Page 26

M y sore feet were screaming at me by the time I finally found him – tucked away in the same candlelit library alcove he’d hidden in after the last party. One hand hung over the back of a velvet chaise lounge while the other gripped a near-empty wine bottle. His eyes were closed, brow furrowed as he slept sprawled out against the chair. If I didn’t know any better, I might’ve assumed he’d fallen asleep after some late-night reading.

But I did know better. And I could smell the alcohol on his breath before I’d kneeled by his side.

“Lukas?” I spoke softly, brushing his shoulder.

He stirred. Scowl deepening, his lashes eased apart. “Is this a dream?”

“No.” A relieved sigh touched my lips as I realised he’d fallen asleep instead of passing out. Well. He was still completely drunk, but at least he wouldn’t suffer too badly when tomorrow came. “How much did you have to drink tonight?”

“Not enough.” He rolled onto his back as he grumbled something I couldn’t quite hear.

Worry tugged at my brow. “What is it? Are you hurting somewhere? Did Arenn hurt you?”

His snort cut me off. “You really have to ask?” Shaking his head, he ran his fingers through his hair. “Naria, I just watched you spend an entire evening dancing with another man, and not just any man. That damned faery.” He sucked in a breath, digging his palms into his eyes. “The way you looked at him…”

“No,” I forced out. “That wasn’t real. He tricked me, Lukas. I didn’t know I was dancing with him. I had no idea at all. He looked like someone else.”

“What?” He lowered his hands, blinking up at me. “But I thought… Then who did you think you were dancing with?”

“You. I thought he was you.” As realisation crossed his brow, my grip on his shoulder tightened. “He used some kind of glamour to trick me tonight. He looked just like you, but I never would’ve touched him had I known who he really was. I swear it .”

Lukas pushed up onto his elbows. “He tricked you?” he seethed. “That absolute—” He cut himself off, throwing his legs over the side of the chaise lounge to stand. “I could murder him.”

“But you cannot.” Pushing up from the floor, I reached to steady him as he swayed a little. “And even if you could, that wouldn’t be the answer. He’s a prince.” I hated that it mattered. But the faeries were powerful, and if we attacked one of their monarchs there’s no telling how the Faery King and Queen would react. A part of me didn’t think they’d see a problem with what Arenn was doing here.

Knowing the fae, they’d probably tell him to try harder.

Shuddering, I turned back to Lukas. “I spoke to Arenn before I left and made it clear I never wanted to see him again. If he’s got any self-respect he’ll leave me alone from now on.”

“But the bond.” Lukas’s hands slipped into mine. “He’ll always have that part of you.”

I rolled my eyes. “He can have my left wrist if he wants it so badly.” But then I paused. Would amputation fix this?

I barely noticed Lukas leave my side as my mind wandered. Of course I’d rather not lose a limb, but if it meant Arenn would stop pursuing me? Just how deep did the bond run…

“There has to be something we’re missing!” The sound of books hitting the floor tore me from my thoughts. Lukas was ripping them from their shelves, flicking through pages, and then cursing before tossing them across the room. I opened my mouth to calm him, when something glinted by the chaise lounge.

Tilting my head, I stepped closer. A dagger. The blade peeked out from its sheath, both tucked beneath the chaise. Lukas must’ve thrown it to the floor before he fell asleep. Or maybe it belonged to someone else. Either way, curiosity pulled me forward, and before I could stop myself, I picked up the weapon.

“I’ll find some way to restrain him!” Lukas’s furious rambles filled the room while I tilted the blade. The stars outside the window winked at me through their reflections in the metal.

My teeth ground together. Not an amputation, but maybe if I…

Sucking in a deep breath, I aimed the point of the dagger between my skin and the first crystal. This was a bad idea. A horrible idea. But I was tired, and Lukas was furious, and my scrambled mind couldn’t think of anything better to try.

