Page 78 of The Chains You Defy

“Stop staring.”

“Why? If they don’t want me to watch, they should get a room of their own. Also, this answers the question once and for all if there’s something between those two.”

“On and off. As if someone likeThaincould ever commit to anyone. Fucking Courtling.”

“What’s a Courtling?” He’d used that term before and always derogatorily, which I credited to his general hatred for the redhead.

“The Cuirt is a cult in Galanta consisting of a bunch of fae who take their contempt for commitment to a whole other level—stop staring, godsdammit.”

“But—”

“I swear, if you examine half-naked males with those heated eyes, you and I will have a serious problem.”

At this moment, Thain looked up and over to us, his swollen lips curling into a feline grin. At first, he held Dion’s gaze, who showed him his teeth in return, then he latched his eyes on mine, crooking his finger. Was he…inviting me to join them?

However, before my drunk mind could consider this weird offer, several things happened at once. For starters, Ireas grabbed Thain’s face with both hands and pulled the redhead back to himself—with an angry snarl. Huh.

Second, Dion seized me and spun me around so fast the alcohol sloshed in my stomach, and my vision dizzied. Before I had a chance to understand what was going on, he shredded his own tunic, and all of a sudden, I was very close to his very naked, very chiseled chest.

“You want to watch a topless male? Touch one? Well, darling, here’s one.”

“Over there are two,sweetheart.” I couldn’t stop being cheeky. As drunk as I was, I was enjoying poking the territorial fae prince a tad bit too much.

Only, I pushed him farther than intended, as he snarled even more viciously than Ireas earlier, and within the blink of an eye, I found myself airborne.

Dion had somehow lost his Glamour too, but before my mind could provide me with something appropriateto say, he’d thrown me over his shoulder and prowled to our bedroom with big steps.

The door closed behind us with a loud bang, and seconds later, I ended up on the soft bed, Dion covering me instantly. His weight pushed into me, and amethyst fire seared itself into my very soul.

Then his mouth landed on mine, and without giving me any opportunity to comprehend what was going on, his tongue met mine. There was so much hunger in his kiss, my vision doubled, and—

It was too much. Too much. I—

“Schnapps.” Panic accompanied the desperate attempt to make Dion stop just as his lips moved to my neck, and I snapped my eyes shut. My whole body tensed as my mind was under the assault of memories of a dirty stable and a horrible man, hungry and relentless.

Immediately, the weight on top of me vanished, and I took a shuddering breath, shivering, trembling. As I opened my eyes after a perceived eternity, Dion stood three feet away, staring at me, aghast. “Naya, oh gods, I’m so sorry.”

An apology. What? “You stopped.”

“Yes, of course. You used our word.”

Sitting up, I could see horror spreading in his eyes. He was mortified.

“I—didn’t think for a moment. This was a grave mistake.”

“But you stopped.” Finally pulling myself to my feet, I crossed the distance and gently embraced him. “Thank you for that.”

“None of this should have occurred. Acting wild like that? No. That’s why I shouldn’t drink fucking alcoholat all. Not only do I forfeit my magic but also all restraint.”

“Then I guess it’s good that alcohol is your Wielder-vice.”

Slowly, as if not to spook me, his arms closed around me. “Are you alright?”

“Yes. Yes, I am.”

“I deeply regret what just happened.”

“I don’t.”