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thirty-five

G alen had been busy since we’d returned, but he always snuck into my room at the end of the day.

He continued to deny that there was anything going on with Isla.

I watched them at dinner and my paranoia grew, though I didn’t know when he’d have time to be with her, since he spent every night with me.

I couldn’t keep punishing him for something he most likely hadn’t done.

I knew I was his choice. But the situation didn’t have a solution—he was still publicly courting her. And I was still internally spiraling.

Then there was the conversation I’d been avoiding.

Galen still didn’t know that I was planning on leaving this world with his brothers, along with as many humans as possible.

It wasn’t exactly an easy thing to bring up.

" So, your brothers are plotting to overthrow your mother with my help—oh and by the way, we’re planning to take all of the humans—as many as we can find—essentially dooming your people.

But don’t worry, we’re going to try and break the curse. Want to join?"

My pitch still needed some work.

“You’ve been acting off since we returned to the castle,” Galen said one evening while I laid on his chest. We’d just gotten back from dinner and were sipping on wine while we talked in bed.

“Exactly how long are you going to be distant with me? And is there something I can do to speed up the process? Because I miss you.”

I let out a deep exhale, trying to find my courage. “I don’t mean to punish you. The truth is Galen… I still don’t fully trust you. And it’s kept me from being completely honest with you.” My heart began to beat faster and I knew he could hear it. I sat up on my forearms, meeting his gaze .

“You have my attention,” he said, eyebrows raised.

His pointed ears seemed especially pricked as he studied me in a way that was more feline than man.

“I can sense that whatever you’re about to say is difficult for you, so let me remind you that there is nothing you can say that will scare me away.

” He gave me an encouraging smile and it looked sincere, but since he’d bitten me at the inn, I could only see my uhra around him.

No red or blue. Nothing of him . It made it more difficult to trust his intentions.

I swallowed, sitting up on the bed and crossing my legs. “I don’t want to open a doorway to Erador for your mother or the Elders. In fact, I won’t. There’s nothing you can say to change my mind.” The words tumbled out too quickly. I’d forgotten to take a breath.

His facial features barely moved as he processed what I’d said. He tucked my hands in his and brought them to his lips. “Okay,” he said smoothly.

“Okay?” I asked skeptically. “That’s it? You’re not going to fight me on it? What about—” I was going to bring up what he’d said on the mountain, but instead he cut me off with a kiss that stole the words from my mouth.

On our way to the Oracle he’d said that we didn’t have a choice—that I had to open the portal for his people. What had changed his mind? The prophecy?

“Oh, were you hoping for a fight?” he asked with a mischievous grin, stoking the flames in the fireplace in a simple gesture of his lethal power.

“You said there’s nothing I can do to change your mind…

so what’s the point of arguing?” His eyes narrowed as he gripped my wrists and pulled me towards him.

“You better have a plan that involves me though, because even the wrath of all six gods wouldn’t be enough to tear us apart. You’re mine. Wherever you go, I go.”

My eyes were round and wet as he leaned in for another kiss. His lips met teeth because of my wide grin. “Will you go to Erador with me? Without your mother? Without the Elders?”

He swiped his thumb along my cheekbone, wiping away a tear. “I don’t want to leave my people, but I know your heart. You wouldn’t leave them here to die. So I assume you have a plan…”

I chewed the inside of my lip. I couldn’t risk him knowing the details—not when he worked so closely with Sylvia and I’d already been burned by him once.

“I can’t tell you everything yet,” I said.

He frowned, but didn’t protest as I continued, “Once I can shift, we’re leaving to Erador, then we’re going to break the curse.

When faeries no longer depend on human blood, we can join the worlds, with guidance from my aunt.

Ideally, I’d like to see you take your mother’s place as King of Nymera as soon as possible. ”

“Planning a full rebellion, are we?” He gave a low laugh before pouncing on me and pinning me to the bed in one seamless motion. “I shouldn't be surprised. Personally, I’d like to see you take my mother’s place,” he drawled. “By my side. As my Queen.”

I squealed as he licked at a sensitive spot beneath my ear and growled, “It’s no giggling matter…

You’re to be the mother of my children. We shall rule two worlds together.

I’d blood-bond with you right this moment—if you’d let me.

” His fingers were making their way under my dress, but they stopped as he felt me tense.

“I… don’t feel ready for that,” I breathed. “But I do love you, Galen.”

“I love you more,” he whispered, palming my breasts, while scraping his teeth along my throat.

This was a new beginning. Since I’d arrived, we’d experienced trial by fire, but now… now we were on the same team. Anything was possible. A future was possible.

He was staring at me like I was the most important thing in the world. No man had ever made me feel this way. I was strong enough to heal his broken parts… and maybe he could heal mine too.

“I want to bite you so badly,” he said, tracing a finger up my leg.

“Is there a place less visible?” The last bruise had finally faded on my neck, and it was annoying trying to hide it at training.

“There is.” He stood up and pulled my legs to the edge of the bed.

His eyes lit up as he admired the many gauzy layers of my pink dress.

He took his time unwrapping me, making me feel like an exquisite gift as he kissed up each leg.

“There’s a spot… right here on your inner thigh,” he said in a low rumble, spreading me open and nibbling at the soft flesh.

“The blood flow provides me with the magic I crave, gives you the pleasure you crave, and it’s conveniently located.

” He smiled as he licked me down my middle, making me gasp.

“Does this sound like something you might be interested in?” he asked, rubbing slippery circles with his thumb, making me squirm .

“Yes,” I breathed, laying back in anticipation. Galen flicked his tongue in lavish swirls while he splayed me open with his fingers, until I was throbbing everywhere. Then he stopped. I pulled his hair in desperation. “Please, more . Please.”

“I want to hear you say it. What do you want?” He kissed my thigh and continued to tease me with his hands.

“Please… bite me .”

“I love when you ask for it,” he said with a low growl of approval.

Velvet kisses contrasted with rough stubble, before I felt the prick of his fangs.

My magic flowed out of me and into him, taking my mind with it.

I trembled with release almost immediately, crying out as I reached for him, needing something, someone , to keep me tethered to this world.

He was moaning as he drank, still using those damned fingers to elicit more sensation than I could handle. I was writhing, rolling my head back and forth in exquisite agony, as the rest of the world faded away.

I woke up under him. Had I lost consciousness? I sat up on my elbows, feeling light-headed.

“Are you okay? Did you faint?” he asked. His forehead was wrinkled in worry as he gripped my face in his hands, like he’d been trying to rouse me.

“Perhaps? I think I forgot to breathe,” I laughed softly, still spinning. I wiped tears from my eyes as I slowly sat up.

“Are you okay?” He looked down at my thigh. “The bleeding’s stopped. I’m sorry if I got carried away.”

“I’m fine.” I shrugged, then pulled him on top of me.

I felt a twinge of unease, but shook it off before it could take root.

I was with someone who I loved. It felt good because it was supposed to feel good.

We were two consenting adults, there was nothing wrong with this.

My body was oddly well-suited to handle the occasional blood loss, after all.

If he planned on defying his mother, he needed as much magic as I could give him.

We’d made it to the other side of something that I hadn’t thought we could overcome.

He was mine and I was his, and together anything was possible.