The thought of her mouth on my cock makes me groan, but before I can respond, there's a sharp knock at our door.
"Kaan! Nesilhan!"
The voice cuts through our haze of desire like a bucket of ice water. Banu's voice, bright and completely shameless.
"I can hear you two from the hallway!" she continues with obvious amusement. "But the Queen requests your immediate presence! Something about final terms and armies that can't wait for you to finish fucking!"
Nesilhan pulls back with a frustrated groan, and I have to close my eyes against the loss of sensation.
"Terrible timing," mutters the bed sympathetically. "They were just getting to the good part."
"Again," adds the mirror with obvious disappointment.
We dress with desperate haste, though my cock throbs painfully against my leathers and Nesilhan's cheeks are still flushed with arousal.
"This isn't over," I tell her as we head for the door.
"It better not be," she says, the truth-curse ensuring the promise is real.
***
Queen Morwenna's crystal court looks like someone decided to redecorate hell with a winter theme. Living walls pulse with frozen veins, and I notice the way the ice cracks slightly when she smiles—like even her own realm can't quite contain whatever's lurking beneath that beautiful facade.
All five of us stand before her: myself, Nesilhan, Elçin, Banu, and Yasar. The tension is so thick I could probably slice it up and serve it for dinner. Though knowing Fae cuisine, it would probably be poisonous and still somehow leave you hungry.
"The Shadow Court delegation arrives complete," Morwenna purrs, her ancient eyes cataloguing each of us like a butcher appraising meat. "How... thorough."
"We aim to please," I reply with my most charming smile—the one that usually precedes someone's unfortunate demise.
She holds up one imperious hand. "Before we begin, you must observe the Compact of Voices. All present parties may speak their truth. No voice may be silenced."
"How wonderfully democratic," I murmur. "I do love a good group therapy session."
Nesilhan shoots me a warning look, but I catch Banu fighting with a smile.
"Then let us discuss the price of my armies," Morwenna continues, rising from her throne with movements that would make silk jealous.
"Straight to business," I observe. "No foreplay, no seduction. I'm almost disappointed."
"Kaan," Nesilhan warns under her breath.
"What? I'm just saying, if you're going to fuck us, the least you could do is buy us dinner first."
The Queen's laugh sounds like wind chimes in a hurricane. "Oh, I do like you. Very well—dinner first, then business. I want the Whispering Marshes and the Eastern Amber Mines."
I notice how Yasar's shoulders relax slightly at the territorial demands. Interesting. Either he's relieved it's not worse, or he already knew what was coming.
"And for the second course?" I ask pleasantly.
"Lady Elçin. Two weeks a month in my realm."
Now here's where it gets fascinating. Elçin doesn't even flinch. No surprise, no protest—just that carefully blank expression she wears when she's hiding something significant. Like she was expecting this.
"Specific requirements for the position?" Banu asks with false sweetness. "Dental plan? Hazard pay? Likelihood of survival?"
"Various... projects," Morwenna replies vaguely. "Nothing permanently damaging."
The way she emphasizes 'permanently' makes my shadows twitch with amusement. Trust the Fae to find creative interpretations of damage.
