Page 90 of The Last Heir of Elsewhere

My mind reeled, and I took a deep breath. “How did you both know my mother?”

He shrugged. “She was part of our army. Not a particularly relevant member in some ways, but she’d grown up in the court of Nightshade and had an almost fanatical hatred of the High Fae.”

“Oh.”

I couldn’t think of anything else to say. It made sense, yet for some reason, hearing the truth for the first time did not make me feel any better. The reality was almost anticlimactic.

“Wait,” I demanded. “Is that how you knew my true name—because you knew my mother? Havewemet before?”

He grinned, as if remembering something amusing. “Once.”

I reeled back, shocked. “I don’t remember.”

“You were very young and, I might add,veryannoying. I all but forgot you existed entirely until you were perhaps seventeen.”

“Why then?”

“By that point, I was working on expanding my magic. I needed something to measure my progress by.”

My brow furrowed. “What? I don’t?—”

He waved his hand, and cut me off. “This is all ancient history, and has little to do with the original matter at hand, which is that I can’t think of any reason Gancanagh would bother to kill you.”

“Kill Rosey, you mean. You implied I was her.”

“Only because I believe he knows your true name from many years ago, and I do not want to test if he would be powerful enough to use it on you. Ambrose moved closer, until I had to tip my head up to meet his gaze. “I won’t let anyone harm you, especially not the king. You will not go anywhere without me from now on.”

My breath caught, and as I looked up at him I suddenly forgot the rest of the questions I’d meant to ask. “I’ll have to, if I’m going to find?—”

He pressed a finger to my lips, quieting me. “Perhaps, we can discuss it more in the morning.”

When it’s light out, and our conversation will not be overheard,I finished silently. I nodded.

Ambrose glanced at the still running shower, and stepped back, reaching down to pull off his shirt. “If that’s all, I may as well use this, as long as it’s running. Proper baths are the thing I miss most while on the ship.”

“Oh…” I muttered, and began to back out of the room. “Alright then.”

“You’re welcome to stay and assist,” he called, his voice taking on a flirtatious edge. “You too need to wash that blood off.”

“Er, no,” I stammered, still backing up. “I’ll wait until you’re finished.”

“Suit yourself.”

I darted across the bedroom, and only then realized I’d forgotten to close the door behind me. I hastily averted my eyes, heat flooding my cheeks.Oh gods.

As the sound of water cascading echoed through the chamber, I closed my eyes and tried to steady my racing heart.How had he managed to so quickly turn my thoughts from miserable questions, to…other, far less upsetting things.

This was neither the time nor the place for such thoughts.

Darting to the bed, I flopped down on top of the crimson blanket, and closed my eyes. However, the sound of the shower would not let me forget what was going on only feet away.

The sound of the shower continued, so loud I could almost imagine I were standing beneath it as well.

I closed my eyes and, feeling slightly guilty, let my hand travel down my side. My fingertips skimmed the edge of my trousers, then quickly, as if I couldn’t stop myself, I slid my fingers lower.

My clit throbbed with anticipation, and goosebumps rose all over my body.

I dragged one delicate finger between my folds, then rubbed faster, tracing little circles.

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