Page 57 of Taken By the Fae King

She lifts her head. “You think my father was right.”

“It is a possibility that cannot be ignored,” I reply grimly.

Fierce protectiveness floods my veins. I slip one arm behind her back and another up under her knees and lift her to my chest.

I love how she automatically wraps her arms around my neck so trustingly before asking, “Where are you taking me?”

“To my chambers,” I reply without halting my steps. “You will be safer there.”

CHAPTER32

GRAYCE

Using his magic, Kyven opens the doors. Two guards snap to attention. He turns to the closest one. “The queen will be staying in my chambers from now on,” he informs them. “I want two guards assigned to her at all times.”

“Yes, my king,” they reply in unison.

At the end of the hallway, we enter a large set of double doors. When we step inside, I’m surprised by how similar this room is to mine. The only difference is that the door to the cleansing room is on the opposite wall.

Kyven walks me to the bed, and heat rises in my cheeks as he gently lays me down beneath the covers.

My heart hammers in my chest. We fell asleep on the sofa together in Corduin, and we are married according to the laws of my people, but I’m not quite sure I’m ready to share his bed.

As if reading my worry, his eyes meet mine. “Just as I swore to you on our wedding night, I vow that I will never expect anything of you that you are not ready give, Grayce. I only wish to keep you safe.”

I trust him. After everything we have been through the past few days, I know he is a man of his word.

“When I felt your fear through the bond, I have never been so afraid.” He clenches his jaw. “The instinct to protect you and keep you close is not one I can easily ignore.”

He pulls a fur blanket from the sofa and walks over to the chair in the corner. “You can have the bed and I’ll sleep here.”

While I’m exactly sure I want to sleep as man and wife just yet, we are married and it’s ridiculous to make him sleep in an uncomfortable chair when this bed is large enough for both of us.

I scoot toward the opposite side of the mattress, and then pull back the covers. “You can sleep here.”

His eyes snap to mine. “Are you certain?”

“I trust you.”

His eyes widen slightly, and he appears as surprised as I am at how easily these words fell from my lips. But it is true. I do trust him. Completely. From the moment we met, Kyven has proven over and over again how much he cares for and respects me. I know he would never cause me any harm or force me to do something I do not want.

A soft knock at the door interrupts us and Kyven goes to answer. It’s one of the servants with a bundle of clothing. When he closes the door, he turns back to me. “Mags brought you a sleep gown.”

It’s only now that I realize I’m still dressed, except for my shoes. I take the gown from him and quickly change in the cleansing room as I ready for bed.

When I step back into the bedroom, my breath catches as Kyven removes his shirt, leaving his torso completely bare.

He is dressed in only a pair of soft-knit pants. With his attention fixed on the bed, I allow my gaze to travel over his lean, muscular form. His broad shoulders, his strong arms, and sculpted chest and abdomen. He is perfect. Like a living statue of marble, carved to present the perfect masculine form. His lavender wings rest at his back, their beautiful panes reflecting in the moonlight that spills through the window.

Nervous heat flushes my entire body as I pad over to the bed. I slip beneath the covers and move to one side to make room so he can lay down next to me.

A moment later, the mattress dips behind me. I turn to face him, but find him lying on his side, facing away. His beautiful lavender wings are draped at his back. “Are they completely healed now?” I ask.

Without thinking, I reach out and touch his wing.

He stills, and I immediately pull away. “I’m sorry,” I murmur. “Do they still hurt?”

“No, they do not. I was just… startled, that is all. You did not hurt me.” He glances over his shoulder. “You may touch them if you like.”

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