Finally, making it to her lips, I brushed against them but rested my forehead against hers. I stared into those hazel eyesthat were turning greener as time passed, a hint of her human blood slowly fading with time. I brought my hand up to cradle her cheek gently. She leaned into my hand, her skin smooth and warm, and closed her eyes.
I swallowed, pushing down my longing. Just a kiss. Just a simple kiss was all I could do for now until she was ready for more.
I pressed my lips against hers, nearly losing myself in the soft feel of their fullness. I felt her quivering against me. A low moan escaped her lips, and she opened for me, letting me sweep my tongue against hers, deepening our kiss. It was slow and lazy, but my heart beat wildly against my chest.
I felt it then, the tugging feeling against my soul. The mating bond and the soul bond snapped into place, stealing my breath. Sybil made a soft sound as both bonds settled into her. A surge of emotions and memories rushed through me, and I pulled away from her, taking in a raspy breath as each emotion, each memory, filled me.
I opened my eyes to Sybil’s hooded, glazed stare fixed on me. She lifted her hands, grabbing onto my shirt. Unable to hold back the desire that consumed me, my lips crashed into hers, and I pulled her into me. Every part of my being awakened, and I clung to it, savoring it.
My cock throbbed, aching for release, when Sybil groaned. Her hands roamed down my body, my skin tightening from her touch.
But I couldn’t lose myself now. I forced myself to move, to wrap my hands around hers, stopping her from going further, and pulled away from her lips. I pressed my forehead against hers again, our uneven breaths mixing. “Our bond is complete,” I spoke into her mind, willing my heart to calm.
“Did it feel that intense with Aster and Ezra?” She whispered back, her eyes still closed. Her breathing was still hard from the force of our bond.
“No…no, it didn’t,” I said, but kept the reason to myself. She was so new to this world, and Ambrose’s torment was still too fresh for me to push our mating bond onto her. But I knew she could feel it, in the way she couldn’t let go, in the way her desire for more echoed through the soul bond.
I pressed a small chaste kiss to her lips and lifted her head. Her eyes opened, full of heat and want, but I pushed back against my ache for her. “You need to rest,” I said gently, rubbing my thumb against her cheek. “I will stay here with you until the sun is up.”
Sybil breathed in deeply and nodded as she fell back into the bed. She settled in, pulling the blanket to her shoulders. I tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and she leaned into my touch. She hadn’t noticed it yet, the changes in her body, but the roundness of her ears was slowly becoming more pointed. Her hair was even becoming more brown and brassy. I wondered how she would react when she noticed, if she would like the changes, or if they would break her heart. She said nothing after her first day here about returning home, but I could sense that she missed it. Missed the life she had, missed the life that shecouldhave had if Ambrose hadn’t found her that day.
I closed my eyes, breathing until my heart settled. I was happy that she was here, that I could see her every day, talk to her, laugh with her. But the guilt weighed heavily on my soul. She wasn’t meant to be here, wasn’t meant to fight in a war that had nothing to do with her, royal blood or not. She had friends—a life. Yet it was all ripped away from her.
I exhaled and ran my hand through her silky hair, my heart swelling in my chest. My mate. My mate was here with me, learning to accept me.
Finally calm enough to stand, I returned to the chaise, picking up a book to read, though my head turned to the window. Dawn was coming, the small bit of light turning the sky into hues of dark blue, orange, and pink.
The night had turned out better than expected. Everyone now knew the truth—well, most of the truth. They never asked the vital question about Ambrose; they never askedwhyhe was so determined to become king. But they knew enough to plan, to organize their forces, and that would have to suffice for now.
I looked back at Sybil, her breathing now steady from sleep. She looked peaceful—serene. My chest clenched at the sight, knowing that whatever path fate had set her on would be a difficult one. I wasn’t certain what Ambrose had planned for her, but whatever it was, I couldn’t help but think that tonight would be one of the last nights she would find peace like this again.
Chapter 4
Ambrose
She’s not yours. She’s not yours. She’s not yours. She’s not yours. She’s not yours. She’s not yours. She’s not yours.
My eyes flung open, and I sucked in air, my arms wrapping tighter around the warm body lying against me. That fucking voice was still ringing in my head, haunting me, taunting me, never giving me a moment's peace. It has only grown since I took Sybil to the dungeon, bending her to my will. That whispering, melodic voice, sounding both new and ancient, grew louder and more persistent, as if it were punishing me for what I had done to her.
I silently scoffed, rolling my neck. As if such a thing could happen. Punishing me? I fucking dare it to try. Sybil was mine until I deemed her useless, no matter what that fucking voice said.
I brought my hand up, pushing it through my slick hair, damp from sweat. My body felt too hot, too constricted, though the room around me was chilled. Arianna murmured something, still lost in sleep, and I exhaled. Untangling myself from her limbs, I moved to the edge of the bed, setting my feet against the cold marble floor. I let the coolness seep into my body, allowing it to calm my mind.
A knock sounded at the door, and I fought the spike of annoyance that thrummed in my veins at the disturbance. It was still early, and the sun wasn’t even up yet. Throwing on my robe, I opened the door, finding Hale, pale-faced and grim. Dread wafted off him. Dread mixed with apprehension, and a touch of fear. His body went rigid as he caught the glare I sent his way. “What is it?”
“General Darktree is missing, Your Highness.” Hale’s voice was tight, his brown eyes flashing in alarm when he noticed the ice slowly climbing up the walls beside us.
“How?” I growled.
“We're still not sure, though it looked as if someone…” Hale hesitated, and I narrowed my eyes, waiting impatiently for him to continue. “It looked like someone hadlethim out.”
Cursing, I pointed to the room behind Hale, moving our conversation away from the bedroom so we wouldn’t disturb Arianna's sleep. The last thing I needed was for her to overhear our discussion and come bursting out of the room.
We have yet to make our announcement regarding her becoming my consort, and I planned on keeping it that way until I knew for sure that Sybil was entirely under my control. Closing the door behind me, I moved into the small office and leaned against my desk, motioning Hale to continue.
“The guards are still trying to figure out who could have let him out. All we know is that it happened during the guard change around two this morning, and the prisoners around the area are either not talking or saying they saw nothing.”
My magic pulsed, thrashing beneath my skin, begging for release. I rolled my shoulders, pushing down its call. “What about Samian and Sybil?”
