“It was. In those moments, there’s a discrepancy in physical sensation. Is it the same for you?”
His brow wrinkles as he considers. “Yes, I think you’re right. That didn’t stop me from enjoying it though. I wished so badly that you’d really been there that first night.”
His words send a flicker of pain inside me. “I did too.”
“And in the dining room at Bircharbor. That’s when I knew the visions were more than fantasy. You appeared out of nowhere while I was wide awake.” He lets out a light laugh. “You should have seen the terror on that fool girl’s face when I roared at her and ordered her back to her room. She hadn’t the slightest idea she’d just interrupted a much-desired kiss.”
“That kiss was everything I wanted,” I say. “Although, at that point, I still thought I was dreaming. In fact, I thought I was having a nightmare, certain that any moment the dream would shift into something I wouldn’t want to see. It wasn’t until you came to Lunar that I realized those visions had been real.” My heart sinks, the words I omitted screaming in my mind.It wasn’t until you caught me kissing Franco.Now that we’ve fully reunited, I feel like my apology to him in the alley could have been better.
He moves his hand to my face. “You were right, Evie. You don’t owe me an explanation and you are not my property. You are my mate. You are free to seek pleasure with whomever—”
I sit upright, cheeks blazing with indignation. “I only want you, Aspen. You damn well better know that.”
Amusement shines in his eyes as he props himself up on his elbows. He quirks a brow. “Only me?”
“Yes. I’m like Lorelei. Monogamous, that is. This is not...this isn’t a Nyxia at Beltane situation.” Blood drains from my face as I consider something I never have before. Not all fae love the same way I’m used to. Does he love the way I need to be loved? “Wait, do you prefer...taking other lovers?”
A smirk pulls at his lips and I want to slap it off his face. Or kiss it off. No, definitely slap. “I feel the same as you,” he finally says, his smirk shifting back to a genuine smile. “It’s just us, Evie. You’re all I want.”
I let out a shaking breath, posture relaxing as I let him pull me to his chest. His heart beats against my ear as his breath stirs my hair.
“You’re all I love.”
My heart skips a beat, and I lift my eyes to meet his. Love. It’s still so new to me, both the feeling and the word. It feels fragile and precious and terrifying all at once. With a soft brush of our lips, we seal our unspoken vow with a kiss.
* * *
It’s almostpainful to separate and force ourselves out of bed, but the outside world doesn’t stop to cater to my stolen moments of peace. There’s still much to attend to. The humans will want retribution for my escape. King Ustrin will want revenge.
And I have a throne to claim.
I return to my room, my body aching with every step—a combination of my leftover strain from the journey and the exhaustion of pleasure. Once dressed, I go to find Lorelei.
She opens her bedroom door and wastes not a moment before throwing her arms around me. “I heard you returned last night, and not in the best state. I was terrified for you.”
We pull away, and she looks me over. “I’m all right, I promise. Aspen took care of me.”
She raises a brow. “You actually let someone else take care of you for once?”
I roll my eyes. “I know, I know.”
Her expression turns serious. “How did it go?”
A shard of glass pierces my heart as an iron bullet shoots through my memory, followed by blood and smoke. Sorrow drags at me, and I feel like I’m being buried beneath mounds of stone. It’s so painful, I can hardly breathe, can hardly stand—
I seek my inner fire, transforming my sorrow into rage. This time, the fire doesn’t sear me. Instead, it clears my head, my heart, returns my composure.
Tears swim in Lorelei’s eyes. Her words are a gentle whisper. “You don’t have to say anything. Not until you’re ready.”
I steel myself and let out a heavy sigh.
“What happens next?” she asks.
“I must meet with the fire fae again to secure their support in claiming Unseelie Queen of Fire.”
She bites a corner of her lip. “I won’t pressure you to say more than you are ready for, but can I ask...did the humans agree to change the treaty?”
I force the darkness away, keeping my mind trained on facts alone. “No.”
