Page 120 of The Sorrow of Shadows

He finally breaks the kiss, and his hands wander up my body, landing on the string that keeps my cloak tied. He tugs it free, letting the cloak drop.

“It took me weeks to get you to feel anything, Princess. You’ve been suppressing your emotions for so long, they were literally exploding out of you in uncontrolled waves of power.” His fingers work to unstrap all the daggers hidden on me next, dropping them one by one to the floor. “I’ve known from the first time you barged into my room and I had my first taste of you—that one taste would never be enough. If I had you every day from now until the end of our days, it wouldn’t be enough, Breyla.” My heart flutters at what he’s implying by the words he’s not saying. Next, he unlaces my leathers, pulling them down my shoulders. The tunic underneath comes off next, leaving me exposed to him. My nipples harden as he stares intensely at me. His words are doing something to me I wouldn’t have expected. “I’ve known the depth of my feelings for you for longer than I want to admit. This thing between us may have started as just a physical connection, but it’s so much more than that for me. The difference between us is that I’ve had no trouble admitting that, and you’re just now coming to that realization.” Lastly, he tugs my leather pants down my legs, letting me step out of them before shoving me roughly to the bed. He drops his sleep pants and steps between my legs. His cock is hard, and the tip glistens with precum as I lick my lips. He lines himself up at my entrance but doesn’t move. “So no, Princess. You aren’t ready to hear what I actually want to say to you right now. You’ll get there, though. Because if there’s onething I’m certain of in this world—it’s that I amneverletting you go.”

I moan as he thrusts straight inside me in one fluid motion. My back arches as I adjust to him and the sudden intrusion. It burns slightly, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t also love the pain. He gives me very little time to adjust before he pulls out and thrusts back in again. “Tonight, I’m going to show you everything I want to say to you,” he says with another thrust that has me clenching the sheets beneath me. His hand winds around my throat as he thrusts again and again at a pace that has my toes curling. “I’m going to fuck you until I’m the only thing you feel. I’m going to cover you so thoroughly in my scent that I can’t smell the others on you. Then I’m going to bathe you and do it all over again.” His promise has my inner walls clenching around him. “Fuck, Princess. Do that again,” he demands as he thrusts harder into me, leaving me gasping for breath.

Completely lost to pleasure, I do as I’m commanded. I clench down on him hard as his thrusts grow faster and harder. A scream erupts from me as I barrel over the edge into my release. I fight to catch my breath, but Aurelius doesn’t slow his thrusts or let me come down from the high of my orgasm. He just keeps fucking me until I’m a shaking, trembling mess. I dig my nails into the skin of his shoulders, and he moans. Blood trickles down from the crescent moons left behind in his skin.

“Yes, little demon, I will gladly bleed for you.” His thrusts grow erratic as the crimson drops onto my chest.

“Good,” I say breathlessly. “Now fucking come for me.”

He chuckles, the sound deep and sensual, as he says, “All in good time.” Before I can let out the snarl building in my throat, he’s pulling my leg up to my chest and fucking me at an angle that has me screaming again. “That’s a good little demon. I love the sound of your screams when my cock is buried so deeply in you. Now come for me again.”

It takes all but a few more strokes at this new angle to haveme doing exactly as I’m told and coming so hard I see stars. A few thrusts later and he follows me over the edge into ecstasy. My name is all he moans as he spills himself inside of me. After a few minutes of heavy breathing, we both finally come down from our high.

“Bath time,” he whispers as he leaves a gentle kiss on my cheek.

“Yes, please,” I say sleepily as he lifts me from the bed, cradling me in his arms, and carries me to the bathtub. A few minutes later, after the tub is filled, he lowers me into the warm water, then follows behind me. He washes every part of me, then does exactly as he promised earlier and fucks me again. This time it’s soft and full of reverence, his body telling me everything he refuses to say out loud. For the first time in my life, I feel cherished.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

BREYLA

What I’m doing is undoubtedly the most reckless thing I’ve done in a long while. But I’m desperate, and I need to know what Prince Ayden is up to. Even if I don’t believe he’s responsible for the slew of deaths and attempted murders recently, he is up tosomething.It’s just a matter of finding out what. My mother plans to announce that she’ll marry Lord Seamus instead of Aurelius tonight, so I’ve run out of time.

It’s midday, and the eyes I have on him show him in the library with his cousin, Charlotte. They are elbows-deep in old parchment and weathered leather books. I’m not sure what they’re researching, but it’s given me the opportunity I need to break into his rooms.

I didn’t tell Aurelius about my plan because he reacted so strangely anytime Ayden was mentioned, and I don’t trust him to not try and stop me. He was busy trying to convince my mother not to accept the engagement to Lord Seamus, so that left me free todo what I needed.

I stand in front of Ayden’s door, letting my shadows out just enough to fill the lock on the door. Once they’ve entered every crevice in the lock, I will them to take a more solid state, essentially creating a shadow key. It works like a charm as I twist my hand and the lock clicks, the door swinging open.

I slip through the door and shut it behind me. When I was in here before, I had noticed Ayden had large stacks of scrolls and letters scattered across the desk in the corner. Fate shines on me as I notice that nothing has changed. The papers still lay in haphazard piles on the desk, devoid of any clear organization.

I get to work shuffling through the documents, trying to find anything of interest. Most of them are letters I’m familiar with—reports on his army and any battles. I’m unaware of any conflict between Prudia and any kingdoms outside of my own. Still, there are numerous reports from who I assume to be his general.

There isn’t time for me to look through those reports fully, but I make a mental note of it. I continue looking through the papers until something catches my eye. A familiar seal and signature sit at the bottom of a letter that makes my blood boil. It’s unaddressed, but as I read the contents my heart sinks at the words.

The King is dead. Though untimely, the people believe it was of natural causes. We know the truth. The princess hasn’t returned home, and the people are restless. I have taken steps to ensure the throne will be ready for you. Now is the time to strike.

Lord Seamus Delencourt

The breath catches in my chest as I read it over and over.Prince Ayden has been working against me the entire time, and I was too stupid to see it. I let the brief moments and small acts of kindness cloud my judgment when it came to him. He’s been working with Lord Seamus to take over my kingdom. Was he behind the attempted assassinations of Aurelius and me? Was Lord Seamus behind my father’s death? I still had so many questions, but one thing I knew for sure. Neither Prince Ayden nor Lord Seamus were to be trusted. They were actively working to take the Rimorian throne.

Not bothering to look through the rest of the papers, I fold the letter neatly and tuck it into the front of my bodice, ensuring it is out of sight.

I exit the room, my heart full of despair and fury.

I arrive at dinner dressed in my leathers, much to my mother’s disappointment. But I know what is about to happen, and I don’t expect it to happen smoothly. This court is full of vipers, and I will not underestimate any of them.

My mother is dressed in a fine navy-blue dress, her strawberry-blonde locks pinned back with a golden crown sitting on top. She looks put together, proper like one would expect from the Queen. But I can see the purple that haunts her under eyes and the red that rings them. I see the weight she’s lost and the way her cheekbones are more prominent. I see her sorrow, and I feel how it echoes my own.

Everyone is present now, each person in their respective seats. I sneak a glance at Lord Seamus out of the corner of my eye. He’s wearing a smug grin, knowing he’s won and eager to let the rest of the room know as well.

As the main course is served, I raise my glass and tap my forkon the side to capture everyone’s attention. Everyone, including my mother, turns their gaze to me.

“I have something to say,” I smile sweetly, trying to fake my excitement.

At my words, the doors open quietly and fully armed guards step in right on time.

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