Page 127 of Chosen By the Fae King

His possessive words sent a spike of heat through me. Gripping his shoulders, I guided his mouth lower, whimpering as he suckled my breast through the thin fabric of my dress.

“Nox,” I moaned, arching into him.

With visible effort, he pulled back, his breathing ragged. “Resisting you is nearly impossible but I did promise.”

Despite my initial objections, my lips puckered. Nox laughed, brushing his knuckles over my kiss-swollen lips and resting his forehead against mine.

“My mate. My heart. My soon to be wife and queen,” he stated.

I stiffened.

Queen? Some part of me was still holding onto the illusion I could have him without having to take on the title.

“Could I just be your wife?” I asked, biting my lip. “And not the queen?”

Nox's affectionate gaze filled with patient understanding, making me squirm.

“I know you have reservations about becoming queen,” he said softly, brushing his thumb over my cheek to wipe away the evidence of my tears. “But I vow to help you find your feet.”

My throat was tight. “I know you will. I just … it's not something I ever wanted. I only want to be worthy of you. Of this.” I swept my arm, indicating the ancient temple.

Nox tilted my chin up. “You already are. Never doubt that.”

His belief in me was humbling. I would try. For him I would try.

Glancing around, I said teasingly, “I'm actually tempted to go ahead and consummate our engagement here. I know it's tradition.”

Nox's eyes darkened, a smirk playing on his lips. “It's best not to tempt the beast, little hellion. I'd rather have you all to myself back in our chambers. Besides, you weren't exactly pleased when I mentioned it before we left the castle.”

He drew me close again, his body hard against mine. A delicious shiver went through me at the promise in his voice. Nox's hand slid down to grasp my ass firmly.

“Perhaps we should skip the carriage ride and return immediately?” he murmured in my ear.

“I think that's a wonderful idea.” I surrendered completely, my heart overflowing. I trusted Nox to take me where I desired to go.

He turned his head to press a kiss to my palm. His eyes smoldered. “I'm going to worship you properly. Tonight and every night.”

Heat coiled low in my belly. Hand in hand, we slipped into the shadows. The ancient temple fell away, replaced by the familiar walls of his bedchamber. Our bedchamber.

It was going to take time to get used to things.

Nox wasted no time. His hands were everywhere, stripping away my clothes until I stood bare before him. I returned the favor, my fingers making quick work of the fastenings on his tunic.

We came together in a tangle of limbs on the bed, urgent and needy. When he finally joined our bodies, I cried out, overwhelmed by the intensity.

After, we lay spent in each other's arms. Nox trailed lazy kisses over my shoulder as I drifted toward sleep.

“Wife,” he whispered, as if testing the word.

I smiled. It was the title I wanted, even if it came with the one I didn't.

Twenty-Five

Aeryn

The next morning, Nox took me to visit Raina. I'd asked to see her last night, but after our return, Lorne reported she had asked for a sleeping draught and wouldn't be able to wake for a while.

After traveling down a quiet passage, my attention caught on the heavy black door at the end of the hall, covered in runes. “Glyphs?”

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