you want, then we’ll leave for Elmere tonight,” he says.

A surge of joy makes me jump up and throw myself toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss.

He responds with a hunger that reminds me there’s no such thing as a quick or simple kiss with this man.

Every touch from him lights a fire in me, making me crave more.

He must feel the same, because as he teases my tongue with his, his hands slide around my waist, and his cock hardens against me.

I let my hand slide between us, cupping the growing bulge. He growls in response, pressing into my palm. I realize how much I enjoy the noise, wondering what other noises I can elicit from Leon.

We break from our kiss, and as I gaze into his eyes, dark with want, an idea comes to me.

“Stay still,” I say and drop to my knees, unfastening his pants before he can stop me—or I can lose my nerve.

“What are you doing?” he asks, his voice rough. I give him a wry look because I suspect he knows exactly what I’m doing. Still, I answer.

“I’m giving you what you deserve,” I say, my own voice husky.

It’s true. He can’t know what it meant to me to have him accept my decision, no questions asked. He has faith in me, and I want to show him how very grateful I am for that.

I let out a breath as I unsheathe him from his pants, allowing myself a moment to admire the thick length of him and the smooth, glistening head. I slide my hand gently down the shaft, grinning as he hisses.

“You better be planning to do more than look at it, princess,” he mutters through gritted teeth.

I stare up at him in mock innocence, batting my eyelashes. “Like what?”

His hand reaches for my chin, his thumb easing between my lips. I suck on the tip of it, which makes the fire in his eyes flare and his cock twitch in my hand.

“Like putting that pretty mouth of yours to good use,” he says.

I lick my lips and slowly lower them to the head of his cock, swiping my tongue across it, soaking up the taste of him.

I get too much enjoyment from the sharp inhalation this pulls from him.

Usually, it’s his mouth leaving me totally undone.

I want to do the same to him—want to make him fall apart for me .

I slide my lips around him, slowly taking him deeper into my mouth.

His hand tangles in my hair, and I find I like the way he grips just a little too tight, like he’s barely holding back from taking control.

My assumption is confirmed when he talks to me in a voice that hisses like it’s being dragged across hot coals.

“Keep teasing me like that, princess, and I’ll have to show you how it’s done.”

I hold his gaze as I take him just a little deeper, and then I relent, starting to move my mouth.

I build a pace as I use the hand wrapped around the base of him too, squeezing lightly while I suck and lick.

His head falls back, a rumble of pleasure sounding from deep in his chest when I trace my tongue along the thick vein running up his shaft.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this before—his eyes closed, his face slack with pleasure.

He looks completely unguarded. Completely beautiful.

My nostrils fill with the musky scent of him as I focus my attention on what I can do with my tongue to rip more of those low, desperate noises from him.

His fingers tighten in my hair, and I sense I’ve brought him close to the edge. I hum as I take him as deep as I can and am rewarded with a feral groan as he hits the back of my throat. His eyes open, and he meets my gaze.

“Ana, I’m—” he begins, trying to warn me, but I grab his thigh, holding him in place as he comes.

I want to experience all of this—all of him.

As he climaxes, I swallow down every last drop until he sags, spent.

Only then do I release my hold on him and let him pull back.

Then I delicately wipe my mouth before standing and straightening my skirts.

“I just…I…” He looks at me, and I realize with shock that I’ve actually made him lost for words. I can’t help grinning as I throw myself down onto the couch, stretching out like a cat.

Leon looks at me there for a moment, his eyes still blazing, then he swiftly tucks himself back into his pants and pounces on me. His weight pins me down as he teases my neck with his lips, his hands slowly making their way southward.

“That was the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmurs against my skin.

“Glad to see you’ve found your words again,” I smirk, then gasp as his fingers slide beneath my skirt and up the inside of my thigh.

As much as I want to keep going, a twinge of guilt eats at me. We need to talk. I owe him the full truth.

“Leon,” I say, dropping my hand to stop his exploration. “There’s something else Respen said.”

He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You really want to talk about my grandfather when my hand is six inches from your clit?” he growls.

I sit up straighter, pushing my skirt down.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes.”

He releases a deeply disappointed sigh and sits up too.

“We didn’t just talk about Caledon and Oclanna,” I say. “He also told me…that I should stay away from you.”

To my relief, Leon doesn’t look worried, or even surprised.

“He probably suspects you’ll go after your aunt anyway, and he doesn’t want me associated with any move you make against Trova. He wants me to be his sword—not yours.”

“But isn’t that kind of the problem?” I ask, my concern mounting about his lack of concern. “You are the King’s Sword. Doesn’t that mean you have to do what he says?”

“Technically,” he says, looking like he barely wants to admit even that much.

“Be honest with me,” I say sternly. “Precisely how much trouble will you be in if you go with me to Trova?”

“If he directly ordered me not to and I ignored him, I’d be in a lot of trouble. But there are…loopholes. My skill at finding them is part of the reason I’ve never been my grandfather’s favorite.” He smiles dangerously at me. “I’ve done what pleases me one too many times.”

“So what’s the loophole here?” I demand, still frustrated by how casual he’s being.

“My grandfather hasn’t actually ordered me to stay in Filusia yet,” he says. “So we’ll just have to leave before he does.”

I look away from him, not liking how precarious that sounds. He takes my chin in his fingers, guiding me back around to face him.

“I’m not afraid of defying my grandfather, or anyone else, to keep you safe, Ana,” he says, his voice soft as he looks into my eyes. “I promised you I’d help you with this, and I won’t turn my back on you.”

“Thank you,” I breathe.

I don’t want to drive a rift between Leon and his family, or make an enemy of Respen, but I know I can’t do this alone.

I’m powerful, yes, and I know a gloam of a lot more about how to use that power now than I did two months ago.

That doesn’t change the fact I’m almost completely on my own in this world of political intrigue and assassination missions I barely understand.

Respen won’t give me official allies, so I’m going to have to take them wherever I can, and it’s his own fault if that includes the grandson he’s taken for granted his whole life.

Outside of Leon, there’s really no one who could help me take down Oclanna.

Without him, I wouldn’t even know where to start. But actually?—

“You said we’d leave for Elmere,” I say to Leon. “Is that where you think we should target Oclanna?”

He shrugs. “If that’s where she is. It might be tricky getting into the palace, but we’ll find a way.”

“That’s exactly it,” I say. “I think I know where we might be able to find friends in Trova who can help us get access to my aunt.”

He raises an eyebrow. “You do?”

“Will Mercer,” I say.

He frowns, clearly trying to place the name. “Your friend from the manor?”

“Yes, he was the old head of guard there, and he used to work at the palace. Maybe he still has contacts at the palace—people loyal to my parents who might be on my side. And even if he doesn’t, he could probably tell us a thing or two about getting past security.”

I say all this in a rush, then fall silent, looking at Leon expectantly.

“And where did you say he lived?” Leon asks.

“Gullert. It’s on the northern coast.”

“You really think he can help us?”

“Yes,” I say without thinking about it. The prospect of returning to a land full of people who are hunting me is a daunting one. But finding Will, and maybe some Trovians who don’t want me dead, feels like a ray of hope.

“Alright then,” Leon says with a shrug. “Elmere can wait; looks like we’re going to Gullert.”