Little by little, my lips parted. I shuddered when my mouth moved with his, longer than the uncomfortable, forced kiss I imagined. This was maddeningly slow, as though the prince wanted to take his time, memorizing the way my mouth fitted to his.
The tip of his tongue touched the edge of my lips and my knees stumbled. One of my palms pressed over his heart before I could recoil, and I should’ve. I ought to have pushed away, kept carefully boarded barriers in place. I ought to curse him for his devious success at clawing his way through.
I could not think of anywhere I would rather be.
The prince tasted like the morning—crisp and cool—and something horrid was happening. Somewhere deep in the marrow new, relentless hunger bloomed into a craze for more. Such a meager taste of the man would not be enough.
Jonas pulled back. His eyes were darker, like a night forest, and kicked down to the glass over my heart. The smile curved over his mouth held more viciousness than tenderness. “There’s my fire.”
Beautiful gold burned over my bodice. Damn the hells. Everyone would see the evidence that my blood rushed from the prince’s touch.
“I was told of those clever little stones. It seems, wife, your heart is racing. Is that all for me? You’re not so aloof as you let on, are you?”
Damn bastard.
I narrowed my gaze. If he wished this to be nothing more than a game, I now had our entire lives to play.
“You think you’re clever?”
“Every day.”
“All right, you might’ve discovered I am not so lost in the remnants of my affinity, but hear this,Husband”—I followed his lead and whispered near to his odd, rounded ear. There was a spark of delight when he drew in a rough breath— “I promise you, if I burn, so will you.”
The green of his eyes brightened. “I can hardly stand the wait.”
Chapter 10
The Nightmare Prince
Eldirard overindulged on elven wine.Sweet and thick, like satin on the tongue, an opposite flavor from the harsh, burning taste of alver brän ale.
I rolled a crystal flute between my fingers, watching the burgundy drink swirl about. Would Skadi retch with brän, hate it, favor it? Would she come to love anything in Klockglas more than elven lands?
I snorted and took another sip. What good was it to fret over such things? The moment we were declared vowed, elven women pulled her away from me—to dress her in something more sensible, I was told.
Now for all the revelry surrounding us, I had not spoken two words to my wife. Another rough chuckle slid from my throat.
“These are warm.” Mira leaned forward and touched a clay bowl filled with pale pebbles that looked as though flames were trapped inside.
“I read about these.” Sander plucked one. “Everlast stones, I think they’re called. A guard said it was a gift from the light elves.”
I bristled. There was nothing I wanted from that clan. They could fade away into the far seas and never return for all I cared.
“Light elven use light and flame, and if I’m right, they can trap lightin these stones that never fades.” Sander studied one of the stones. “These are their most common trade item. Useful, I think.”
The table descended into a few touches to the stones to test if they were truly warm like a distant flame. I lost interest and took another drink of wine.
The Ever King sat across the table from me, a look of befuddlement on his face. “Is this how fae vows are, love? If so, I don’t care for them and I plan to make ours much better.”
“You’re taking vows, Bloodsinger?” My voice was darkened with drink. “I hadn’t heard.”
“It’s a recent discussion.” Livia draped an arm over her mate’s shoulder, tracing one of the scars on the side of his neck. “It’s not sea fae culture, so I told him we didn’t need them, but?—”
“I want them.” Erik pressed a kiss to her palm. “Every damn way to be bonded with you, I want it, love. But not like this.” The king lifted his own drink and used it to gesture at me. “You’ll be properly placed on my lap through the whole of it.”
“Is it proper to have a bride on your lap the whole time, Bloodsinger?” Sander leaned back in his chair, laughing.
The king’s crimson eyes flashed. “When your bride is my queen, there is no other way to see it done, Prince.”
