“Mannerless human,” Idrina grumbles. “I know exactly what you meant. As to your promise, I won’t hold you to it, because that brooch has probably been sold and melted already. Focus on making a few more heirs, will you? Now let me sleep.”
She waves us out of the room, and I shake my head. Idrina seems unable to express positive emotions other than bymistake. While I’d like to pretend she was moved by my hug and promise, her taciturn manner makes me doubt it.
“That’s what I get for my troubles,” I huff under my breath.
“You know, Magnar spent over an hour trying to tease the reason for her bad mood out of her,” Raduna says when we set out down the corridor. “She never told him. She’s kept this secret for weeks until you came in and got her to tell you. She respects you very much, and I think you’re the only person she trusts to find her treasure.”
I shake my head, feeling quite defeated. “What if I can’t find it? She might be right, you know. If someone stole it… But why would they? She has a few chests filled with gold and emeralds lying around. Why not take those? The silver brooch isn’t half as valuable.”
I frown, and Raduna bends almost in half to take my hand. He cradles it in his, and when I look up, he watches me with a wide, sharp-toothed smile.
“See? You’ll figure it out.”
His confidence props up my spine until I straighten, an answering smile stretching my lips. My knight bends low, palming my cheek, and gives me a soft, lingering kiss. I open my mouth to ask him what he wants to do, but he gives me no time.
My knight picks me up with those muscular arms of his and throws me over his shoulder as if I’m a bag of potatoes. I squeal, half in shock, half in glee, as he strides down the corridor, purposeful and hurried.
“Where are we going?” I gasp out, laughing.
“It’s a surprise.”
V Greenhouse
Raduna
“Why are we going outside?”
I grin, patting her delicious rump after making sure no one sees us. The panicked, outraged note in Caliane’s voice is music to my ears. She likes being bad in the right ways, I know, so I prepared something perfect just for her.
The sky is overcast, storm clouds gathering in the east. Everyone who doesn’t have to be out here is already indoors, which makes this the perfect time to carry out my plan. And if the storm starts soon like I think it will, no one’s going to hear my queen’s pleasure-drenched screams.
The others can say what they will about my ability to predict rain. I am always right in the end, even if I’m off by a few hours. Today, I’ve watched the clouds since morning, my excitement growing when they turned tumultuous, brewing with nature’s fury.
“Raduna, what are you doing?” she asks, squirming. I squeeze her buttock, letting my thumb inch between her legs. She shiverswith a gasp and I allow myself one careful, slow swipe over her tenderness.
“Almost there, my queen.”
The greenhouse door is ajar, and I go in, locking up behind us. We’re surrounded by the green, stifling humidity, cool, muted light streaming in through the glassed roof and walls. I carry my queen into the heart of my domain, where a blanket and pillows lie on thick grass in a circle of burning candles. This spot is surrounded by trees with thick canopies and blooming, heavily scented shrubs. No one will spy us here, I made sure of that.
“Oh, Raduna! It’s beautiful.”
I let Caliane to her feet, and she turns, taking it all in. Everything is green and verdant, the air heavy with the scent of fertile soil and rare plants. Exotic red and purple flowers hang off vines right above her, and she can just skim them with her fingers when she stretches up on her tiptoes.
The flower she touches releases a sticky drop of nectar, which splashes her upturned face. She laughs, pushing out her tongue to lick it off, but it’s too far up her cheek.
“Allow me.”
I drop down to my knees and lick the sweetness off but don’t swallow. It rests on my tongue as I offer Caliane my mouth, and we share a deep kiss.
Slowly,I remind myself.
She tastes like herself and the flower, a bit like strawberries, a bit like pears, and early summer honey. Her tongue is eager in my mouth, seeking out the last traces of the nectar. I fill her mouth, reminding myself not to choke her, not to go too far. It would be easy to push my tongue deep enough to tap the back of her throat, and sometimes, I toy with the idea but never do it.
My queen needs me in control, always.
She buries her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer, and I groan into her mouth. She’s so dainty in my arms, her faceso small right next to mine. I’ve learned how to kiss her over the years, but it still takes me by surprise sometimes. There is something illicit about how breakable she is. I shouldn’t be allowed to touch someone so fragile. Every time I do, it’s like I break a sacred law.
I slow my movements, taking care not to hurt her by mistake. It would be so easy, too. An inattentive wave of my hand could send my queen sprawling on the ground. A thrust too fast would make her hurt. I perversely love the restraint forced on me, though. Control and care make the pleasure build in maddeningly slow increments until I burst with it.
