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“Ah, I see.” I opened the door to the corridor. “You all have my appreciation for getting your asses out of our room.”
Celine gestured to Alek and Livia. “I think you two better speak to your folk, not the king. He’ll get us all killed the moment he opens his mouth.” She glared at me as she strode past. “Last time I help you,Highness.”
“Doubtful.”
Tait followed. He’d been sullen since we were boys, but there was a touch of something lighter in his features. Still, he hardly acknowledged me. I hardly acknowledged him. Alek hesitated as he approached.
“You most of all,” I grumbled. “Why are you still here? Go home.”
“A debt must be repaid, Bloodsinger.” The corner of his mouth curved. “Trust me, you’ll want more than Livia’s voice standing for you against my uncle.”
He gave Livia a bemused look, then followed the others out of the room.
I had my arms around her waist in the next breath, my lips on her throat. “I see you painted more windows.” My eyes lifted over her shoulder to the scene of a trapped monster awaiting to be reunited with his lover in the skies.
Nightfire had always been my favorite myth. I liked that it was becoming Livia’s.
“You were gone last night. Nightmares crept in, so I painted this to chase them away.”
I tightened my hold around her waist. “I don’t like that. If you can’t sleep, I don’t care if I’m across the damn sea, call to me and I’ll come.”
“I’m not calling you for every horrid dream. I’ve handled the Mare demons for turns on my own, I’ll be fine.”
I lifted my head. “But you don’t have to be alone anymore.”
Livia held my stare for a long pause, then kissed me slowly for a breath before she swatted my shoulder. “By the way, you have horrid manners.”
“I do.” I pressed a kiss to her throat, then opened the pouch from Alistair. “I have something for you.”
Livia’s eyes brightened when she removed the pale necklace. Runes etched and painted in liquid gold lined the slender piece, along with a matching pair of filigreed earrings. “Erik, they’re beautiful.”
“For a queen.” I fastened the clasp of the necklace behind her, my fingers lingering on the warmth of her skin. “No one will forget what will happen should they touch you now.”
A groove formed between her brows as she inspected the earrings. “These are made of bone.”
“They are.” I touched one of the gold runes on her necklace.
“Bone from?”
I gripped her chin, drawing her lips close to mine. “Anyone touches you, then you wear them around your neck.”
“Gods, these are . . .” She blinked to the necklace. “The assassins?”
Her stun left me wondering if I’d gone too far, shown too much of the darker pieces, but after a moment, Livia crushed her mouth to mine. She dug her fingernails into the back of my neck, drawing me closer, as though she couldn’t stand a sliver of space between us.
She broke away and whispered, “I would follow your darkness across the skies and seas.”
I went to kiss her again, but she pressed a finger to my lips. “Although, you should know, everyone you just tossed out of here was here to helpyoufor when we go to my father, and—”
“Songbird.” I trapped her face in my palms. “I have been pulled from you for the better part of two days. Patience is spent. Do you wish me to go after them and praise their efforts, or do you want me inside you?”
Livia swallowed. I tracked the movement down the slender curve of her throat. She didn’t hesitate before her hands were clawing at my belt. I tore away her dress and bodice with as much frantic need.
I didn’t have time to move us to the bed before Livia yanked my hips, pulling me off balance, only to land with her back to the wall. One palm flattened next to her head, the other dragged along the length of her thigh, up the divots of her ribs, to the swell of her breast.
Livia jerked when I pressed my thumb against the hardened peak. My teeth scraped across her neck. She moaned and reached her hand between us and curled her slender fingers around my shaft. Blood abandoned my head. Couldn’t be helped. With every touch, this woman had my body raging for more, like a boy who couldn’t control his own damn cock.
After a few slow strokes, Livia bit her lip nervously, and shoved me back.
