Page 84 of This Is Not True Love’s Kiss

Her fingers continued to massage. “Arthon. Leena told me a bit about him. You have as well.”

“Arthon,” I said. “He had such strong clear beliefs. He wanted so badly to destroy the brotherhood. He believed I was the person who would do it. Not him. Me. He put so much belief into me, then he died unexpectedly on a brotherhood mission, and suddenly, I was the new leader of the rebels.”

“It wasn’t fair,” Aoife said. “What he did to you. Putting all of that on you, making you believe it was your sole responsibility to fix things.”

“I’m beginning to see that,” I said, her fingers feeling so good digging into my scalp.

“You are a good king. You are a good man. And you do not have to do it all.”

“Yet every time I try to do something different, Arthon’s voice is there in my head, telling me I do.”

She poured water over my head, washing out the soap, and I squeezed my eyes shut as rivulets ran down my face. “You are such a stubborn man, but your wife is more stubborn, and I will tell you this every day for the rest of your life if that’s what it takes to make you believe it: you are a hero.”

Her words washed over me along with the water, calming and cleansing.

“I’ve heard stories of your bravery, you know,” she said, voice soft. “From Fair Folk and mortals alike. How many missions you foiled, how many magical items you kept the brotherhood from procuring, how many children you stopped from being recruited by the brotherhood. I’m willing to bet the lives you’ve saved is in the thousands.”

For once, Arthon’s voice wasn’t in my head arguing because Aoife’s words were louder. “Thank you,” I said. “I’ve never told anyone that.” I paused. “And I’m sorry, Aoife. Leena said something to me in her tent, something about how Arthon never thought he was good enough and so he projected those feelings onto me, and in a way, that’s what I think I’ve been doing to you. I haven’t felt worthy of this crown, so I’ve been pushing you harder, making you feel unworthy in the process. You’re an amazing queen, and you make me a better king.”

She pressed a gentle kiss to the spot under my ear. “I think we’re finally starting to understand each other.”

“I think so,” I said. “I feel better. Lighter than I have in a long time.”

“Good.” Her hand slipped down toward my cock, which immediately stiffened under her touch, her voice sultry and heating my blood. “Because I have some other ways I’d like to make you feel better if you’re up for it.”

She began stroking my cock up and down, and I groaned. “Oh, I think I’m up for it.”

CHAPTER 46

Aoife

The forest surrounding Fairwitch Isle was still, silent. I peered through the barrier that protected our city, unable to see anything but trees.

“This is ridiculous,” I said. “I can’t see anything from here. I’m going out there.” I moved to pass through the barrier.

“No.” Lor caught my arm, reeling me into his hard chest. “It’s too dangerous. Too risky.”

I raised my chin, that familiar stubbornness rising in me. “Scouts reported that they sighted the brotherhood near here. They couldn’t tell us if it was the rebels. We don’t know who’s out there, sniffing around. I won’t risk my people being enslaved again.”

Lor’s eyes hardened. “I would die before I ever let that happen.”

I believed him, but unlike my husband, I knew that he couldn’t control everything. He very well may die, and we very well may end up enslaved if the brotherhood found us and used their magic and army of the dead against us. Though, luckily, the scouts hadn’t reported seeing any dead people marching.

“I thought now that they’d started kissing, there would be less arguing,” Meera said from where she sat on the ground.

“I have to admit, so did I,” Fargus agreed from next to her.

Both Lor and I looked at our advisors.

I scowled at the cat. “And how do you know we’re kissing?”

She rolled her eyes. “Everyone knows you’re kissing, among other things.”

“It’s not like either of you make an effort to be quiet,” Fargus mumbled.

Lor’s jaw locked, his gaze distant as he stared into the forest, and I grabbed his hand, squeezing tight to remind him that I was here. That he wasn’t alone, and this wasn’t all on his shoulders.

“I won’t go into the forest,” I said. “But the council has yet to create a plan that’s made us both happy.”