I need to be close to my mate.
Immediately, Daire entwines our fingers with a smile like he’s never wished for anything more than my touch; he’s burned himself on iron from the moment that we bonded for the chance to hold my hand. “Are you okay, my soulmate? I’m here. And no matter what happens, I will always be at your side.”
Shadows flutter around his wings, reaching for me.
“I’ve had better days.” I slip into the mouth of the water.By the Shadow Gods, that feels good.Daire grins at my moan of delight. “Admittedly, just made better.”
“Let me make it even better and show you why I am worshiped.” Daire grips me by the shoulders and turns me to face the side.
“You know how to massage…?” I ask, warily.
“They don’t call it the Courtesan Guild for nothing. I took classes in seduction, singing, and learning to walk into a room and make everyone instantly forget about anything apart from the aching between their legs.” Daire’s gaze becomes wickedly half-hooded. “The Raven King doesn’t need help with any of that. But their massage class was useful.”
“Show me.”
Daire pours rose oil into his palms, before beginning to work out the stiffness in my shoulders.
My groans before indecent.
“It may have been a cover for the murders, but us fae can’t help but be good at the seductive arts.” Daire’s elegant fingers rub in circles, relaxing my muscles. “I am…”
“God-like.” I stretch, casting a glance over my shoulder at Daire, who looks suitably pleased. “Shit, that’s good.”
I become wet with slick.
I often wondered how much of Daire’s slinky sexiness was learned or natural.
Now I know.
He should be a professor at the Guild.
“Also…” Daire leans close enough for his sharp teeth to graze my ear; the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I should never forget that this Alpha is deadly. “…this is a way to cover, while we plot. Maximinus has spies everywhere.”
I stiffen.
Maximinus, Aurelius’ uncle, has been controlling all of us.
If Aurelius hadn’t come up with the plan for the marriage to the Shadow Vampire King, then Daire and I would have been executed because of Maximinus and the Head of the Council, Decima.
Daire presses his fingers deep into my muscles, and I melt. “I’ll be with you in the Blood Kingdom. I may be a mess, but I’ll still protect you.”
“And I’ll protect you.” My eyes are heavy, lulled by the massage, oils, and the warmth of the bath.
For the first time, the lack of sleep, food, and drink are catching up on me, as the rush of adrenaline dies away.
“We’ll be secret co-conspirators going into an enemy kingdom again,” Daire murmurs. “This is becoming a habit.”
“At least we’ve had practice.”
“But this time, it’s far more dangerous. You mustn’t allow them to know your secret identity as the true Omega Queen. Let the princess have died as a baby with her parents like everyonethinks. If the Bloods orchestrated that massacre at Orm, then they wanted your royal line wiped out.”
My blood chills.
“Those raven starving bastards.” My breathing quickens.
Daire sweeps my hair to the side and presses a kiss to my scent gland in comfort. His pheromones settle over me, calming me.
“Don’t worry, all their attention will be on me. Wolves haven’t been the Bloods’ enemy for a generation, but Unseelie never stopped being at war with them. I’ll be the popular one.” Daire swims to lean on the side of the bath next to me, folding back his wings.
