Page 50 of Witch’s Heart

When her body fell still, he collapsed onto his back, blowing out a breath. He must have been tired to not wake until the end.

“Having a good dream?” She braced her hands on his chest, pinning him to the bed.

“Surely you can guess what it was about?”

She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “Tell me.”

“You, me, and the throne,” he said. Her lips parted. He ran a hand up her side, brushing the underside of her breast with his thumb, testing the weight of it. “Don’t worry, Lady Witch, we’ll make it happen.”

A fist pounded on his door, startling them both. “What the fuck?!” he growled, loud enough that whoever was out there would hear him all the way in the corridor. She sighed and lifted off him. He caught sight of his seed dripping down the inside of her thighs. Was she still taking the tea to guard against pregnancy? If so, would she stop if he asked? No, if he ordered?

Why did the thought of her pregnant with his child send excitement shooting straight into his chest?

“You’ve got a look on your face,” she said. “What?”

He hesitated, then glanced down at her cunt again. “Just like the look of my seed slicking your thighs.”

She wasn’t ready for children yet, and telling her he wanted them—when they were in no position for it, yet—would only frighten her. Besides, what would it mean for the thing living inside her. Would she give birth to demon babies? Did he even care if she did? They’d be hers, and his, and that was all that mattered to him.

The fist came again, accompanied by, “Your Majesty.”

He shot up from the bed and stalked through the bedchamber, out into the living quarters. Throwing the door open, caring little that he was naked and covered in Mina’s slick arousal, he growled at the male standing there. “How dare you summon me in my chambers like I’m a fucking dog, Ralston. You’d better have a good reason⁠—”

“Carth has assembled the might of their entire military on our borders.”

He froze, then blinked.

“I warned you that pulling our troops back put us at risk. Now we’ve got war on our doorstep and not enough to defend ourselves.” General Ralston grunted, looking him up and down. “While you’re busy fucking your lady witch, the rest of us are⁠—”

He roared and lunged, reaching with one hand for the nearest blade—thanks to the guards outside his door—while grabbing Ralston by the throat and slamming him against the opposite wall. He pressed the tip of the blade to the male’s heart. He should have done this a long time ago, when the general first threatened Mina’s life.

The guards on either side of his door remained motionless.

He looked the general in the eye, tightening his hold, and said, “What I chose to do in my own time is my own business.”

Mina appeared in the doorway, a robe clutched around her. “General Ralston.” She blinked, quickly hiding her surprise. She hadn’t yet crossed paths with the male and for that, he was grateful. “Did I make a mistake in leaving you alive? Do we have you to thank for Rixon’s recent assignation, too?”

“Believe me, Lady Witch, if I wanted him dead, I had plenty of opportunities.” Mina’s brow lifted. “What good would it do, besides dooming our kingdom? I know what lies beneath the palace. I know about the portal, and that he’s the only thing keeping it closed.”

He shared a look with Mina before turning back to Ralston. “And what else do you know?”

“Nothing much beyond that. Just that it requires royal blood.”

He huffed, giving the general a rough shove before releasing him. He turned to the guard, returning his sword. To Ralston he said, “Tell me about Carth.”

The general gave a pointed look at his nakedness. He didn’t budge. Finally, Ralston sighed. “I received word from our spies early this morning. Some one hundred thousand troops camped at the base of Cardosa Gap.”

“The territory at the base of the gap belongs to Raeria,” Mina said, looking between them.

“Precisely.” The general sighed. “I’ve already sent word to our units, but it looks as if war is imminent.”

“I don’t understand. Carth agreed to stand down. Weiss is here taking orders and drumming up business for Nebrine repellers.”

“You cannot be this naive—” Ralston growled.

“Don’t insult him,” Mina hissed, black taking over her eyes. Ralston glanced in her direction, studied the change in her, then dismissed it, turning back to him. It wasn’t the first time he’d witnessed this in her.

“This is the witches’ doing,” said Ralston. “They demanded your precious lady witch, and when they didn’t receive her, they left. Surely you didn’t think they would leave it at that.”