Page 44 of Prince of Ruin

I’m constantly reminded of Clav’s human weakness. I would have left Clav’s glasses on the battlefield and not thought twice about it.

“You really care about him,” I say, taking a drink and wincing at the Bane’s Brew as it burns my throat. “Why?”

Aden fiddles with the glasses, biting his lower lip. “I don’t know. He was so genuine. So fucking real,you know?” His eyes meet mine. “You don’t find that a lot where I’m from. People put up a front. Humans spend a lot of time talking about themselves, trying to impress everyone around them. He wasn’t like that.”

“Because he has secrets to hide.”

He snorts, then flinches. “I guess.”

I finish off the glass of Banes Brew and set the empty glass on the low lying table before sitting in my armchair before the fire.

“Come’ere,” I say.

Setting his book aside, Aden crosses the space between us and curls onto my lap. He’s short for a human, and I’m tall for a Fae, but that’s never been an issue for either of us. Wrapping my arms around his small body, I pull him close and kiss his temple.

“Were you really going to turn yourself into the bats today?” My heart breaks at the reminder, the shock of what he’d been planning on doing.

“Yes.” His voice is low as his body tenses, no-doubt waiting for me to get angry. Not that I get angry often, but communication is the biggest part of our relationship, and the fact that he didn’t communicate any part of his plan with me is…well, it’s a kick to the gut. That’s for sure.

“You know I can’t lose you, Aden. It would…killme to lose you.” My voice catches, and I swallow hard, my arms tightening around him.”

“It’ll kill your world not to lose me, assuming Clavicle can’t actually help us.”

I bury my face into his hair, hating how right he is. “Will you please tell me next time?” I pull away, tilt his chin up and search his eyes. “If you jump, I jump. I don’t want to live one moment without you.”

His beautiful, full lips press together, his throat bobbing in a hard swallow, but thank the gods he nods. “I promise to tell you any future plans I have.”

“Thank you.”

We sit there in silence for a bit, watching the flames in the fire while embracing this moment between us. A moment that wouldn’t exist right now if Clavicle hadn’t shown up. Because Aden…Aden would be dead. I guess I can appreciate Clavicle for that one thing, at least.

“So what’s the plan with Clavicle?” Aden asks.

“We have to scare him so he knows who’s in charge,” I say as I watch the tongues of fire lick the air in the hearth. “If he sees even a hint of weakness in us, he’ll use it to his advantage. He’s incredibly shrewd, Aden. Remember that.”

Aden nods against my chest, then tilts his head back and looks at me. “You already made him believe he would be Weaver’s dinner. What can top that?”

I hum in thought. “It’d have to be something his weak, mortal body could take.”

“Watch it,” Aden warns, a dark smile easing on his face. “I’m mortal too, Babe.”

I tense by the challenge in his eyes, and my cock stirs to life. “And?”

His countenance darkens. Reaching up, he runs his fingers down my jawline, and now my dick is rock hard. “I’ll show you just howweakwe are when my cock is down your throat.”

Fuck. I like it when Aden gets like this. Defensive, possessive, controlling. It’s so unlike him in his day-to-day meek and kind character. He’s what humans call agolden retriever, but in bed…in bed he’s a wolf. An alpha knotting werewolf, as he likes to put it, based off the books he reads.

“Prove it,” I say, brushing some blond strands of hair from his forehead.

Aden’s eyes become hooded with desire. “On the bed. Now.”

I don’t waste any time, removing my robes and tunic and crawling onto the king size bed.

“On your back.”

By the time I obey the order, Aden is already undressed, his cock strapped around his hips as he makes his way to the bed, the promise of pleasure and pain in his eyes. He picked the purple tentacle dildo today. It’s massive and twisted, with suctions built into it that promise pleasure.

“What did you call mortals?” he asks.

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