I found every excuse I could to touch her—my fingers brushing hers, my hands in her hair, my side pressed against her muscular frame. Thank the Divine wewerepretending to be engaged; otherwise, I don’t know how I’d stop myself from finding small ways to connect her skin to mine.
But these two look as if a soft breeze could push them apart.
Two guards trail behind us, tasked toprotectus from anyone getting in. More like keeping us from getting out. As much time as I’ve spent in Crea, I don’t recognize these guards—just as I didn’t recognize most of those who ambushed us in Wisebech.
The king’s army was vast, so it was impossible for me to knowallof them, of course, but I should’ve seen at least a few familiar faces by now.
I made it my business to know people—to connect with anyone and everyone while looking for a lead to find the missing princess who now owns my heart. We haven’t been gone long enough for all of the guards I knew to retire.
Between this and what’s happened to the market, my fire itches beneath the surface of my skin—small sparks dancing along my fingers as I force it to stay contained.
I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to suppress the most natural side of me—the constant focus and strain to stop my magic from answering the way it wants to.
Adrian stops, halting at the door to his old room. He half-turns to me, swallowing before saying, “I take it you remember your way around here should you need anything?”
My teeth grind against each other.
I can’t stop my gaze from sliding to Lu’s, finding her bright hazel eyes already set on me. A wave of calm washes over me. Instantly, my jaw relaxes.
“You look in need of a bath, Snake,” Lunaria murmurs, a single brow quirked. “Perhaps it’ll ease some of that tension you’re holding onto from ourtravels.”
My mind snaps to an image of her naked in my lap with her sculpted legs wrapped around my waist as water sloshes around us in a copper claw-foot tub. I can practically hear her throaty moans echoing in the small washroom of her old chambers just next door—wouldn’t be the first time envisioning such a thing in this castle.
The guards shift behind me, snapping my awareness back to the present, reminding me we aren’t alone.
When she smirks, a growl nearly slips from my throat.
She knowsexactlywhat she’s doing.
And it worked.
I’ve never been one for possessiveness or jealousy, but this fucking woman… Divine be damned, she takes me to the brink of insanity some days. Goddess, I’m a mess around her. One grin and the lilting tease of her husky voice is all it takes for her to distract me from my own spiraling thoughts.
“Ready to get some rest?” Adrian whispers, his fingers catching hers.
My stomach twists. Even knowing it’s all for show, I can’t stop my gaze from zeroing in on where they touch.
With her gaze fixed on him, she nods, slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow.
I don’t wait for a parting goodbye. Instead, I shoot the guard who has settled himself between our doors a wink and glide intomy new room. The soldier bristles, his face reddening as his nostrils flare.
It’s too fucking easy to rile up Creans.
That’s something the Prince’s Snake loved to do, and if I’m to be him again, then who am I to deny people what they expect?
Just as I’m closing the door to my chambers, Lunaria’s alluringly melodic voice floats over to me, a hushed whisper that makes me send a prayer of thanks up to Eurydice for my heightened hearing.
“Hands to yourself,” she mumbles to Adrian. “Soren is eager to remind you of that if you forget.”
I click the door closed, a soft smile on my face. I love it when she graces the world with her attitude. But the moment their footsteps fade from outside my room, my grin slips.
With a slow spin, I face the familiar space I used to occupy as Adrian’s advisor. My feet carry me to the window on the far side, a memory surfacing of when Adrian told me about the girl he met at the market.
A hollow laugh huffs from my throat.
He was so distraught, so overcome with lust and wonder of this breathtakingly strong woman. I had laughed at him then, too. Certain that he would lose interest by week’s end.
But then the matching announcement happened, and Iknewhe had something to do with it. He told me who she was then, that she was the daughter of the Royal Merchant. That this entire event was to help get her out of the camp.
