Page 13 of Light Fae's Love

“You may have been eloquent from your recent bond to Quinn, but the kindness I’ve seen is all yours,” she says, reminding me of who I am.

Prince of the Summer Fae—and beloved by my populace.

“I treat my people well because they are important, Ariana.” I am serious now. “Not just the Royals and High Houses who dwell at the palace and in the wealthier quarters of the city, but also the Low Houses that provide the basis upon which our society functions. Our growers and artisans set the tone of Summer Fae life. My father does not aid them. So I do.”

I feel how my words make her love me even more after such an insightful day of watching me serve my people. As her heart swells, my world shines, and I feel her thoughts through our bond—that I’m a good man, and worthy of the Summer Fae throne. As her love pours through me, I can’t help but smile, brushing a lock of her wild red hair back from her face.

“You’re making me blush, Ariana. With your feelings for me,” I say now as my heartbeat rises, pounding in my chest for her, as other things rise down below.

“You should be blushing.” She quips back, though she holds my gaze, frank. “You’re a good prince, Lucca; after our sojourn today, I’m convinced of it. Once you lead a rebellion against your father, your people will support you.”

“Maybe.” My ardor flags now as I frown, knowing I’m still so far from where I need to be to create a proper revolution among the Summer Fae. “I still need the Magistros Courts behind me, though, in which I have few allies, and military support. I also need at least seven of the Royal Houses and quite a few of the High Houses to stage a coup, not to mention the Darkwatch. Some sympathize with my ideas of modernity; unfortunately, many of the elder Fae still see me as a hotheaded young ruffian.”

“They’ll be paying attention now, though, after how your power has grown since bonding Quinn and me,” she says, and I feel her reasoning that we’re all so much more now than we were before.

“Perhaps.” My gaze strays to the burned, black sigil in the grass now, as if pulled there by our conversation. “Being bound to a Master Vampire and a Dark Fae does not ingratiate me to my people, though. My people need to trust me, Ariana; and their opinions on Vampires and Dark Fae are wary after the severe slander campaigns my father wielded against those Lineages these past centuries, even worse than those against the Rock Giants and Dark Elves. Besides, Quinn and I?—”

“Do you still not trust Quinn?” She cuts me off, reaching up and setting a hand to my cheek. “Even after all the machinations he’s working on to get you on the Summer Fae throne so you can better your people’s lives?”

“And him on the Vampire Council, don’t forget.” I go stiff now beneath her touch, though I want so much to be open-minded about Quinn and all his damnable ways. “Quinn is a two-edged blade, Ariana. He always has been. On one hand, he’s kind, forthright, and honorable, always trying to do what’s best. On the other hand, he’s Machiavellian, always plotting twenty steps ahead and figuring out how to manipulate everything to his advantage. I see how he’s honestly trying to do better than in the past when he shut me out of every decision. But I need someone who shares with me. And Quinn has always held back.”

“Which is where I come in.” Ariana is trying to keep things bright, though a dark shadow has fallen over our afternoon now. “By bringing you two together when otherwise you would just simmer in your big egos and fight.”

“You’re right.” As the darkness in me lessens to her on-point directness, I laugh. “We are stronger together. I’ve felt it this past week—our trio’s bond. My magic changed that night we became bound to each other. Like a Vampire, I can feel my people now, alive, all around me. Sometimes I can sense their heartbeats, even, and tell when people are lying to me. Now I know for certain the lower classes are disapproving of my father, and every woe that’s befallen them he’s ignored.”

“No one likes a tyrant,” Ariana says. She has met my father, King Archivolio Bellari, on a few occasions, and hated him more each time because of how badly he treated her. “The Vampires in Florence never loved Emiliana DiClario, either. Seems it’s time for a regime change on both sides.”

“Yes. Although such things must happen slowly, to not implode into chaos.” As a dark mood takes me again and I stew, she moves closer, squeezing my knee in support. Her movement breaks me from my rumination. Brightness flares in me as I lean in, still lounging on the blanket, and cinch her in my arm. As I draw her against me, I pull her down to the blanket so we’re lounging face-to-face on our sides now. With a chuckle, I nuzzle my lips against hers.

Wanting her with a passion so hot and bright it feels decadently dark as we lay together.

I feel how much she wants me, and I kiss her then, deeply, as I squeeze her waist. Everything tingles and rushes inside me as I feel not only my ardor, but hers also through our connection. I feel how much I turn her on, and I can’t help the sexy chuckle that slips out of me. I palm her waist harder, gripping her and claiming her.

She presses into me and kisses me back, as I heat like crazy now.

Our trio have been managing strange aspects to our magic since we bonded, though; I see now how Quinn’s dark, decadent personality has affected me as I wrangle Ariana almost possessively by the back of her neck, kissing her until I’m breathless.

Bright yet also somehow dark, my energy swirls through me with the deep flavor of Quinn’s mysterious gardenias-in-a-waterfall scent. As we finally part, I discover I’ve rolled Ariana to her back on the blanket. I’m supporting myself on my hands above her, passion searing through every part of me as I stare down at her.

Dark with eros now—and desire.

“Wow! That was… wow.” She shivers as a wave of heat drives through me. Though she and I have kissed a few times since we bonded, I was still recovering this week from nearly dying and she was busy with the Meeting of the Havens, so we’ve not taken it further.

“I’m finally feeling better.” I smolder as I lay down atop her now, pressing my long, fighting-honed body to her, though I’m careful to not crush her.

“I can see that.” She grins up at me, and I feel how much she loves that I’ve pinned her.

“Yes, but can you feel it?” Everything inside me darkens sensually as I move my hips against hers now, my cock hard and definitely felt through my riding breeches and hers. “Perhaps I’ll fuck you right here, Ms. Ariana Summers. And make a picnic out of your divine flesh as we devour each other on this glorious summer day.”

Her lips fall open at my salacious words, even though I do not know where they came from. Though I’ve always been a cad with the ladies, everything I just said sounded almost like Quinn rather than me. As a wave of rainbow-dark power surges from Ariana with flashes of gold and silver light, I find I don’t care how those words came to my mind. I chuckle deviantly.

And kiss her again, letting my lips linger.

“Maybe I want you to fuck me,” she says. She is breathless now, feeling this depth of desire between us that still has yet to be consummated. “Maybe this glade will do.”

“Maybe.” I stare her down now rather than kiss her, arresting her with the intensity I feel inside. “It does not escape me that Quinn beds you regularly now, while you and I have yet to enjoy such delights. Even though I wasn’t healthy this past week, it’s been on my mind. Everything you and he share… that you and I have been missing out on.”

“Me, too,” she says, as she lifts to her elbows now, running her lips over mine. Rainbows cascade through the air, dark in the shade and bright in the sun from our joined power. “I’m not obtuse to how unbalanced things have been.”

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