“Where are you taking us?” she asked.
“I did not want to tarry with the well-wishers and sit through the twelve-course meal,” I answered, once again speaking directly in her head. She didn’t argue with my invasion of her mind this time. “There would be too many opportunities for enemies to poison you once more. I intend to have you in my bed and under me before they can.”
9
Elena
The silk of my dress did little to protect me against the frigid breeze and despite that, my core heated and a full body flush spread over me. His flight slowed and the dip in height caused my belly to leap. My fingers dug into his shoulders and I pulled closer. Then his feet were on the ground and he lowered me down his front until I could touch.I didn’t immediately let go, my fingers gripping his cloak.
“Come, Princess,” he said as he drew away slightly.
We were on a smaller balcony on the other side of my castle. He sensed the moment of hesitation and tugged on my fingers. I followed, stepping through the open double doors into his private rooms.
We designated the largest and most ornate of the guest rooms for his use during his stay. It consisted of three large quarters. One living area with a statuesque fireplace, sumptuous couches and stocked liquor cabinet. Next to it was the bedroom. I peered into the open doorsinto the dark blue interior. I imagined him in his mussed bedclothes, spread out against the blue silk, bare-chested and resplendent in sleep.
I tried to steer the conversation away from the bedroom. Not that I was trying to avoid it; I knew consummating our bond was inevitable, but Iwasn’t eager. Not when that eagerness was also tainted with a hint of fear. “You think whoever poisoned my food is still after me?
He unbuttoned his shirt, starting at the top. The sudden protrusion of his magnificent wings had split through the material. Shreds of it flickered around him as the wings retracted. His bared muscles bunched and contracted under the fabric. “I think if they’re determined to kill you, they won’t stop after one attempt. They’lltry again until they succeed.”
“But there’s no reason to kill me. I’m no threat to the throne. Now that we’re bound, I’ll be leaving for the Northlands. It makes no sense.” I should have stayed in the temples where I had been all but forgotten. If it weren’t for my father, I would have. Rhys would have married Seleste and I could have lived out my days in oblivion.
Rhys tossed the tattered shirt on the nearest couch and prowled toward me, clad only in his dark breeches and the dragonhide boots my maids were swooning over. His chest was as I remembered from the illusion. Broad and tan andmagicked with an iridescent sheen of scale. The fire flickered over its surface, drawing my reluctant eyes. My fingers itched to trace them to see if they felt like scales or skin.
“I never wanted Seleste.” He stood in front of me then, eyeseven more blue and locked with mine. When I tried to move away, his clawed hand gripped my chin. His consciousness slithered across mine, leaving me bared and exposed.
I jerked away and said through gritted teeth, “Don’t do that. I don’t like having you in my mind that way.”
“We talked about your father,” he said, ignoring my protests and reading my mind again. “He’s as good as gone, Elena. You should mourn him now and be done with it.”
My fists clenched at my sides. “If you think this is how you’ll convince me to go to bed with you, you’re sorely mistaken.”
He smirked, but took a step back. “I won’t have to convince you, pet. If it bothers you so much, once you conceive an heir you can send for your father to come stay with us in the Northlands.”
Mouth dry, I swallowed hard, trying to form words. I’d done my best to bury the comment he’d made at dinner about children until now. “That… feels like bribery. Is that how you deal with all your mates?”
He lifted a shoulder, not taking the bait. “What are relationships if not a barter? I’ve found it’s better to be direct. You have needs, so do I. At least this way therewon’t be anyclaims of miscommunication.”
I wanted to cure my father more than anything. I couldn’t do that if he was here in the capital, wasting away in that stuffy room like he’d been forgotten. If I could have him with me in the Northlands, then I could work on healing him with my own hands. Or at least be with him when he died.
“I take it we have a bargain?” he asked, no doubt having read my mind again.
“Stop doing that!”
“Do we have a bargain?” he repeated.
“What is it with you and making bargains? Have you been socializing with the faeries? Yes, fine. If you’ll help me cure my father.”
“Deal,” he bit out, then shackled my wrists with his hands. “Enough talking.”
His eyes shuttered closed and his chest rumbled against my own where we were pressed together. My nipples constricted, and my fingers constricted on his biceps. The state of arousal he left me in after his intrusion into my bathing room roared back triple fold. Words and common sense were feeble against this adversary.
He laid his cheek against mine, rubbing it up and down and hepurred, “Oh, pet, I feel how you ache for me.”
“I do no such thing,” I denied, even though I was strung so tight one movement would shatter me.
Warmth slicked along my neck and ended at my ear. I bit my lip to contain the groan even as his teeth nipped and he soothed the sting with his tongue. “You need not lie to me, Elena. Your body speaks the truth even if you do not.” He backed away, taking one of my hands in his. “Come.”
And I feared I might do just that before we even made it to the bedroom.
