My pleasure grew. My core clenched tight. My screams echoed on the walls that surrounded us. And then that tension burst, splintering into a thousand tiny pieces that shuddered through me over and over again.
As my orgasm pounded through me, Rourke caressed my cheek and dropped his forehead to mine. My heart swelled at what I saw in his eyes. This was more than just lust. This was more than just a passing moment in time. He was my mate. I was certain of it. More certain than I’d ever been of anything in my life.
Chapter Twelve
Apart of me wanted to stay in this cocoon of happiness, safety, and exhilarating passion forever, to block out everything terrible going on in the world. Here, in this little stone room, nothing else mattered except for Rourke. But as the rain continued to pour from the sky, my thoughts began to turn outward instead of in. It was only three days until the Spring Court would attack the Winter fae. Liam was waiting for me back in the Summer lands, and my heart ached to see my Winter prince. It felt like years since I’d seen Kael and Finn, and I worried now what they might think when they learned what had happened here this day.
“You’re thinking of the others, aren’t you?” Rourke murmured as he traced lazy circles on my bare skin. “I can tell by the look on your face. You look wistful and sad. And perhaps a little worried.”
I turned on my side to face him, staring into the flickering golden eyes that had captured my soul. “You know things are kind of complicated, right? You aren’t the only one I’ve shared a bed—or floor—with. I don’t really understand what’s happening between all of us, but I do know that I don’t want to upset anyone.”
“Greater Fae mate differently than the rest of us do,” he mused.
I wrinkled my nose. “Greater Fae. Lesser Fae. I hate those words.”
“Marin hated them, too,” he said softly.
“I don’t think I’m anything like her. Maybe power-wise, but that’s about it.”
Rourke regarded me carefully. “And why is that, Norah?”
“She was a Queen and a ruler. A good one at that, it sounds like. Her people loved her, and she protected them. So, she must have been strong and powerful and wise. And also kind.”
“Yes.” He gave a nod. “She was all of those things. And, as far as I can see, you are, too.”
I grunted. “Hardly.”
His soft finger traced another circle on my arm. “Why do you doubt yourself so much?”
“You’ve seen me, Rourke. I flailed around like an idiot when I first came to the Academy. My powers might be getting stronger, but they’re still nothing to scream about. Not to mention the fact that I hardly ever know what I’m doing until someone points out I’ve done it. People see me as a stupid wooden block. Nothing special. I don’t deserve the title of Greater Fae.”
“You’re still going on about that wooden block, then.”
“Well, I don’t want to be a wooden block. I want to be more than that.”
A flicker of a smile. “Good. Then, let’s start with getting your information back to the Summer Hunters, something I fear I may have gotten distracted from after all your…moaning.”
He winked, and despite myself, my cheeks flamed.
“We do need to get back as soon as possible. Do you think we’ll be able to leave soon?”
Not that I truly wanted to, especially not when he was looking at me with that heat in his eyes again.
He cocked his head to listen. “It sounds as though the storm has almost moved on. While we’re waiting, why don’t you fill me in on what you’ve learned?”
Of course. Because I’d yet to even share the information with Rourke. First, we’d been fleeing from the castle. Then, we got trapped in the hailstorm. And then…well, I certainly wasn’t thinking of Queen Viola’s words when Rourke’s strong and muscular body was pressing on top of me, or when his lips were caressing my neck.
I shuddered, that sweet, strange ache taking shape again.
A slight smile played across Rourke’s lips. “As much as I’d like to know what that shudder is about…”
“I know. We need to focus.” With a deep breath, I told Rourke what I’d overheard the Hunter say to his Queen. And from the look on Rourke’s face, he was just as surprised as I was. Spring fae were not known for being easily provoked. They were the most peaceful fae in all the realm. Sure, they had a tendency to irritate the other Courts with their unending attraction to pranks, but they never meant any harm.
“Queen Viola must have said or done something to trick the Spring Court into attacking.” His lips turned down in a frown. “I know these fae. They do not like conflict. Whatever has caused them to attack must be serious, or it must be very wrong.”
“Is it at all possible that the Winter Court could have done something to provoke them?”
Rourke pursed his lips. “Perhaps, though I cannot see it myself. Winter fae are logical, and provoking another Court would not be logical. Unless…”
