My eyes throbbed again, and I did nothing to hold back my tears. I wept for everyone the king had hurt.
I wept for Vexxion. How he must’ve struggled not to become the man his father was determined to mold him into.
I didn’t tell you because he had to taste your terror,Vexxion said.Like in the throne room earlier, it had to be real. If he sensed you weren’t frightened, he’d delve into your mind to find out why.
“Vexxion,” I croaked, my face awash with fresh tears.
“I’m sorry.” He dropped his chin onto the top of my head like he used to do when we were in love. It was real and true and heart-rendering. Whenever he’d evaded answering myendless questions and whenever he’d said something I took the wrong way, he’d done it to protect me or someone who didn’t have anyone strong enough to stand by their side. This wasn’t a Wraithweave boardgame. It was a stark, lonely, torturous real life. But he’d placed himself in the shield position for everyone, and I feared he’d sacrifice himself without a qualm if it meant someone else might live.
“You’re not doing this any longer.” Could I hate the king or the fae lords and ladies any more than I did right now? “Not for me.”
He turned me in his arms and braced my shoulders with his palms, staring down into my eyes.I will do anything, and I meananything, to protect you.
Even sacrifice yourself?
In less than a heartbeat.
I pressed my forehead against his chest.Same.
I will never let you do that.
Tipping my head back, I sniffed and mustered up a glare.You have no more say in this than I do with you.
Fair enough. A wry smile lifted his lips.I’ll have to stay with you all the time to keep you from doing something like that.
Iamyour companion here for the duration.
Tempest,he growled.
You call me Fury.
You told me not—
I was wrong. I’m your Fury. Always.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, I swore I could see all the way to his soul. He loved me with a purity I wasn’t sure I deserved.
His mouth crashed down on mine, and I grabbed onto his tunic, holding tight. I’d fought my feelings for this man from the moment I met him. He’d irritated me so much. I’d sworn I hated him at times. But all I could feel for him now was love. In the throne room, I thought he killed any love I could have for him, but now it bloomed inside me again, spreading to my fingers and toes. Even blasting all the way up into the sky. As long as I was with him, we could face the world and come up the victors.
He held me gently, as if he thought I’d break, and that only made the ache in my chest deepen.
When I moaned, he pulled me closer, flush against his chest, wrapping his arms tighter around me. There was no place I’d rather be than with this man. I was angry with myself for thinking he’d betrayed me, though he gave me great cause. He kept asking me to trust him. I’d vowed I would, but at the first test of that vow, I’d believed the worst.
His fingers slid up my back to loosen my hair from the braid. Once freed, he glided his fingertips into the strands and up to the nape of my neck. Wrapping some of the hair around his palm, he used it to angle my head, to deepen our kiss.
My hands were feverish on his shoulders and chest. I couldn’t get close enough to him. Damn clothing was in the way.
His tongue slid across mine, teasing me with a skill I’d never felt before outside of him.
Heat coiled in my belly and glided down, spreading its wings through me and making me melt against him completely.
His taste flooded my mouth, spicy yet sweet.
He groaned and turned to lay me on the sofa, his mouth still locked on mine. He caged me with his arms and his big body. I couldn’t get enough of him. How had I thought I could shove him aside and still possess the ability to breathe?
I clung to him, kissing him harder, turning feral in my desire to be with him completely. I ran my hands along his arms and his chest, caressing every hard ridge and plain, holding onto him as if we’d soon be torn apart.
I wasn’t wrong in that. One wrong move, and this would be over.
