53
CONQUERED PRINCESS
LUELLA
Luella’s legs trembled like a fawn’s.
She still felt Bastian’s mouth between her thighs. As they’d entered the Queen’s palace only a couple of moments ago, she had walked carefully, feeling turned inside out from what he’d done to her.
She had been so consumed by the heights of pleasure she’d been brought to that she hadn’t even realized he had been left unsatisfied until her gown was already on and his hands had smoothed the stray frizz from her hair. He’d wiped the pad of his thumb beneath her lip, fixing a smudge of rouge, and she had only been able to whisper,What about you?
To which he had merely smiled roguishly and replied,It is not a contract, pet. I could live off the taste of you for eternity. You could be my only meal, and I would be satisfied. If you want to pay me back, I will come to your room tonight after the ball. Your innocence still clings to you; there is much you don’t know.He had kissed her then.Would you like to remedy that?
Luella had barely been able to give her acquiescence before the curtains had been jerked open and Tharen had stormed in. The Prima’s nostrils had flared as he’d taken in Luella and Bastian, too close to be doing anything licit.
Theyallknew.
It would take time for her to keep rationalizing that anytime she was… intimate with someone… they all would know.
Each step to the lounges scattered at the edges of the room made her core tremble. Low tables and lower cushions lined the space.
When they sat, Graves broke away momentarily to speak with Queen Samil, who lounged on her throne, Sora seated on a much smaller one at her side, Jili perched on her lap.
Luella’s wings tugged her back as she settled with a soft rustle on the low cushions. The fabric of her blended blue gown fanned around her.
On the low stone-crafted table before her, there were many gilded platters with grapes, wine, and whole fish, their eyeballs unseeing—she grimaced and looked away. Az didn’t seem to hold the same reservations as she did, for the demon lifted an entire fish and peeled the charred scales from the side as he took a bite.
Her gaze wandered to the Fallen beyond their little circle, dancing in the center of the room, chatting in the corners. The open arches let in a cool night breeze, cascading over her skin. She pressed her legs together.
When your wings shiver from the air, does it remind you of my breath between your thighs?
Bastian’s words in her mind made her gasp. Luella coughed quickly to cover the surprised sound. She caught his eye and blushed, looking away.
Only to find Tharen staring at her hungrily. She tore her stare away from him, eyes drifting across the room to find an escape—and when they paused at a corner table, she saw Vale.
He wore hunger on his face, too; he was where her attention stayed.
She hadn’t realized the King had stepped away from them.
He kept his distance from her like flower petals receded in the winter. As if she were a bloom and he were the bitter chill, scared to fall on her. But in the heat of the Fallen Isles, it felt all wrong.
She was wuthering, he was burning, and together they were a cataclysm waiting to happen.
Beyond the arches, the treetops swayed angrily in the wind.
She was mad with him—he said he would make her his Queen, then he drew away from her.
Vale couldn’t have it all. He couldn’t have her, and this false sense of safety he believed to be found when a yawning distance stretched between them.
If he asked her to marry him in truth, she wouldn’t agree.Nothingcould make her.
Except…
She skimmed her hand over the Binding mark on her chest, revealed by the low cut of her gown. She felt nothing under her fingers, but she knew the mark was there. Sometimes, she forgot about it; how foolish of her. Vale hadn’t used it against her since she had asked him to—begged him to.
Would he again? If she didn’t agree to marry him?
Would he bend her will to his?
