Page 15 of The Call of Crimson (The Crimson & Shadows #2)

CHAPTER EIGHT

brEYLA

A yden tends to the low-burning fire with a stick while people make their beds on the grass. We had crossed the border into Prudia two days ago and would reach the capital, Elentia, by nightfall tomorrow.

“I’ll take first watch,” Ayden says, and no one protests. Three days of riding and sleeping on the ground had taken their toll. Everyone’s quiet as we make camp in an open field on the fourth night. Silently, we eat roasted rabbit and the last of the crusty bread we brought from Rimor.

I bend forward, trying to rub the stiffness from my legs. Riding hard with minimal breaks has left me sore and cramping.

Ayden smirks at my discomfort. “The carriage offer still stands if you’d like a break from riding.”

“I might take you up on that. Luna would appreciate it, I’m sure.”

I sigh, giving up on stretching the muscles in favor of sleep. The stars twinkle brightly overhead as a crisp autumn breeze rolls through. Shivering, I pull the blanket higher around my shoulders.

Several minutes later, soft snores sound around me. Despite my body crying for sleep, my brain is wide awake with thoughts of what will happen when we arrive tomorrow plaguing me.

We haven’t spoken about it, but I wonder how long Ayden will wait before forcing me down the aisle. I truly need to look at that godsdamned contract—there has to be a loophole somewhere.

Unable to quiet my thoughts, I toss and turn.

Ayden adds a log to the fire, prodding it until the flames catch. “Trouble sleeping, darling?”

The flames lick at my skin, their heat just close enough to be comfortable. “I’m just anxious.”

“Don’t tell me you’re actually getting excited to marry me, Princess.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Prince.”

“I know this isn’t what you wanted. Believe me, it’s never what I pictured for myself, but trust me when I say I did it for a very good reason.”

“You must know I never wanted war with Prudia. It didn’t require a marriage to ensure peace between us.”

“I know, Princess.” His voice is withdrawn, perhaps even regretful. “I did it to protect my people, and yours.”

“You speak in riddles.”

“Just trust I know what I’m doing.”

“Aurelius once said the same thing to me when I confronted him about secrets,” I say sadly. “You see where that got me.”

“I don’t intend to hurt you.”

“I’m sure he didn’t intend to, either.” I yawn, blinking back years. “Doesn’t change the fact that he did.”

“How long are you going to punish him for that?”

The question catches me off guard. “Why would you care about me forgiving him? I would think you’d want that wedge between us.”

“Breyla, you may be my betrothed, but I know you care for him. Just because I don’t want you in his bed, doesn’t mean I want you to hate him.”

I mull over his words for a few moments before responding. “I don’t hate him. Not really.”

“Obviously,” he teases, “I’m pretty sure you just have a thing for hate sex.”

“Whatever,” I say, rolling away from him.

“Good night, Breyla.”

“Good night, Ayden.”

Finally, sleep claims me.

The next morning, Ayden, Aurelius, and I all opt to take a carriage for the final stretch. Charlotte, Ryder, Zion, and the others trail behind us on horseback. To pass the time, Ayden insists we play two truths and a lie.

All our games are rooted in worship. Our gods and goddesses believe that respect for them should be freely given from a place of joy and reverence.

Most gods and goddesses have one they favor, many of them responsible for the creation of their game.

This happens to be attributed to Saelem, the god of mischief.

Ayden is bound and determined to find a way to get past Aurelius’ Gift.

Aurelius crosses his arms, narrowing his eyes. “I’m telling you there’s no way to lie to me.”

“And I’m telling you there’s always a way,” Ayden argues.

“Fine. Go again. I’ll prove you wrong once more.”

“I can’t stand green beans,” Ayden starts, lifting a finger for each one. “I once lost a bet to my friend Malcolm, and he made me wear my sister’s corset to a ball. And… I’ve been known to dabble in the occasional threesome.”

“The threesome checks out with your fondness for watching,” I say, my eyes assessing his frame in an attempt to picture him in a corset.

“You wore your sister’s corset to a ball?” Aurelius asks, confirming the green beans was the lie.

“Ugh, yes. And let’s just say I have immense respect for the ladies who wear those cages you call clothing.”

I let out a chuckle, agreeing with him completely. “Why do you think I wear my leathers all the time?”

“I just thought it was because they were practical and made you look intimidating.”

“I am intimidating,” I say firmly.

Aurelius smirks. “Of course you are, Princess.”

It makes me want to punch him.

“Aurelius, your turn.”

