“So what now? Are you going to rule Midnight?”Or run away from responsibility and your power?
I know he can’t hear my thoughts, but he shoots me a knowing look at what I’ve left unsaid. Kai sighs heavily.
“I never wanted to be King.”
“True.”
“And this realm would be better left in the hands of the Mice.”
“Maybe.”
“But they keep going on about how I show leadership qualities that can help us all transition to a new Midnight.”
I flatten my lips to keep from putting in my two cents.
“They think instituting a parliament structure will help bring new balance. A house of Midnight fairies, a house for beaters, and the monarchy. Which means I would be taking a leadership role, but I would be sharing a great deal of the responsibility and decision-making with the other houses, so I could still live my life. To be honest, there’s really only one real thing holding me back from committing to becoming King.”
“What’s that?”
“What my Queen thinks?”
A lightning bolt strikes through me at his words.Queen.
“We don’t have to get married right away,” he rushes to say. “I’d be happy courting you all over again, for real. But the important thing is that you're by my side. Sniping me down when I get too cocky or unfocused, and I’m not ashamed to say holding me up when my knees get wibbly wobbly under the pressure I’m not used to. But mainly, because if you don’t want to build a life in Midnight, I’ll give it all up in a second and move in with you and Snow in this shitty little apartment where I’ll get a job flipping burgers and make it my goal to scour the city for pumpkin spiced anythings to lay before you.”
I press my lips to his as my non-beating heart clenches tight again. I believe him. He really would leave it all behind to slum it with me.
“It depends,” I say seriously, putting my mug down on the coffee table.
He perks up. “On what?”
“Would I be known as Queen Spooky Babe or Queen Goth Girl?”
When he goes for my throat, tackling me back on the couch, nipping and kissing, I can’t help but laugh.
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
CINDER
Mmmpffmppsstrsmpf.
After pushing my sweaty bangs back, I lean forward to unclasp the ball gag, taking it from Kai’s mouth.
“What did you say?” I ask even as I lift and fall over his cock. My stomach clenches tight and I’m close to coming all over the King of Midnight.
It’s not necessary to tie up or gag my royal husband because of trust issues, but it sure as hell remains a hot as fuck thing to do.
“Mistress, please let me bite you,” he rasps even as his head falls back, and he arches his hips with what little movement he has strapped to our massive bed of black satin sheets.
The crop lands a sharp strike over his pubic bone. He jerks then lets out a low, pleasure-filled moan.
“That’s Queen Mistress to you,” I correct.
“Queen Mistress,” he repeats. His lids lower. “My nightshade nymph.”
Another strike, and he hisses. I drop my head and sink my fangs into his chest, right over his heart, riding his dick hard and fast, chasing the mind-melting friction from his piercings that rake along the inside of me like he owns me.
