Page 74 of The Chains You Defy

But Dion surprised me. He wriggled out from under me, got up, and prowled over to Thain, sporting an expression more entertained than pissed. Either he was more drunk than I presumed, or so relaxed he was able to let his grudge rest for once.

“Remember, Courtling. What happens during Regicide stays at Regicide.” Dion grinned menacingly, propped himself down next to Thain, and then—then he embraced the redhead, who threw his arms around him too.

My jaw dropped as I watched.

What—

The—

Holy—

Triad.

The two fae hugged. Dion was holding Thain. Without a death threat or any aggression. And the other male leaned into the embrace, grinning like a maniac.

Shimmying over closer to Rewi, I whispered to her, “Do you think sacrificing his magic permanently would be worth it if he were always so relaxed in return?”

My best friend laughed in response.

After the minute was up, the two fae disentangled, and Dion sauntered back over to me. Obviously, I didn’t react fast enough for His Royal Highness—pardon, Majesty—so he picked me up and let himself drop back onto the settee, with me on top of him.

Antas nodded. “Duty fulfilled.”

“As the accessory to his task, it’s only fair for me to issue the next.”

“What do you want me to do, Thain?”

The grin on his face spelled nothing good, and as he made a spectacle of drumming his fingers on his chin, I knew he had something fiendish in mind.

“Oh well, Your Royal Majesty. This party in your honor has been enjoyable so far, but something is missing, wouldn’t you say?”

Dion dipped his chin and muttered into my ear, his warm breath a gentle caress, causing me to shiver. “I hate this game.” Still, his tone was dripping with amusement.

“Humans, listen up. Fae are much more open than your lot. So are our games. Regicide is no exception. So, Your Royal Majesty, pick one of the Ivreians and demonstrate for five minutes in front of everyone what, apart from food, drink, and good company, is also a vital tradition at our parties.”

From Thain’s twinkle in his eyes, how he was vague on purpose, and from the way Dion grinned, I wasn’t convinced I wanted to find out.

Hugging Thain had been a nightmare, and he could consider himself lucky that I was too drunk to wield even the tiniest bit of magic. Otherwise, the temptation to stab him in the back would have been too hard to resist. And now I carried his stank all over me, plus if I had to endure his impish grin for a second longer, I’d take a spoon and carve his heart out, Regicide or not. In the end, what was a party without a little murder?

But his assignment for me? Easy.

I took another gracious sip from my glass, and I was definitely more than just a little tipsy. “Iaccept the task, of course.”

There was no question about who I was going to pick. After all, a delicious tiny human was already sprawled on my lap. Nayana squirmed as if she tried to get away, but I wouldn’t let her. Not now, not ever.

Shifting my weight, I grabbed her waist and spun her around. My action coaxed a delectable squeal from her. “I choose you, needless to say.” My voice was a deep purr, and with fascination, I watched how her cheeks reddened. Ah, she had an inkling where this was heading.

“Your time starts now.”

Not pausing one second, I tangled one of my hands in her blonde locks and hauled her flush against my chest. Pouncing, I attacked her lips with mine. Her small gasp was expected, and she yielded almost in an instant, meeting my kiss without hesitation. As her eyelids fluttered shut, I felt like a true king.

I ignored the hoots and hollers of our audience as I kissed the tiny female who had me completely obsessed. She was melting into my embrace, and my lips became more commanding.

She instantly obeyed when my tongue demanded entry, and I ambushed her even more ferociously.

Drunk as I was, admitting to myself how she had me bewitched was much easier, and I’d already forgotten about the idiots gawking at us.

Nayana’s hair was so soft, and so were her lips, and I was close to combusting, just by a few seconds of kissing alone.