Page 91 of Serpent In White

My awareness is heightened. All evening, despite how busy we’ve been, I’ve known Abdiel is leaving. He’s going tomorrow, making his journey up the mountain to get his closure. And so it’s been difficult for me to enjoy the festivities, knowing my prince is willfully leaving me in a few short hours.

You may think I’m being dramatic. That’s okay. It’s a fair assessment. To a layman, Abdiel is going on a glorified hike, and it’s no cause for concern.

But I know better.I don’t want him to go.

If there’s any potential of harm, I should be protecting him from it. The fact that he’s disobeying me makes me itch. I need him safe, and unfortunately, I can’t guarantee it when he goes trudging up the mountain by himself.

Not to mention that we basically just started whatever this thing is between us. I’m not ready to lose him for days. Not yet.

Dessert is finally about done being served, and I’m watching Abdiel clean up, pretending to listen as Lauris and Gem commend and complain about various things that either went well or could have gone better tonight. Regardless of their thoughts, I think everything was perfect.

Music is playing, echoing from the booth we have set up on my back deck, easy melodies crooning while people talk and laugh and eat, the merriment palpable.

Yet the only thing I can do is watch my Domestic.

I’ve been greeting people all night, laughing with them, smiling and playing with the kids. It’s quite the political event, if I do say so myself, and now all I want in the world is to see my prince. I want someone here I can curl into, if even metaphorically; someone who will hold me tight and make me feel like less of aKingand more of a goddamn man.

Drake hasn’t shown up yet. I don’t know that I expected him to, but I really wish I would’ve had at least one person to keep me company while Abdiel was working. I need it, and I never realized how much until it was within reach, though just out of my grasp.

“Beautiful night,” someone speaks at my side, and I tilt my gaze to find Gina, pouring herself a drink right next to me.

I came over here to get away from all the noise. Thoughts can be overwhelming in a setting like this, especially when eighty percent of them are wondering about my marriages, and when I’ll finally decide to give them an heir to The Principality.

My smile is modest. “It is.”

Gina finishes pouring and aims her cup toward mine, where we clink in a soft toast, taking our respective sips.

“He did great tonight, didn’t he?” She asks, and I notice right away that she’s referring to Abdiel, though I’m not sure why she would assume I’d known that without her explaining herself. But following her gaze, I see Abdiel helping Ryle bring pots and pans inside, a smile ever-present on his soft lips.

He’s just the most joyous person, and it makes me happy, to know someone like him.

“He did,” I answer, purposely keeping the longing out of my voice.

Gina shifts toward me, and I peer in her direction. “His parents would be proud.”

Mention of Lars and Jenny seizes up my insides, especially knowing where Abdiel is going tomorrow morning, and why. I give her a sympathetic smile and nod as she takes a long sip of her drink, watching Abdiel all the while, before wandering off, leaving me cold and unsure.

When Abdiel goes back inside, I decide to sneak off, hoping to speak with him. He’ll be gone for a few days on his journey, and I’m really yearning to get some quality alone time with him before he leaves.

We spent last night in the lounge again, and it was marvelous. We still didn’t have sex, though he’s been pleading for it, testing every bit of willpower I have in my body. I still insist that it will be special. Not that I’m notdyingfor it myself, but I want him to lose his virginity when I know he’s absolutely ready, and unfortunately, I still haven’t felt it in his mind one hundred percent.

So instead, we’ve just been kissing and touching and sucking like there’s no tomorrow. And even then, it’s beyond satisfying. My prince is a perfect treasure. I never want to let him go, hence why I’m sort of stalking him tonight.

Lingering in the corridor, I watch Abdiel in the kitchen, instructing his helpers. For as passive a person he typically seems, he’s very good at taking charge when he needs to. Tonight really showcased how wonderful he’d be at operating some type of business. I know he loves to serve, but there needs to be more to him than that.

I want to help him soar.

It looks like Abdiel is almost done, and I’m getting ready to tug him away with me so I can kiss him dizzy when I feel cold fingers brush my arm.

Hey.

Turning my face, I’m met with snake eyes, and I get that usual mixture of relief and dread, such a normal part of interactions with Drake at this point, I wouldn’t even know what to do if I didn’t feel these things so close to one another.

What took you so long?I blink at him, and he looks away for a moment.

“I wasn’t going to come at all…” he mumbles. I have to fight not to roll my eyes.

Glancing back to Abdiel, I ask for him with my mind. His face tilts, and he peeks my way, giving me a subtle smile.