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As I would leave soon, a short dalliance, a few kisses, could hurt no one. I would consider this a hard-won prize for my time at court.
When we broke away the next time, he exhaled a long breath. “You are unexpected.”
“Not in a bad way, I hope?” I smirked.
He snorted, and his one free hand rounding my hip and exploring there. “Stars, my lady. Why must the Fates test me so cruelly?”
“That, I can’t answer.” With a rasp, I dragged a soft finger down his chest. “But you might be able to answer me this?”
“Anything.” In that moment, the strongest warrior in all of Winter’s Realm looked ready to hand me the world.
“Why in all the nine kingdoms have you stopped kissing me?”
Chapter 40
Passion surged through me, hotter and hotter with each kiss, each touch of Prince Vale’s hand on my face, each caress of my body.
As we took our pleasure at each other’s lips, time seemed to lose meaning so when a faint tapping at the window caused the prince to stop, to look up and over.
When I followed his gaze, I yelped.
A raven stared inside with vibrant blue eyes. It lifted a talon and waved, to which Prince Vale laughed.
“Um, what is that?” I asked, head swiveling from the prince to the raven and back again.
“Caelo’s signal.” He sighed and looked down at me. “Though it’s the last thing I want to do, we need to get weapons and leave.”
“Is that Sir Caelo?” I asked. Some fae could shift into animal forms, though I had yet to meet one with that power.
“No, he can only inhabit animals. He prefers birds.”
That felt like more of an elven magic. Fae had many varied powers, and while elves were technically a race of fae—though they insisted on being thought of as an order unto their own—they usually dealt with animals. Faeries might shift, but elves could have other animals do their bidding, a magic not usually found in my kind. Perhaps Sir Caelo wasn’t full faerie?
“Oh,” I murmured, keeping my questions in as he rose from the bed, and I straightened the front of my dress which had gone askew with all the kissing. Only then did I realize my poor choice of attire. “I wish I’d worn trousers.”
One corner of his luscious lips curled upward. “My sister set some aside for you. They’re in my bathing chambers, down the hall.”
“Saga is a lot smaller than me.” Where I had round hips and breasts, Saga had a sleeker body.
“I’m sure she chose well.” The prince seemed completely unconcerned, which showed a great deal of trust. Clearly, he’d never had to force his breasts or hips into a dress that was too small. “Try them. I’ll get our weapons.”
I walked down the hall, sensing the prince’s eyes on me with each step. A thrill ran through me, but I forced myself not to turn. As I neared the section of the wall where the hidden hallway opened to, I stopped and pressed my hand to the wall.
The wall didn’t shimmer. No door appeared. In fact, nothing at all happened. Deflated, I continued down the short corridor until I found the bathing chamber.
Folded trousers, a tunic, an undershirt, a fur-lined cloak with a hood, and boots rested on a small bench. I shifted my dress off and, hoping to the stars they’d fit, shimmied into the pants.
To my relief and surprise, they worked. Saga had come through, bless the princess.
Another pang of sadness hit me. I’d miss Prince Vale, and the simmering potential and desire that had just ignited between us, but Saga had been a true friend. I’d miss her dearly.
Once ready, I retrieved the blood vials from my dress pocket and tucked them into those of my pants. Having what I needed, I folded my dress and laid it on the bench. Prince Vale would know what to do with it. From my time at the Winter Court, I kept only the pretty hair pin Saga had given me. Not only did I find it beautiful, but it did a nice job of holding my masses of hair back. One last parting gift.
When I opened the door, the prince stood there, holding stakes in one hand and a dagger in another. He held them out. “The stakes are ash wood—the only wood that can kill a royal vampire.”
“Why two?”
“Backups are always necessary.”
