“Yes, thank you,” I respond. This makes her even more pleased, her tail swishing behind her, pushing against the pillows.Tail.The strange sight is fitting for their petite reptilian frames.
In the warmth of my new environment and from my meagre sip of green liquid, the cloak around my shoulders seems too much to handle, so I go for the buckle at the top, releasing the velveteen material, shifting aside from Rivern for a moment to let it fall behind us.
Suddenly, the heat in my body skyrockets, lips pressing urgently against my ear. “What are you wearing, love?” And I get it. I can feel Rivern’s need like a raging furnace.Goddess.
“Are you trying to get me into trouble, Fury?”I ask the God who now resides in my head. All I hear is him giving off a smooth chuckle that shoots right to my core.
Bringing my legs under my body to somehow control the vibrating below, I turn to the flushed fae prince next to me. My hand finds his, squeezing them. “It’s just clothes, Rivern.” His eyes are on the cowl of my dress—the onyx silk, form-fitting dress that Fury made me wear before leaving him. The dip against my chest is low enough to almost expose my nipples. At this moment, I’m thankful for the full slit in the bottom of the material that reaches up to my thigh, allowing me to tuck my lower body in on itself freely.
I say Rivern’s name again to get his attention.
“Sorry,” he says. “I think you’re the most stunning creature I’ve ever seen. Goddess, I…” He trails off, a blush overtaking his high cheekbones. Rivern rubs the back of his neck.
At his need, my body burns with want for him, so I do the only thing that seems logical in this situation and kiss him on the cheek. “You too,” I say. His throat bobs as I sink back into the cushions.
I ignore the low rumble behind us, giving the shifter a quick side-eye, making him avert his gaze.You have no claim over me,shifter.
Looking over at Moyrie, I’m met with curious eyes and sharp, white teeth. In fact, her body has shifted closer to us. The older male lounges casually, watching us with interest.Not what I expected.Truthfully, none of this is what I could have ever expected. The more I travel these lands, meeting new people, the more I learn to expect the unexpected.
Seeing that we have finished our exchange, Moyrie waves her hand between us. “You are lovers, correct?” I choke on air, and Rivern rubs my back.I guess we were eventually going to get to explaining our bond.Is it so obvious?And why does Moyrie look so pleased about it?
“We are bonded by the Goddess Oona,” I direct the words towards Moyrie, hoping she will understand.
“Bonded?” She looks confused until her eyes alight. “Like mates?”
I’ve heard of the termsoulmatebefore. The other servants within the one Goddess’s temple use the term when gossiping about love matches, so I’m guessing mates must be similar.
“Um, yes, like mates, I suppose.” Her smile blinds us.
Turning into Rivern, I whisper into his side, “Am I missing something? Why does she seem so pleased that we are bonded?”
As Moyrie seems to be giving us time to converse, Rivern takes a deep breath. “I have to tell you something.”
The worry swirling in his violet eyes puts me on edge. I try to push down the wisps now fluttering within my chest. I nod, not trusting my voice.
Rivern takes both of my hands in his. I watch as his golden lines move effortlessly around his fingers. “Moyrie is my betrothed.”
My hands lose their grip. My mind stutters for a moment, and my eyes go barrelling into his. Argus is fully alert at this new revelation, puffing steaming smoke. “What do you mean by betrothed?” my voice snaps. I remind myself that I only just met this male. He doesn’t owe me anything, and vice versa.
You are falling in love with him,you idiot. This is exactly why love is a fool’s errand.
I give my hands a tug from his. He doesn’t release me. “Dove, it’s not what you think.”
“What am I thinking, Rivern? Tell me, since you can read my mind.” Argus spits fire on my coals. I pull my hands free, scooting over to give my anger space. I don’t feel like I have the right to be so angry.Do I?Godsdamned it.I have a claim over him—bigger than marriage, bigger than even love. What we have goes beyond all rhythm and space. It feels eternal. Rage simmers to the surface with this news.
Rivern looks down at his hands, a defeated look washing over his eyes—and then they narrow in on me. “You left. My people needed me. I didn’t know where you were… If you were a spy… If we were going to war. My only hope to have some safety for my people was to agree to my mother’s conditions and marry Moyrie.”
He stands, looking down at me, his breaths heavy… uneven.
I stand, meeting his boots with my own, my finger at his chest. “I am no spy.” His insinuation that I am anything but the servant he met in Haven infuriates me.How can he think I am or was a spy? After everything we shared on our travels from Haven to Terra.I was ready to open myself up to this connection fully when we got to his homeland until I fell off a mountain.
With trembling fingers, I lower my hand and spin on my heel so I am no longer facing the cause of my welling anger.“I’m not sure if I’m saddened or delighted by the fact that I’m not the only one who sets your blood alight,”Fury interjects.
Gripping my temples,I push at the smug voice floating through my head.“Not helpful, Fury.”
Gideon takes a step towards me. I hold out my hand for him to stop.
The bond ripples behind me. I sense his hands on my hips before he even touches the silk of my dress. Rivern moulds to my back like the smooth acquisition of water running through the stones of a creek. We fit. Our hearts beat for each other in a symphony only known to us. This magic feels deeper than any rage I’ve known. The knowledge is humbling. This fae prince could bring me to my knees if he wanted to.Could I bring him to his? I have once before.
