He let out a fewtsksbefore tracing his fingertips along the length of my spine. Along the various moon phases.
My skin responded as his sweet power freed me from the lingering discomfort. Then he placed both hands at my waist, moving them along my sides until reaching my behind. He came so close, my exposed back pressed against his torso, giving me the need to nestle myself against his chest. He dipped his head forward, his lips grazing my sensitive earlobe, and murmured, “My gods, Cordelia, if your plan is to drive me insane, then I can assure you, everything is going accordingly.” He moved his mouth to my neck and tightened his grip on my ass. Then he rumbled, “I can’t wait for this meeting to be ov—”
“Are you fucking kidding me!?” King Ryvar growled, jolting us both back to reality. “You two, get in here.Now!”
Aegir moved to my side and linked his arm with mine, flashing me a wink before walking us towards the great door ofterror. Ryvar held the door open for us, but his piercing gaze told me that the gesture was not at all courteous.
Was this how he looked at Oscar when he did something troublesome?
Aegir stepped in before me, depriving me of the view beyond. Then he turned his head my way, giving me a roguish grin before whispering, “Don’t freak out.”
But I did freak out.
The second Aegir moved out of my way, my gaze settled on him and he stared back at me with wide chestnut eyes.
So yes, I freaked the fuck out.
“Wildheart?” A weird noise escaped my throat, and I found myself incapable of commanding my own body. It was as if it were no longer mine. “How is this—”
“Semuel?” I breathed, before rushing into his arms.
CHAPTER 78
Semuel let out a wild laugh, reminding me of how infectious it was.
He grabbed hold of my waist and lifted me up, then swirled me around before lowering me back on my two feet. His hands went to my face, and we searched each other’s eyes. We both ignored the sound of glass shattering behind us, which also came with a low rumble.
“How in Amfir’s name are your eyes blue? And what are you doing here?” His last few words faltered, morphing into a whisper as he made the connection. “You’re—you’re her. You’re the Queen of Ilma.” It sounded as both a whispered question and a realisation.
“I am. And what areyoudoing here?” My last word was close to being mouthed as a familiar voice had me snapping my head towards it.
“You do realise that my husband is not into women at all, right?” Faern shook his lowered head, directed at Aegir’s feet, or rather at the broken glass barely visible against the shiny floor.
Jealous brute.Myjealous brute.
“You!” I bellowed at Faern, before running into his arms.
“Don’t let him kill me,” Faern whispered close to my ear. I let out a muffled laugh, face buried into his chest.
I held Faern’s hand with my right and Semuel’s with my left, noticing the golden bands at their ring fingers. My gaze shifted from one to the other.
“How are you here?” I barked out half a laugh. “I cannot believe it. It’s you! You’re here. And you got married!”
“And I see you’ve gotten yourself a tattoo,” Semuel added, grinning.
“Tattoo? Who cares about that, she finally has a scent,” Faern howled. Then he winked at his husband. “Which means, no more sneaking up on me.”Us, he meant to say. “And blue eyes? How?”
“Good question,” King Ryvar cut in. Amani, who stood at his side, gave me anI-told-you-soglance. “Shall we sit down and start the meeting so that we can all find out?” he added, gesturing towards the table behind us.
My gaze trailed his hand movement and I noticed two unfamiliar faces along with those of Marshen and Eldric. The former, who happened to be my advisor, was finely dressed and serious-faced. He gave me a small nod. The latter, on the other hand, pierced me with a death gaze so intent, it told me I’d be hearing an earful from him sooner or later.
I looked away and for a moment took in my surroundings. I swore that every room in the palace of Nivaria made me gape at some point. The circular meeting room was something out of this world. Its perimeter consisted of grand white marble slabs with a series of intermittent stone pillars surrounding its circumference. And in between the tall pillars were grandiose fountains, each uniquely sculpted in the shape of a wild animal—each one ready to strike. Wolf, bear, tiger, shark, eagle…animal Fae forms. The floor beneath my feet was made of polished stone, while the ceiling above my head was made of glass. Its geometrically and symmetrically dome-shaped centre was truly astonishing. It allowed me a clear view of the full moon above our crowns. The shimmering silver circle perfectly complemented the green and purple hues in the sparkly night sky.
“Well, shouldn’t you introduce us first?” said a beautiful Fae with hazel eyes and brown hair that faded into yellowish ends.
“Of course, where are my manners?” Ryvar said. I knew the answer to that—he didn’t have any. “Queen Elara, meet Princess Leannon Leigh.”
I suppressed a gasp. “Leigh? As in the sister of Queen Tamer Leigh? The Queen of Sijar?”
