“Fox,” he finally said, fingers squeezing at my hip as pleasure swamped him, his body contracting against mine.
And then we were panting and he kissed me again, this time soft and gentle. “Mine,” he said, and closed his eyes.
Thirty-two
Arosy dawn found us lying across the bed, naked and tangled. My hair had come loose from its braid and spread like a dark halo across the pillow beneath us. He lay atop me, head on my chest, hand cupped at my ribs like he might keep me from leaving, hold me fast in the world we’d created.
He’d fallen asleep with me again.
“I’m going to have a very difficult time letting you go again.”
I felt that momentary stab of panic. “It won’t be your choice. It will be mine.”
“Of course. You’ve already proven you can sneak out of the palace.” He ran a finger down my arm. “You can stay as long as you’d like.”
“You can’t keep paying the Lady for me to sit around and do nothing all day.”
“I’m a prince, Fox. I can pay her for whatever I want.”
I lifted my brows.
“Did not mean it to sound like that.” He waved it away. “The point is, we both get to make our own choices. I don’t supposethere’s a secret title in your family? That you’re a long-lost Carethian princess? It would ease certain paths.”
I didn’t want to think about those paths. “No. I don’t suppose you’re a plucky thief, pretending to be a Lys’Careth in order to keep the actual prince safe from his enemies?”
“No.” He kissed the spot between my breasts. “Mine,” he said again.
That made my heart beat even faster, the ember keeping time. I slid my hand down to his already impressive erection and gripped it tightly.
“Now you’re definitely not leaving,” he said, and proved it.
The snow didn’t last, and neither did our respite. Grim was once again agreeable to deliver us back to the stronghold. When we arrived at the palace, servants greeted Nik’s arrival—I was getting used to using his name again—with rowdy applause.
The Aetheric practitioner was gone, as was my magically induced pain. I should have felt settled, but I didn’t. Something wasn’t quite right, but I couldn’t find it, couldn’t see it to pull it clear. An invisible splinter.
I found Wren in her room, stuffing items into her small bag. “I’m glad you’re safe,” I said.
“The Lady is aware I’m healed, and has called me back to the manor.”
“Aware you’re healed?” And then anger bloomed anew. “Catalaya told her.”
“More likely her servant.” She lifted a shoulder. “No point in being mad about it. She’d have beckoned sooner or later.” Shelooked up and around the tower. “Shouldn’t have gotten used to this.”
“Same,” I said quietly, as my beckoning was probably coming. “Are you healthy enough? Nik could send more coin.”
“It’s fine. It’s what comes next.” She slid me a glance. “We’ll need to talk about your overnight adventure.”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Worth it?”
I just smiled. “Yeah.”
“Good.”
She shouldered her bag.
“Let me know if you need anything at all.”
