Page 111 of The Crown’s Temptation

She must like sweets.

"I did not think you were going to come to breakfast," was his only explanation for the girl under the table.

Asharin gave a small smile and reached for the goblet next to her plate. "Why? I enjoy food.” She cut another piece of meat. “I hear you have been killing off some of Axar’s people and even some of Sevrin’s.”

Fuck. He had forgotten that Axar was her Adjasar and that regardless, she was smart and observant and would likely notice what he has been doing. He did not feel like explaining that this was necessary. That he could not protect her in a castle that he cannot control.

He tried to find the words, but her voice interrupted him. “While you are killing creatures off, please murder whichever one has been making the broth and lettuce soup. It is horrific.”

She looked at him. “Breakfast isn’t bad, though.”

Something in his chest clenched as she held his stare. He felt like she could see into his soul and wondered if some part of her knew he had thought a great deal about what she should eat this morning.

The girl made another choking sound from beneath the table. Teorin reached down and held her head there. He did like the choking noises, though he suspected Asharin did not.

She cleared her throat. “At any rate, I am a Rathmor. And a princess in my own right. This is inappropriate, Teorin. I deserve better."

She did deserve better, she was certainly correct about that.

I do not know how to do that, he wanted to say. I am a thren. And a feeder. I am a monster. I do not know decorum or how to show affection, he thought to himself.

Which is exactly why you do not deserve her, a small voice in the back of his mind reminded him.

He did not, this was true. But she had never died under his care, at least. So he was certainly a better alternative to Colsar, he reminded himself.

And Sevrin had starved her. So in truth, Teorin should have a small chance.

The room was mostly silent except for the sound of Asharin calmly chewing her meat and the woman beneath the table gagging.

"You are so calm," he said. He could not help himself.

She reached for the jelly again and put it on her biscuit.

He looked at the butter knife. He was certain she would lick it.

"You getting pleasure at the breakfast table is nothing compared to the other things I have to reconcile in my head and heart these days," she said simply.

Head and heart. He felt a pang. She was referencing her feelings for him. And here he was, being everything his brothers expected of him. Cold. An animal.

The girl put her hands at the base of him and began to stroke.

Asharin lifted the butter knife and began to lick off the jelly.

"Would you⁠—"

Without wanting to he let out a small grunt and slammed his hand on the table again before holding the girl's head in place as he released down her throat. His fingers trembled as he tried to calm himself. The whole thing had been more intense than he had anticipated and he had lost control. The girl's skilled mouth combined with the memory of Asharin last night and her coldness this morning and the way she licked her fingers and cutlery and his hand last night⁠—

It had all been too much. In truth, every bit of it had turned him on.

He raised his eyes across the table, preparing to apologize.

She was gone.

CHAPTER 24

The Final Line

Teorin Rathmor had crossed his final line this morning. I had decided that already.