Page 41 of The Sorrow of Shadows

“You’re wound tight; let’s go spar.” Jade’s voice breaks me out of my daze.

“Yeah, that sounds perfect,” I agree, and we make our way to the training rooms.

Sweat pours down my back as I breathe deeply, concentrating on allowing the breath to expand through my core muscles and keep my heart rate steady. The sun is setting as we approach the gloaming hour, and everything dances with vibrant pinks,oranges, and deep blues. My hands shake as I put all my energy into forming my shadows into the shape of a small dagger. I’m alone so there’s no one to see my humiliation when I finally shoot the shadow dagger at the training dummy, and it dissolves before impact.

I grunt in frustration—this should be something so simple I can do it subconsciously. I’ve used my shadows in this manner hundreds of times before, but lately I can’t seem to maintain any control over this essential part of me. Before I can raise my hands to try again, I feel a strong forearm wrap tightly around my abdomen, and a hand covers my mouth.

For a moment panic sets in and I believe I’m being attacked again. I start to struggle but settle when the scent hits me—bergamot and warm spices.

Aurelius.

“Shhhh, Princess. You know exactly who has you,” he chuckles. I hate the way my tense muscles easily relax and melt into him when I realize he’s right.

I inhale sharply through my nose as his grip on my stomach loosens and his hand slowly trails down to rest at the top of my leathers, just below my belly button. I had moved outside earlier after everyone else had called it quits for the day, and anyone could easily find us. That thought should terrify me, but I find my core warming at the thought instead.

“Can you be quiet, little demon?” Aurelius whispers in my ear. I nod my head in affirmation.

“Good girl,” he praises. His hand drops from my mouth as goosebumps erupt across my flesh. He notices and begins trailing featherlight kisses down my neck as his free hand rests on the curve of my left hip, right below my rib cage.

“What are you doing?” I ask softly. When I feel the sharp sting of his teeth on my neck, I let out a sound that’s somewhere between a surprised yelp and a moan.

“I said be quiet,” he growls, but answers my questionanyway. “I can sense how tense you are from a hundred yards away. I watched you train earlier, and it’s obvious that the stress you’re shouldering is hindering you. I can feel how hard your heart is pushing the blood through your body right now. I’m going to help you...unwind.”

“Why? Why help meunwind?”I make air quotes with my fingers at his choice of words.

“Because, Princess. Though you seem to forget, we are allies. It’s my responsibility to look after your wellbeing if only to keep you alive.”

“Do you treat all your allies like this?”

“Oh, green looks good on you, my dear.” The smirk in his voice is maddening.

“I’m not jealous, just not sure you understand the definition of ally.”

“I’m perfectly aware of its definition, I just don’t keep many of them. My position would suggest I am everyone’s ally to an extent, but personally I don’t let people that close.”

“Seems like a lonely way to live.”

“Indeed. But I’m not here to discuss semantics with you. I bear news that might upset you.”

“Go on. I’m sure I’ll love this.”

“Prince Ayden is nearly at the capital. All reports suggest he will arrive tomorrow.”

My skyrocketing heart rate suggests Aurelius knows my body’s reactions better than I do.

“Tomorrow?” I stammer. “That would mean he was...”

“Either close by or expecting the invitation. Either option is not something I want to ponder.”

Annoyed with this entire conversation, I roll my eyes and start to pull away from him. Before I get too far, I feel his hand tighten on my side as he pulls me firmly back into his chest. His right hand slides back down and slips in the front of my leathers. I nearly sigh in relief as his fingers slide between my thighs andcircle my clit. He moves his left hand up, threading his fingers into my hair, and pulls. My head is forced to the side to meet his lips as they crash into mine.

His kiss is unrelenting. There is no question or request; he demands entrance into my mouth. His tongue dances with mine, and he swallows my moans as his tempo on my clit increases.

I grind my hips back into his hard length, the friction not nearly enough for me as his fingers move to my entrance. My teeth dig into his bottom lip when he slides a finger inside me. The pain only serves to increase his desire and he adds a second finger, pumping in and out of me in long, fluid movements.

He groans deeply and grinds his hard cock into my ass, meeting my thrusts while increasing the pace of his fingers. My body sings for him in a way I’ve never experienced before. It’s like he knows me better than I do myself, and he plays it beautifully.

My inner walls clench, desperate for something more than just his fingers. I reach for my shadows, deciding I’ve had enough foreplay. The tendrils of darkness wrap around the hand he has tangled in my hair and pulls it back. Had he not been knuckle deep in me, I doubt I would have been able to catch him off guard for that to work.

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