I sat up, ignoring how the room spun around me. “I want to hear them all, but I’m going with you.”
“Why won’t you listen?”
“I did. I just don’t agree with what you suggest.”
“It wasn’t a suggestion,” he snarled, back to his old self again. “It was a demand.”
I swung my legs over to sit on the side of the bed, my head cooperating with the movement. “I don’t take commands well.”
“How did you ever survive at the fortress?”
“With my wits. The strength of my arm.” I lifted one and flexed it to make a muscle. “And the support of my friends. You’re myfriend, so I’m going to support you tonight by going with you.” My lips quirked up. “Because I’m not sure about your wits or the strength ofyourarm.”
He swooped in and knocked me back on the bed, following me down, pressing me into the blankets with his palms on either side of my shoulders. He nudged his face into my neck. “You, my wildfire, need to be taught a good lesson.”
“I actually think bad lessons might be more fun.” I bumped his chest with my palm. “As much as I’d enjoy your lesson, we have plans for the evening.”
He growled and backed onto his heels, still looming over me. “I don’t want you going. It’s not safe.”
“I thought it was just a simple conversation. What’s unsafe about that?”
His jaw twitched.
“Not safe for me means not safe for you either, so I’m going,” I said. “You need me.”
He slammed his eyes closed before opening them again. “I do. One twitch or hint that you’re still feeling the effects of what happened, however, and I’m bringing you back here and tying you to the bed.”
“Do you promise?”
His gaze hooded and fell on my mouth. “I can’t wait until you’re mine.”
My skin tingled, but we had things to do that didn’t involve him claiming any part of me I might offer.
“Let’s go.” I slid off the bed.
“Leave nullification alone. I mean it.” He strode to my bedroom door and swung it open, urging me to go ahead of him into my sitting area. Farris hopped off the bed and followed, his jaw stretching into a whining yawn.
I wasn’t going to leave nullification alone, not when I’d actually gotten the power to pay attention. I’d be ready for it next time, that sly, slimy thing, and then, it would be mine.
His attention fell on the table with the tea party for Erisandra. I hadn’t yet asked my ladies to take it away.
“You’re looking at what’s left of my latest interlude with the queen mother. She didn’t stay long, not even long enough to taste my?—”
He scooped up one of my horig cakes and popped it into his mouth, chewing. His groan rang out, and he shuddered as if he was in the throes of an amazing orgasm. “Fuck…” His eyes opened, and his face split wide open, his emotions pouring through. “You made horig cakes for me.”
“Not necessarily for you.”
He stalked over to stand too close to me. “Forme.”
I shook my head and twisted my lips. “How did you knowImade them?”
“They taste sweet, like you.” He said it so simply, so innocently, I couldn’t find the will to chide him. “Save them all for me? I want to eat them later.”
I waved toward the plate. “They’re yours.” I’d make them every day if only he’d always look at me like this, as if I was his world.
As we left the suite, I sent Faelith inside to take Farris for a walk and dismissed the others.
“We’re going to the tower,” Lorant told Surren. “Remain here to guard the queen’s suite.”