“Fine. I used to give other males erections when they pissed me off as a boy. I find ducks adorable. The quickest I’ve ever brought a female to orgasm was forty-eight seconds.”

I blush thinking about the last one. He had never brought me to orgasm that quickly, preferring to drag out my pleasure as long as possible, but I think about what it would be like for him to try.

“Her blush makes me think the last one is the truth,” Ayden muses, “Although you do look like the type of male who would like cute little ducks.”

“It’s the ducks, right?” I guess, trying to recover.

“Nope.” Aurelius grins. “I find them quite precious. I once tried to keep one as a pet.”

“So, you’re telling me,” Ayden says, eyes lighting up, “that you have the ability to give males spontaneous erections—and you never once used that Gift to torment them?”

“I haven’t. But don’t tempt me. I’m not above that.”

The carriage comes to a halt, and a knock sounds outside the carriage before a gruff voice calls out, “We’re about to enter the city, Prince.”

“Ah, that’s my queue,” Ayden sighs. “I’ll be entering on horseback to greet my people. It is probably best you two remain inside until we reach the castle.” With a sharp tug, he swings open the carriage door and disappears into the outside light.

The carriage lurches forward, my stomach going with it. Apprehension churns inside me, and I wish, for the hundredth time, that I were back in Rimor.

Aurelius shifts beside me, his voice low and teasing. “Your turn, Princess.”

“Why would we continue playing? You’ve already proven it’s impossible to get past your Gift.”

“Because I love the way those pretty lies sound coming from your lips,” he drawls, leaning back with that infuriating smirk. “Humor me.”

“Fine,” I sigh. “I hate you. I’m not wearing any underwear. My favorite dessert is apple pie.”

He chuckles, deep and melodic. “That’s not how the game works, little demon. It’s two truths and a lie, not two lies. But it does things to me knowing you’re sitting three feet away, not wearing any underwear.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There were two truths.”

His gaze heats, crimson flecks sparking in his dark irises. “Then come over here and show me how much you hate me,” he taunts. “Make me believe it.”

“I suppose I have nothing better to do.”

I rise slowly, dragging my blade from its sheath as I step between his spread legs. His eyes don’t leave mine as I lift the dagger and press it to the side of his throat.

The crazy bastard grins. “I could do it,” I whisper, the tip biting into the skin just enough of draw a drop of blood. “I could slide this blade straight across your neck and end both our suffering.”

His pulse flutters against the edge of my blade, steady and unbothered. “I have no doubt you could, little demon. But you won’t.”

I press the blade harder, watching the blood trickle down his throat. “And why is that?”

“Because I know you better than you want to admit,” he says confidently. In a move I wasn’t expecting, he seizes my wrist, spinning me around and pulling me into his lap. I land straddling his thighs, heart thundering in my chest.

“You don’t want to admit that your feelings for me haven’t changed. There’s betrayal and hurt layered over them that you’re holding onto so tightly, but underneath it, you still want me. You crave me.”

“If I crave you, it’s only that I crave what you can do to me physically. You have no right to my emotions.”

“I can smell it on you, you know. How much you desire me. If I were to slip my hand,” his voice trails off as he reaches a hand to the front of my leathers. “I know what I would find.”

My core clenches around nothing at his words. “You might know my body, but anyone can figure that out. You aren’t the only one capable of arousing me.”

“But I will be the only one to satiate that arousal,” he snarls low in my ear.

I shouldn’t be excited by that, but I am.

“I decide who touches me,” I growl.

He chuckles, but it’s menacing. “Test me on this, I dare you.”

“I fucking hate you,” I whisper.

One of his hands plunges beneath my leathers, swiping through the wetness dripping down my thighs. “Liar.”

He lifts me from his lap just enough to tug down my pants, leaving them pooled around my ankles. I hear him unbutton his own, letting his throbbing cock spring free.

“Sit,” he demands, pulling my hips back so I’m hovering just above him.

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

He just chuckles that same low, menacing sound before burying himself to the hilt in one hard stroke.

“Fuck,” I moan. “I so fucking hate you.”

“Let me feel your hate, Princess.” He keeps one hand on my hip while the other wraps around my throat, squeezing just enough to heighten my arousal without cutting off airflow.

I’m panting from how full I feel in this position. Taking him without any warmup was a feat in itself, but at this angle, it was almost too much. I rock my hips, urging the muscles to relax around him.

He thrusts up into me, and I nearly cry from the sensation. His cock perfectly hits that magical spot deep inside me with every thrust. With his hand still on my hip, he urges me to keep moving.