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“Valko…”
“Stay with us,” he panted, licking my tender nipple, still laced with honey, still aching for release. “Please.”
Lust seized me, and I sank into it. The water slowed our love making. We stayed close, staring deep into each other’s eyes as we rose and fell. My nails in his skin, his blood on my lips. His fingers dug into my hips, calling my name as he came.
We kissed, and loved, spending hours exploring each other, both in and out of the water. Lucien’s amusement and Fillian’s eagerness remained in the background as Valko and I made up for lost time.
And during every moment of it, I continued to feed him love. Just as I had sent Fillian longing, and how I incited Lucien to rage through the bond, I slowly convinced Valko that I would stay. Creeping through his defences, finding his weakness, his need to believe that I loved him enough to remain, even after what I had told him.
He was the one who taught me how to mask my heart, and now I used that knowledge against him.
No matter how much it hurt to know I would leave them and how easy it was to become consumed by their touch, I could not ignore the need of my people. I would find a way to be free, even if it meant breaking our bond. I only needed a single window of opportunity to escape and reach the palace, and the Cardinal Kingdom would be mine.
SEVENTEEN
Fillian
Iclutched her hand as I pulled her through the vines that covered the entrance of our den. I didn’t care if Valko said we needed to keep her hidden until the moon passed; she deserved to be free.
We’d been lying in my bed together, talking as she rested her head on my chest and drew circles on my belly with her finger. I told her of all the places I wanted to take her, showing her my maps, her eyes lighting up as we planned our first journey together. We’d go to the Emerald Isles to start with and find one of the most peaceful islands and spend weeks making love.
It was so relaxing to dream of our life together that when she said she wished she could see the forest outside our den, I sat up straight away and told her, “Let’s go!”.
She’d laughed as we swept past the trees, a clear, high note of joy, one that made me want to grant every single one of her wishes.
We were already five minutes away from the den. Ruby had taken one of my shirts and a pair of trousers, both too big for her, but I was filled with warmth every time I looked at her, because she was mine.
We’d been walking one of the wider paths that edged through climbing brambles and high pines, holding hands as I pointed out special places along the way. The three of us had lived in this part of the forest for so many years that even the darkest trees held memories, and I wanted to share every one of them with her.
We stopped when we reached my favourite clearing. I came here when I wanted to be alone. And this was as far from the den as Valko would let me go.
I kept hold of her hand as I led her into the centre, the one spot where the branches above us didn’t twist together, and you could see all the way up into the dark sky.
She followed my gaze, looking upwards, leaning her chest into my mine.
I wrapped my arms around her, and pressed my nose against her hair, closing my eyes at her crisp scent that let me breathe easy - because I knew she was with me.
We stood there, the comfortable silence stretching on, but I had to break it, my thoughts louder than my patience.
“I wonder if we would have met,” I sighed against her, nuzzling her ear.
“What do you mean?” Ruby leaned away, turning to look up at me with a gentle smile.
She was so kind and understanding. Even though I had seen her act harsh and cruel with Lucien, and melting for Valko, for me she was soft and open. I was the one she could trust, that she could be gentle with.
“If the Midnight Castle hadn’t been attacked all those years ago. Maybe we would have met somehow,” I chuckled. My eyes sparkled as my imagination ran away with me. “Say, you came to the castle for a ball, and our eyes met across the room, and we fell in love instantly,” I said, lifting her hands to my lips and pressing kisses to her knuckles. “I would have known straight away, I’m sure. Known that you were mine,” I sighed. “Then I could have whisked you away on our first adventure into the world.”
“Why are you saying this?”
I met her eyes, hurt flowing there. I never wanted to put that expression on her face again, not after the way she reacted the first time I told her I loved her.
“I-I’m sorry! That was really tactless of me. I didn’t mean I blame you for it!” I stumbled over my words. I was panicking, scared I had ruined it. “I just mean I don’t know who I am - but I want to! Valko and Lucien both know they were sons of the Alpha King’s advisors. But they said they found me hiding in a kitchen cupboard.” I pursed my lips, turning my head down, away from her, shame filling me. “I was probably the son of a scullery maid or a cook. No one special.” I had been thinking of it since our first night together. If Valko and Lucien hadn’t taken her, would I ever have had the chance to love her like I did now? If King Cordovan hadn’t declared war, I might have never talked to her, or even held her like this.
“Fillian.” Her hands left my grip, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I’d completely spoiled everything. It was supposed to be a romantic adventure, but I had wrecked it with my thoughtlessness.
Her hands clutched my cheeks, and she eased my chin up, drawing my eyes to hers as she smiled kindly. I sighed into her touch, the ease that I craved filling my soul again. “Do not worry about saying these things. You are special to me. Does that not matter?”
My breath left me, my muscles relaxing. I needed her reassurance, her confirmation that I wasn’t beneath her.
