“Naturally, it was not part of the plan for Arion to invade our isle and cause turmoil,” Eldirard said, a little disgruntled. “Kinship bonds are part of our affinities, and Skadinia’s will be yours through this vow; her power could not be used against you. The Ljosalfar will not have the warriors or strength to stand against you without our clan. I believe their king sees the greater opportunity in aligning with the fae, rather than fighting them.”
“You assume he does,” said the alver queen. “And we’re not fae.”
“Forgive me, I mean the whole of the fae realms. Your connections with all the kingdoms are expansive, and now you will have the alliance of elven. A first.” The glee written in my grandfather’s features was notshared by the alver folk. Eldirard sobered. “If her lack of choice is your concern, I assure you our contracts must always hold a touch of willingness, a desire to see them through, a bit of choice, or they will not seal correctly. Skadinia is here because of her desire to see her people at peace.”
I studied a divot in the table. Part of it was true; I didn’t want trouble for the Dokkalfar clan. Perhaps it was selfish, but I wished my heart was not the sacrifice needed to ensure such a thing. I wished this meet was an alliance founded in love, trust, and passionate anticipation.
When I dared look at the prince, his face was hardened.
There was no heart in this deal. I’d be wise to remember it.
Prince Jonas leaned forward. “The merit of the union remains, and we understand the risks of what might happen should it not proceed. Now, allow my mother and father to see your terms.”
Chapter 4
The Nightmare Prince
Eldirard worea smug kind of grin on his thin lips. From beneath his tunic, the elven king removed a gold chain. On one end was a wooden vial with gilded, painted runes on the sides.
No larger than my smallest finger, yet when the king tapped the top of the opened vial, as he pulled his finger away, a slender roll of parchment followed.
The thickness of the scroll grew the farther from the vial it became, and when removed completely, a fully formed scroll, sealed in blue wax, was delivered to my father by an elven guard.
“How the hells?” Sander leaned forward, reaching a hand for the enchanted parchment, but I pressed my fist over his heart.
I shook my head, holding him back.
With a curl to his lip, Sander slouched in his chair. There was little that could draw out my brother’s petulance, but refusing to let his curiosity be free was the swiftest way to see it done.
His movement tore me from my deliberate focus and I made the mistake of looking across the table.
Gods, why did she have to look as she did—like the first crystal star in the night, an untouchable jewel.
The princess had glowing, rich skin, slightly darker than mine, andeyes so blue they nearly glowed. She was slender, but not brittle. The woman had the power of darkness. The strange murky magic that coated her palms stole lands and fierce curses.
The princess could steal entire men and armies into the void of her dark mists.
Dark mesmer—the magic of alver clans—was not a foreign notion. In truth, there weren’t many alver folk I knew who didn’t have some level of wickedness in their hearts. The princess was as formidable as them all, and this union was to keep her darkness from the hands of our shared enemies, nothing more.
It would make it all simpler if my damn heart didn’t quicken when she looked my way and my cock would stop twitching every time she shifted, offering more glimpses of what curves she hid under that dull gown.
I didn’t understand it; my body rarely flared with heat in the veins and a desire for skin to touch skin, unless a woman made it clear she wanted the same.
Never had the elven princess offered a glimpse she felt anything but repulsion for me, and here I was imagining what her bleeding hair might smell like if I leaned a little closer.
I thought I hated her a little for it.
Lust and passion were no strangers. From the first time I stole away to the grove near my palace and discovered what it felt like to settle between a pair of thighs, I delighted in warming my nights with women.
Livia and Mira called me a charming rake. Aleksi always agreed with Sander that I would father half a dozen littles with half a dozen women one day.
I wouldn’t. I’d taken herbs to prevent littles since I was a lanky boy of sixteen.
Intentions were made clear whenever I took a lover for the night. Farewells and a few tender kisses were traded when it was over, and I was always left the same—knowing they tangled their bodies with mine because of my title.
Exactly as I preferred it.
Few would know me, the man. My friends, the other kings and queens of the fae realms, my brother, my parents and their guild that stood at their backs now, knew me. There was no purpose for anyone else to do the same.
