Page 23 of Chosen By the Fae King

The memory of Dori's lifeless body flashed behind my eyes, her pale skin turned to shades of grey. It couldn't have been more than an hour or two ago. How could anyone be interested in playing dress up?

A sharp pang squeezed my chest and I wondered what was happening to Mirrelle.

I swiped the dress and shoes off the bed. I'd meant to take out some of my frustration but under the gown was a set of silky underthings, perfectly matched to the dress.

Those I left where they were and sat beside them before throwing my body backwards in a huff of frustration.

Staring at the ceiling, I chastised myself for coveting the pretty things. For jumping into things without thinking. For all my incompetencies that added to my inability to navigate the trials.

And, most especially, for my physical reactions to Nox.

Deep in my self-loathing, it took me a second to realize shadows were gliding across the room. Then suddenly, Nox took form at the foot of my bed with hungry eyes and a wicked smile.

“Well now, I would have arrived sooner if I'd known you were waiting for me in bed with lingerie.”

My pulse spiked at the sight of him, a heady mixture of agitation and desire. My foolish body was holding me hostage.

Nox lounged against one of the bedposts, arms crossed over his chest. The shadows clung to him like a second skin, embracing the predatory gleam in his eyes.

“You wished to see me, Lady Aeryn?” His eyebrow raised in challenge.

I scrambled off the bed, gathering my wits–or trying to.

“You seem flustered. Anything I can help with?” he inquired smoothly.

I swore his voice had a direct link to my core, and the bastard likely knew it.

Clearing my throat, I found my voice. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Oh?” Interest flared in his eyes and he pushed off the post.

My mouth went dry and I lifted my palms to halt his approach. “I'll do better getting this out if you aren't so close.”

Nox halted, a self-satisfied gleam in his eyes. “Alright. Let's hear it, then.”

He seemed more malleable with my contriteness. I could work with that.

“Well, Your Majesty–”

“Nox,” he corrected. “When it's just us, Aeryn, you'll call me Nox.”

I wet my lips and Nox inhaled sharply. I was very aware of my body, more aware than I'd ever been.

Each time in his presence was more intense than the last. I felt amped up, almost high.

“Are you using magic on me?” I blurted, not at all what I'd meant to ask.

The king's eyes hardened. “Excuse me?”

“I'm having trouble speaking to you, but not to anyone else. It's never been a problem for me. My thoughts are jumbled, not focused on what they should be, and my ... my reactions, how I'm feeling, um, physically, has to be unnatural.”

Cocking his head, he swept his gaze up and down my body. “Are you meaning to say that my presence turns on your delectable body so acutely you cannot think? And because you've never had such reactions you assume I've used magic on you?”

“Well, yes.”

“I'm not sure if I should be incredibly offended or flattered.”

“I mean no offense. I'm just trying to get a handle on things.”

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