“Damn you, Arenn,” I hissed – then plunged the dagger into my wrist.

Cold darkness yanked me backwards. I gasped as distant screams filled my ears. No. Not distant screams. My screams. Writhing and kicking, I screamed through the pain – until suddenly, my eyes wrenched open.

I was on the floor. Lukas knelt beneath me, his arms holding me up.

“Naria, what happened?” His chest heaved. “There’s blood everywhere. So much blood. I didn’t realise…” he spluttered. “What did you do?”

“I—” My throat was so dry. How long was I out for? “I tried to cut them out…” Lifting my wrist, I stared at the crystals. Both of them were now red from the blood that poured down my arm.

“Oh…” I breathed. That wasn’t good. But for some reason, I didn’t seem to care.

Lukas cursed, reaching for my shaking arm. “What were you thinking? Are you insane?” His hand wrapped around my wrist, his fingers turning red.

Tipping my head back, I shivered. Everything felt so heavy all of a sudden. Like I wanted to sleep and never wake up again.

Mmm . That sounded tempting.

“Naria?” Lukas shouted, but his voice sounded so far away. “Naria, damn it. Open your eyes!”

That would explain the sudden darkness. I hadn’t even realised I had closed them.

“Naria!” he yelled desperately.

With a smile, I nestled into his hold. He was so warm. And I was so cold. So very cold.

“Damn it, forest princess, I can’t lose you like this.”

My breathing slowed. All the heavy weight from the past few weeks lifted from me, as if I was floating.

“No. No. No. Come on, Naria. Wake up!”

Drifting.

“You can’t leave me. Please don’t leave.”

Falling.

“NO!”

Golden light split my heavy eyes open. Gasping, my back arched as the strangest feeling poured over me. Like someone had dropped me into a warm bath. Except, I was still here, in the library, surrounded by endless candlelit bookshelves and wrapped in two familiar arms.

“Come back to me. Please come back to me,” Lukas panted into my shoulder, rocking us both.

Confused, I ran my fingers down his back. “I’m here.”

Lukas froze. Then he jerked back, his hands gripping my shoulders while his grey eyes pierced into mine. “Naria?” he stammered. “You’re alright?”

“Yes?” I blinked. This was all so bizarre. The weakness I’d felt only moments ago had long gone, as if I’d just woken from the best night’s sleep. Carefully, I raised my arm and studied the back of my hand. The blood had vanished, leaving my fingers clean and my skin glowing. Even my chest glowed with a strange new warmth. And I felt so light. Like I could fly.

“How did you do that?” I gasped. “You healed me. Did you use your magic again?” Like the lightning strike in the forest all those months ago? But when I glanced up, he didn’t seem to be listening. Instead, his lips were parted as his gaze fixed on my wrist.

“What is it?” I followed his gaze. But then my lips parted too. The two crystals embedded in my wrist had dulled to a soft blue tone, and when I looked closer, tiny bubbles fizzled inside the stones.

A breathy laugh escaped me. “This can’t be possible.” I turned my arm, peering at it from every angle. “Did you actually just break the bond?” I concentrated hard, trying to focus on the feeling in my wrist. Normally there was a subtle tingling whenever thoughts of a certain faery prince invaded my mind, but now… now there was nothing. Nothing but a cooling sense of calm, like warm rain after a long summer.

I slapped a hand over my grin. “I can’t believe it.” I turned to Lukas. “You did it! You actually did it! This is so wonderful. I can’t feel him at all anymore.” Beaming, I let my hand fall to the floor. “But how did you—”

“I don’t know.” His voice cut me off along with the feel of two arms pulling me against his chest. “A few minutes ago you were dead, and I couldn’t stand it, but then something happened inside me and now you’re here. Alive. Breathing.” He held me so tight I could feel his heart racing. “I don’t know how I did it, but I do know I’m never letting you out of my sight again. And I mean that, Naria.” His voice became a growl. “No more sneaking around with faeries. I’ll chain you to my bed at night if it’s the only way I can keep you as mine.”

