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Shegasps under my lips and I moan into the opening, needing more. Her soft mouth moves under mine and I lose all reason. I pin her to the closest flat surface, a window encasing the armor of an irrelevant king, hands gliding under the rows of pearls at her waist, desperate to feel, touch, more.
I despise myself for wanting this, wantinghermore than anything, including the riches of the realm, the power of my crown.
I strain to remain in control, but when she returns my kiss, I abandon all hope. My tongue dancing against hers, I swallow every moan. The arms that had remained at her sides raise and hook behind my neck, holding me closer.
I hiss.
I am a Devar, of the line of Tryn and his fairy queen. I've always held influence over the desires of others. I've used that ability with care, never truly forcing myself on anyone. I don't need to. Men and women throw themselves at me wherever I go. In the game of seduction, I am the perfect predator and she should be the prey. This role reversal is disconcerting.
Grasping the extent of the power she holds over me in this moment is the only reason I manage to extricate myself from her, shaking with the effort it takes.
I let go and take a stumbling step back. Her mouth is stained deep red, bruised by my lips. She's panting, her chest rising and falling through the pearls. I notice the row over her nipples has shifted up, revealing the lobe of a dark areola.
I don't trust myself to speak—or move, for that matter.
"You're not supposed to do that," she whispers, lips trembling.
"Didn't you hear? You're my concubine, dearie." I'm relieved to sound like myself, callous and in control.
"The duke said you couldn't touch me unless I allowed it," she presses, anger firing in her deep blue eyes.
That's more like it. Likeus.
I need her anger, and I ought to find mine.
"You allowed it." I force a chuckle that sounds fake to my ear, but she doesn't know me well enough to hear it. "Youlikedit. Interesting."
I make a good show of indifference, treating the entire debacle like an experiment well conducted.
I'm surprised she falls for it, clever as she is. Helyn groans in frustration, throwing her hands up, and takes off toward one of the exits.
My smile drops when she's no longer looking at me.
I would have killed for another touch.Gladly.I would have presented her with my crown if she'd asked for it. The only thing stronger than her hold on me in those few wild moments is the fear of losing myself.
At least she doesn't know her power.
Yet.
I'm used to the silent presence of my guards, three to five yards away, generally at the doors. Though I can enjoy their company off duty, we've settled into a rhythm where they don't interfere with my day in any way while shadowing me. My life would be far less agreeable if I were forced to consider their opinion at every turn.
NowI do turn to Koll."What the ever-loving fuck was that?"
The knight exchange a glance with his partner, Varen, and both shrug under their heavy armor, as clueless as me.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
GIVE AND TAKE
Ispend the entire ride glaring at the man in front of me in the bucket seat, wishing I could just leap out and strangle him.
The only thing holding me back is the fact that I'd be hanged for treason if I did. Or maybe beheaded. As both a noble and a freaking whore to the king, I might merit the courtesy of a swift execution.
I can't believe he kissed me. I can't believe I let him. And I sure as all seven hells would like to understand how I could have liked it. He had his hands all over me and my treacherous body dared to want more.
Then he made it all worse by calling me out on it.
After I set off in the wrong direction, running away from him more than toward something, he sent a guard after me, and the bulky coldblood was kind enough to escort me back to my room. Nissa and Lupa help me shed the stupid dress—or does it qualify as a piece of jewelry?
