Page 24 of The Call of Crimson (The Crimson & Shadows #2)

CHAPTER TWELVE

brEYLA

“ W here are we going?” I demand as a rather uncomfortable-looking prince drags me from the breakfast table.

We barely make it out of earshot before Ayden ushers me into a vacant sitting room and spins, pressing me against the nearest wall.

A soft gasp escapes me at the boldness.

One hand wraps around my throat, the other clamps tightly on my hip.

His hard body cages me in, his thumb tipping my face up toward his.

For a long moment, he just looks at me, something contemplative flickering in his amber eyes, then he lowers his lips to mine.

From previous experience, I knew Ayden kissed like he was consuming you, but this wasn’t that. It was soft and warm yet lacking passion.

I don’t return the kiss.

Ayden shifts, grinding against me gently—and gods, one of them must have blessed his bloodline, judging by what’s rubbing against my stomach.

His kiss turns hungry, more insistent, while his hand travels up the curve of my waist, stopping just below my breast.

I mentally shake off the surprise of his sudden actions, annoyance flooding my veins.

Gathering shadows around us, I wind them slowly up his torso without him noticing.

He's so busy trying to kiss me, he doesn’t feel the moment I use them to flip us—Ayden’s back slamming into the wall with a dull thud as I wrench his dagger free from its sheath.

The blade presses against his throat as I give him a dark look.

His chest heaves, heated eyes registering the anger in mine.

“Care to tell me what’s gotten into you?” It’s a demand, despite my phrasing it as a question.

“Fucking Aurelius made me hard,” he growls.

I arch a confused brow at him. “Come again?”

“That sounds bad.” He winces, visibly regretting his choice of words.

“It certainly sounds scandalous,” I agree. “It makes ‘I fucked my mother’s fiancé’ sound slightly better, though.”

“Breyla,” Ayden warns, voice strained.

“Ayden,” I mirror his tone right back.

He sighs heavily, deflating against the marble. “He used his Gift to make me rock hard while I was hugging my mother.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s an interesting use of his Gift…” I snicker, not bothering to hide the smirk that lifts the corner of my lips. “When it isn’t being used to torment you.”

“Doesn’t feel very fucking interesting right now.” Ayden’s head falls back, hitting the marble wall behind him. “I can’t get it to go down.”

“He’s punishing you.”

He groans louder. “I gathered that much.”

“You probably just need to get further away from him. He’s strong, but there is a limit to his reach.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.” He nods, messy brown curls shaking free and falling across his brow. “It feels like I lost all rationality when he redirected blood flow to my cock.”

“He has that effect on people,” I murmur. “Perhaps you shouldn’t antagonize him as you do.”

“And how exactly did I antagonize him this morning?”

I level him with a knowing look. “Let’s not play dumb with one another.”

“I blame the erection.”

“You had your hands all over me and were planning our wedding in front of him.”

“And? You’re my betrothed, Breyla. That’s what we’re supposed to discuss.”

“I’m only your betrothed because my father was obviously out of his mind before his death,” I growl. My grip on his dagger tightens, the metal kissing his skin. “I want peace for Rimor. The only reason I’m here is because we can’t risk war against Prudia over a broken marriage contract.”

The admission of weakness makes bile rise in my throat. It burns, acidic and humiliating.

Despite the blade against his throat, Ayden lifts his hand, brushing my cheek with a gentleness I wasn’t prepared for.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Breyla,” he says softly. “Or your kingdom.”

“There you go doing it again.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Doing what again?”

“Being genuine with me.”

He smiles faintly. “Can you detect intention as well?”

“No,” I reply. “But I’m very good at detecting bullshit.”

Ayden shakes his head. “Such a beautiful mouth you have.”

I shrug, unapologetic.

Confident now that I won't slit his throat, Ayden pushes off the wall, reclaiming his dagger from my hand.

“Come on, love. I’m taking you to the library.”

I don’t move.

Pressing the second dagger, the one he hadn’t seen me draw, against his groin, I smile sweetly. “One last thing, Ayden.”

“Yes, Princess?” he asks, voice suddenly careful.

“I decide who I share my body with. If you ever try that shit again, I’ll castrate you.”

His eyes widen as he glances down and sees the blade pressed lightly but unmistakably against him.

“This shouldn’t be arousing,” he says breathlessly.

Backing away from him, I roll my eyes. “What is wrong with you two?”

“You have no idea, love.” He chuckles darkly, sheathing his dagger.

“My mother once drunkenly confessed the story of Rowina’s conception.

She was furious with Father for something, and he tried to manipulate her feelings to calm her down.

So she stabbed him in the thigh. Apparently, he found her fire more enticing than frightening.