I smiled into his shoulder. “That would hardly be proper for two unmarried royals.”

“It gets harder everyday for me to stay ‘proper’ with you.”

“Then don’t.” Red blossomed on my cheeks. Did I mean to say that out loud?

Lukas shuddered. Drawing back, his hands fell to my wrists. “Can you really not sense him anymore?”

I shook my head. “I feel nothing.” Nothing apart from the pounding in my chest and the now rather desperate warmth pooling deep inside me.

“Good,” he murmured, lifting his fingers to stroke the side of my cheek. Sighing, I drew closer. “So good,” he breathed before closing the gap and pressing his lips against mine.

I squeaked in surprise, but before I could melt into him, his hands dipped to the back of my thighs and he scooped me up, lifting me with him as he stood. My ankles locked behind his hips. Back arching, my tongue teased his, each stroke sending pleasant ripples down my spine. He tasted of caramel, sea salt, and the faintest whispers of wine. I hadn’t noticed he’d carried me across the room until my backside landed gently against the chaise lounge.

“There’s so many things I want to do to you.” He spoke between kisses. “So many things I shouldn’t. Or at least, not until we’re married.” Keeping his body looming over me, his lips drifted to my cheek, then my jaw, then my neck.

I couldn’t help but sigh as he pushed me back to my elbows.

“You know I haven’t taken another to bed since the day you arrived in Drothmore?” He nuzzled against my neck, leaving another trail of kisses.

“You haven’t?” My eyes snapped open.

“When my father told me I was to be married, I told him I felt sorry for the poor girl.”

A knot formed in my throat.

“But then I met you.” His fingers twined in mine as the knot loosened. “And I realised I was the one who didn’t stand a chance… You charged straight into my life with your pretty hair, those perfect eyes and that damned mouth.” His lips pressed into my neck, sucking sharply until he pulled away, leaving me gasping. “No one had ever spoken to me the way you did.” Laughing deeply, his lips found my neck again. “You spoke to me like I was some spoilt prince.”

My brows lowered. “You were.”

“A spoilt prince who couldn’t stop thinking about you.” I gasped when he pressed his hips against mine. “And Forges Naria, that time in the rose garden when you drove me near insane with your talk of other suitors.”

“Well, you did have another girl fawning over you when I found you there,” I reminded him, scowling at the memory of pretty Giselle perched on his lap.

“I was under the impression that the best way to win the affections of a lady was to convince her I was in love with another,” he said, meeting my gaze. “But that was wrong of me.” He swallowed. “I should’ve never done that. And if I could go back to when we first met and treat you how I should’ve done from the start, I would.”

My lips parted.

“I knew you were different the moment I walked into your bedchamber for the first time and you were so shy around me,” he said, chuckling. “Any other noble would’ve seized the opportunity to get me in their bed, but not you… I knew then I wanted to do things properly with you. Take it slow.” His lips returned to mine as he kissed me so gently. “You deserve a gentleman.” My heart fluttered. “Even if it’s taking everything within me not to lift your skirt and do some very ungentlemanly things to you against this chaise lounge.”

Oh…

“Please kiss me more.” I deepened the kiss in the hopes he wouldn’t see the fierce crimson on my cheeks. One of his hands remained pinning mine to the fabric seat while the other dropped to my thigh, pushing up my skirt and rubbing gentle circles against my skin.

Tipping my head back, I sighed.

“We should stop soon,” he whispered, pressing kisses along my jaw. “I don’t want to force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

“Do I look like I am uncomfortable?” I said, holding back another gasp. “I want you. Tonight.”

The muscles in his arms tensed, but then something in his gaze darkened enough to make my stomach dip. Slowly, far too slowly, he fingers traced up higher along my thigh before he drew closer to me.

