Page 76 of The Chains You Defy

I lifted my head and growled at Thain, who’d delivered this godscursed message, and who looked much too smug for my liking.

Only reluctantly did I raise and arrange Nayana on my lap again. Both of us needed to catch some breath,although she was panting harder than I was, and her face was deliciously flushed.

Smoothing down her hair, I examined the mark I’d given her with a lot of male satisfaction. To cover the spot up the next day would be mandatory, but that was tomorrow Dion’s problem. Now, I was just preening.

This tiny woman had me in a chokehold, and if someone else tried to touch her during this game—or any other time—that fool would better think twice. I’d definitely indebt myself to anyone if it meant that no one could get their paws on her—and afterward kill everybody who’d considered succumbing to the temptation she posed.

Her friend had returned to her own seat, and she was still grinning widely. The fact that she gave the impression she approved of me when it came to her best friend was softening me to the idea of her being a continued fixture in Naya’s and my lives.

Not that I’d care if she weren’t, but it was easier this way. Due to some unknown reason, Naya was attached to her—and sadly also to the boy. Humans could be strange.

My woman had grabbed her glass and drank a deep sip, most likely to combat the embarrassment painting her face red. Smiling, I reached out and played with her hair, fascinated by the silkiness of her tresses.

“A bit tame for a fae celebration, but I’ll accept it. Task fulfilled, my King.”

“Tame? Are you for real, Thain?”

“Yes, Nayana. You’re still wearing all of your clothes.”

A growl escaped me, and I bared my teeth to Thain. “If this was a ploy to see her naked, I and you can gooutside anddiscuss this out.” And by discussing, I meant me killing him.

The fucking Courtling laughed with mirth and handed me another glass of Cintro, which I accepted with a huff.

“Three hundred ninety-six.”

The boy had been the last one to direct his order to me, and since he was lame, he’d only asked for my age.

“Shit.”

“Don’t you dare to make me feel old, tiny woman.”

“But you’re ancient. I am twenty-four.”

“No one frowns about age gaps in Galanta. My mother was around five hundred winters older than my father when they fell for each other, and it took another three centuries before I was born.”

What was her problem? The aging process of fae was very different from the one of humans, and when looking at the big picture, one could say the winters between us were the least of our worries.

She shouldn’t give a fuck and instead admit she desired me as much as I was obsessed with her. Not able to withstand the temptation, I feasted on her earlobe again, which made her squeal as usual.

“Well, I finished all of your missives. It’s time y’all pay up. What will you offer to me?”

“A full canteen of Cintro. Moonshined, of course.” Thain’s suggestion wasn’t actually bad, even though I didn’t want to know how much of that stuff he kepthidden in his room in the army barracks in Alaiann or where he was brewing the drink. Even less where he’d procured the Raga from.

“Two embarrassing stories of Nayana when she was in her teen winters.”

“Rewi. Don’t you dare.”

“Good proposal, Rewani,” I chuckled as Nayana pouted.

“I’ll grant you a blank pass to stay in a place of your choosing for a few hours, not longer, where you store me without arguing.”

“Sad as this makes me, that means I won’t make you a queen today, Nayana.” But one day, I would. If I should ever be cursed to ascend to the Eternal Throne, I’d put a crown on her head and fall to my knees in front of her, worshiping her in the only way she deserved. For a moment, the lack of ambition to become High King battled with the tempting idea of seeing Nayana on a throne.

My drunken self saw informing her of my intention as his duty, and I lost an annoyed growl as the boy interrupted me before I could do so.

“I’ll keep silent about three days ago.”

“What happened three days ago?”