Despite the open wound, he took her right there on the floor. ”

“I didn’t need to know that.” I stare at him, appalled and amused in equal measure. “But that actually explains so much.”

We both burst out laughing.

I drop the dagger from his groin, returning it to him, and follow as he leads me to the library. “Do you know who Aurelius’ mother is?”

“In theory.”

“Are you going to share that theory?”

He smirks. “Now, what would be the fun in that?”

“Do you answer everything with a question?”

He laughs, low and maddeningly smug. “Do you?”

“Infuriating male,” I grumble under my breath.

“Here we are,” Ayden announces as he pushes open the library doors with a flourish.

Stepping inside, I blink at the sheer size of it, endless rows of books tower up well above my head. Tall windows illuminate the space, casting a soft afternoon light on the leather-bound tomes that fill the shelves. It smells of parchment, the familiar scent grounding me.

“I think you’ll find some of the answers you’re looking for here,” Ayden says.

“To which questions?”

He only shrugs, sliding his hands into his pockets like a male without a single care in the world.

“Not only are you infuriating, but you’re also insufferable,” I mutter.

He ignores my jab. “Rowina will join you shortly.”

“And where exactly are you going?”

“Well, thanks to Aurelius, I have quite the situation to work through.” He gives me a look that’s pure sin. “Unless you wanted to help me with that?”

“Ew, Ayden,” I groan. “I didn’t need that picture in my head.”

“Doing what?” he asks innocently. “Training with Darian?”

Despite myself, my cheeks flame in embarrassment. “Fuck off, Ayden.”

“I’m trying, but your riveting conversation skills are keeping me here.”

“Ugh,” I say, throwing my arms into the air.

“If you need to work off any energy, feel free to join Darian and me for training later.”

“Or don’t,” Darian adds, suddenly appearing behind Ayden, looking thoroughly displeased.

“Don’t worry, General ,” I purr. “I prefer training with males who can actually challenge me.”

The self-satisfied look on my face is wiped clean when Darian snaps, “Intellectually or physically? Actually, don’t answer that. Neither is truly a challenge.”

Before I realize it, a shadow dagger flies from my fingertips, aiming straight for his throat. It hits the library door behind him instead when he vanishes and reappears behind me, a hand wrapping around my throat.

I grin wickedly at the pressure. Not enough to truly hurt, just enough to set every nerve alight. Chuckling low, I whisper, “Harder, General.”

An exaggerated moan leaves my lips, and I feel his body tense behind mine.

Darian jerks away from me like he’s been burned, his hand flexing as if to shake off the feel of me. “ What is wrong with you?”

“Call me stupid again,” I drawl, “and I’ll really show you.”

“Noted,” he grunts as he storms off, dragging a reluctantly amused Ayden with him.

I laugh, watching them disappear down the hall.

“Well, that’s certainly one way to spar with Darian,” Rowina says, rounding the corner into the library.

“I didn’t see you there, Princess.”

“I certainly took notice of you, Princess,” she replies, her tone both flirtatious and irritated.

“Don’t like me calling you Princess?” I tease.

“I don’t like anyone calling me that.”

“That makes two of us.”

Rowina grins. “Unless you’re moaning it when I’m between your thighs.”

My cheeks flame, eyes going wide as her words paint a licentious picture in my mind.

“Don’t worry.” She winks. “I won’t tell my brother about that arousal filling your veins right now.”

“He already knows,” Aurelius says from the library doorway.

Rowina rolls her eyes and flips open a book, mumbling, “I meant the other brother.”

“And that’s barely arousal,” Aurelius adds smoothly. “It’s more like… intrigue.”

“How would you know?” Rowina retorts. “Are you suddenly an Empath as well?”

“No, Rowina,” Aurelius chuckles. “I just know the princess’ body better than anyone.”

“Knew. You knew my body better than anyone,” I spit. “You lost that privilege, my lord.”

“On that note,” Rowina chirps, clapping her book shut. “I’ll be finding something to read on the other side of the library. Behave, you two.”

She vanishes between the stacks, leaving me alone with the storm brewing behind Aurelius' black eyes.

The library door clicks shut behind him.

In three strides, he’s in front of me, crowding me back against a heavy oak table, his hands braced on either side of me.

“I know your body, little demon,” he whispers. “No one will ever make it sing the way I do. And if you think my brother can stop me from reminding you of that… you are mistaken.”

“It’s not Ayden keeping you from my heart,” I reply, meeting his gaze. “It’s your own lies and betrayal.”

“Tell me how to earn your forgiveness,” he breathes.

His words tempt me, something deep within me begging me to let him in. I could survive without his body.