Page 75 of The Forbidden Fae King

Aldrin stiffens within my embrace, as my face burns with mortification and I swiftly pull my hand out of his pants and adjust my neckline. His body begins to reverberate, and I realize it is with laughter.

“For fuck sake, Cyprien,” Aldrin says into the crook of my neck, then pulls his face away from me. “Can we go in an hour or two?”

I glance over my shoulder. Cyprien stands in the entrance to the courtyard, frowning profusely but otherwise completely unabashed at what he has walked in on.

“We go now, if you are serious about this threat. Otherwise don’t waste my time. Meet me in the main hall.” Cyprien turns and walks briskly away.

Aldrin gazes down into my face with such tenderness, running a finger across my lips, that I think I am going to be undone. My heart flutters wildly in my chest.

“Hold that thought for me,” he murmurs, then lets me go.

Frozen air wraps around me in place of his arms, and I shiver. My body craves the hard press of his. Bitter disappointment crashes down into me as the laces at my neckline are retied by Aldrin’s threads of magic.

His hair is disheveled from my touch and his hardness is still painfully visible through his leather pants. There is a light in the eyes that looks me up and down with an unspoken promise, but then he sighs as he smooths his clothing.

“I’m sorry about Cyprien, but—” Aldrin shakes his head. “I need him to believe me.”

There is such a vulnerability on his face I forgive him immediately. My mind does anyway. My body still screams for his touch and my blood races at the memory of it. I nod, not ready to speak, knowing my voice will waver from unquenched hunger.

I watch his tight, muscled ass as he walks away and regret that I didn't squeeze it when I had the chance.

I should never have touched him, but I can’t help myself.

The last thing I need is to become entwined with another kingwho might think he has a claim over me. It was different when I thought he was an outlaw. One I could enjoy, then leave behind when I return home. But a king? Nothing is ever simple with a king.

The image of Finan’s face the last time I saw him comes to mind, emotion brimming within those ice-blue eyes as he said goodbye to me. I try to summon a scrap of guilt, but I feel nothing.

Aldrin glances over his shoulder and winks at me. “Are you coming?”

“Not…in the way I wanted to.” The words slip out of my mouth and the look he gives me is utterly devious.

Chapter 21

Aldrin

The wind howls around us, making the magic weave of our domed air shield flicker visibly. It protects us from the harshness of these frozen barrens, somewhat. Klara and Drake focus on those weaves, patching them as the torrent of air corrodes its surface.

Multiple orbs burn inside, but the fire magic of my people is slight, and the heat generated only takes the edge off the chill.

Nothing can help the fact that we climb through deep snow.

The apex of this region of the Dividing Cliffs is just ahead of us, the seam between Spring and Winter. A landscape of pure white stretches out in all directions as snow coats everything and the sky is a gloomy mass of clouds. Falling snowflakes are tossed sideways by the wind.

We reach the edge of the cliffs that overlook winter, I do not focus on the desolation beyond. I have seen it a hundred times before. I watch the reactions of my companions instead.

Silence has a grip on the group. They stare at the undeniable devastation laid out before us. Cyprien and Lily stand rigid with shock, their faces slack. A deep frown forms on Cyprien’s features andhis lips compress to a thin line. A tear slips down Lily’s face, freezing upon her cheek.

My people have witnessed this corruption multiple times before. We have checked the entire length of the border in our exile, but the horror of it never seems to fade. The severity of the place keeps getting worse.

I look for Keira, because I desperately need her to see what I fight for, to understand.

Maybe then she will be open to helping me.

She is next to her sister, shivering uncontrollably. I don’t know if it is from the cold or the realization of what threatens this world. I create another orb and place it in front of her.

Tears are frozen on her cheeks. I take her hands in mine and rub them to return the heat to her flesh. Even through her gloves, I can feel the iciness of them.

“Are you okay? Can you handle this cold?” I murmur. Who knows where the limits of human lie.

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