“I will not let our first time be in a public library,” he said, his breath teasing my ear. “But there are other ways we can enjoy this evening.”

My brows lifted before immediately shooting up to the stars when his fingers found the sweet spot between my hips.

“Lukas,” I gasped.

“Tell me to stop,” he murmured, continuing to touch me in every way I hadn’t known I’d been craving until now. “Because if you don’t, I’m going to make you sing like the birds in that little forest village you come from.”

Breathy noises escaped my lips, growing when his other hand brushed my jaw.

“You’re so beautiful,” he purred while I tried my best to not break the silence in this frustratingly quiet library. “Has anyone ever touched you like this before?”

“No,” I breathed, gripping his tunic.

Something dark and possessive flashed across his features. “Good,” he murmured before dropping down to kiss me again. “If others value their lives it’ll stay that way.”

I writhed against him, my breath coming out in fast pants. Eventually, the hot bliss grew inside me, but before I could cry out, his lips smothered mine, stealing away any sound before it filled the quiet air.

“Absolutely divine,” he murmured against my lips.

As he drew back to fix my skirts, I couldn’t look him in the eye. Would he think less of me now? Ancients, the noises I’d just made…

“Naria.” His tone was serious.

I couldn’t help but wilt as he rose to his full height in front of me. “Yes?”

“You’re going to marry me tomorrow.”

“What?” My lips popped open.

“We’ll do it before we leave tomorrow evening. It’s nice here and I’m certain Cora won’t refuse another party.”

“But what about your kingdom?” I blurted. “Aren’t there nobles there who’d expect to attend, and won’t your people want—”

“Are you saying no?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Of course not, but—”

“Then we shall marry tomorrow.” Placing a hand on either side of my hips, he stooped over me. “If tradition requires us to have a wedding in Drothmore, and damn it if we need to have one in Corlixir too, then fine. We shall have three weddings. But please,” his gaze locked onto mine, “I cannot wait another second to show the realm just how much I adore you.” His lips brushed against mine. “How much I need you,” he murmured, kissing me once more.

Smiling, I let my fingers curl into his hair. “I’ll have to go gown shopping with Raena in the morning.”

Lukas grinned against my lips while his hands slipped up to my waist. Before I realised what was happening, he lifted me again, spinning me around until we collapsed onto the chaise lounge in a tangle of limbs and laughter.

“Stay with me here tonight,” he breathed, stroking my back while I lay against him.

Dreamily, I nodded, catching sight of the moon high in the sky through a nearby window. My bedchamber wasn’t far, but it was already so late. Besides, this chaise lounge was wide enough for two, and Lukas’s chest was a nice pillow – except for the small object poking me in my shoulder.

I twisted, adjusting myself. As I tossed and turned, the moon rose higher past the window. Though no amount of twisting stopped the coin shaped object from digging into my skin.

“What is that?” I hissed. Eventually, I pushed myself up to see Lukas’s lips parted as he slept peacefully. But my gaze didn’t linger on his candlelit face. Instead, it flew to the small gold object peeking out from the collar of his tunic.

I chewed my lower lip. Adriana’s shell necklace winked up at me.

It glittered in the fading candlelight of the room, as if urging me to take it. We were leaving tomorrow. That meant I had one more night to help Raphael. One more night before I had to leave my friends here to care for a sick prince that may or may not even be curable with herbs found on human soil.

I could just use it to talk to Adriana , I thought to myself. If it’s a merfolk curse, she might know how to fix it, and she did insist that we meet with her again. But then my focus drifted back to Lukas as he slept. What would he say if he found out I’d used it?

He wouldn’t find out. Not if I was quick enough. I’d just speak with her then come straight back here. He’d never know. And even if he did figure it out, I didn’t have a choice. This could be Raphael’s only chance. His life was in my shaking hands.

That was all it took.

After carefully unhooking the necklace, and slipping off Lukas’s sprawled out body, I hurried away from the chaise lounge without looking back.