Page 25 of Chosen By the Fae King

His hand closed around my chin, grip deceptively gentle. “Here, I am the one in charge. I make the rules. And you, my dear Aeryn, obey them. Is that clear?”

I jerked my chin from his grasp, anger simmering in my veins. “I am not one of your servants.”

“Perhaps you require a reminder of who is in control here.”

His mouth descended, claiming mine in a kiss that was all teeth and tongue and hunger. A groan rumbled in his chest, vibrating against my breasts.

I sank my nails into his shoulders, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. Nox tasted of power and danger, as addictive as any drug. My worries slid away to the back of my mind.

He pulled back slightly, lips brushing mine as he spoke. “Do you understand now?”

His hands slid down to cup my backside, pressing me more firmly against him. I felt his desire like a living thing, hard against my stomach. Heat pooled low in my belly.

Anger warred with desire, leaving me trembling. I wanted to rage at his arrogance, but my traitorous body only wanted to feel his hands on my skin.

Swallowing hard, I met his gaze. “I understand you're a pompous ass.”

His eyes flashed, but his chest shook with his deep, masculine laugh. The sound was so beguiling I worried it might enslave me.

“And you are a maddening wench. It seems we suit well.”

Nox claimed my mouth again, gentler this time but no less demanding. And despite my anger, despite everything, I couldn't help but respond.

Curse him. And curse me for how easily I fell under his spell.

Once my lips were good and swollen, Nox pulled back again. A smug smile curled his lips.

“Now, about these trials,” he began, putting space between us.

The pleasant haze of desire began to cool and I wrapped my arms around my ribs. “What about them?”

“Every name drawn was magically bound the moment their name was read,” Nox explained. “They cannot back out. Not unless the contestant wants to forfeit their life.”

My eyes widened. “What?” Panic clawed at my chest, and I took an involuntary step closer as though proximity might change what I'd heard.

Nox's expression was unreadable now. “The trials are a long-standing tradition. They have endured for millennia, and are how I am supposed to choose my queen.”

“B-but the names were drawn at random!” I accused. “How can you bind us to some barbaric contest we never agreed to?”

“The names were drawn by magic,” Nox corrected. “And all who come to my court agree to abide by its rules and traditions, especially those that are magically enforced.”

“No one agreed to that!” I shouted. “And if that were true, Dori wouldn't have been able to attack Mirrelle. She'd still be alive!”

“The rules given to you in writing were my expectations. The tie to the trials is the only compulsion.”

“My name wasn't drawn, so that means I'm not bound, correct?”

His nostrils flared. With a roll of his wrist, Nox produced a small ivory card and held it up between his fingertips.

“Aeryn Faulkner,” he read aloud.

A delicate charge of magic wrapped around my heart. Realization slapped me in the face. It took all my self-control not to lunge for one of the daggers at his waist.

“How dare you?” I seethed. “I would never abandon Sofiya who never wanted any part of your ridiculous trials or your throne. You didn't have to bind me to keep me here, you bastard!”

Nox's eyes flashed dangerously. “Guard your tongue.”

“Or what?” I shouted, simmering with fury. “You'll force me to participate? Oh, wait, you already did that. Maybe you'll just have to trick me into backing out so I'll forfeit my life since it obviously means so little. Is that what you want? Half of me thinks you do.”

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