Page 136 of Lady of Shadows

“I did have basic anatomy in my lessons, Love,” he laughed. “But Talwyn wasn’t lying. I did help raise her in many ways. You learn things, even if you do not want to, when you are put in that situation.”

“That’s weird,” she muttered again.

He felt her finger begin tracing his Marks once more, and he didn’t think this would ever get old. These completely normal moments with her in his bed speaking of random things. When he wasn’t a prince and she wasn’t a queen, and they were just…together.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, drawing his attention back to her.

“That you are perfect. This is perfect,” he answered softly.

He felt her hook her finger under his chin and pull his mouth up to her own. He scented her desire a moment later. He was about to appease her once more when he felt a slight tug on his mind.Inwardly, he groaned.

Scarlett’s eyes snapped wide open. “What was that?”

He shouldn’t have been surprised she felt it, too. Their twin flame bond was almost completed, but that she had felt the tug still caught him off guard. “Your cousin summons me,” he answered grimly.

“Talwyn? Why?”

“I would venture to guess it has something to do with our little discussion with Azrael earlier,” he muttered.

“But you do not have to go, right?”

“Technically no, but…” he trailed off.

“But you want to go?” she said with a small smile, angling her head. She kept it off her face, but he felt the small hurt down their bond.

“My Love, what Iwantto do is stay here for the next week and fuck you in every room and on every surface of this house,” he purred, bringing her eyes back to his.

“Then what is stopping you?” she crooned back, her hand sliding down his chest, down his abdomen.

At the same moment, a flame appeared near his head. She paused her descent as he reached up and plucked the note from the fire message, skimming it quickly. “According to Cyrus, she sent word she will be at the Fiera Palace at dawn.” Then he added, “She tends to throw quite the fit when she does not get what she wants.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes, grumbling, “It seems to be a Fae trait.”

“You do know you are Fae, my Love, do you not?” he asked in amusement.

“I know, but I wasn’traisedFae. It’s different. I learned to use my words when I am upset.”

“You learned to use daggers and violence,” he said pointedly.

“Semantics,” she replied with a fiendish gleam in her eyes, rolling onto her side to face him. Her bare breasts rubbed against his chest as she gave him an enticing smile.

“Your wickedness,” he ground out, “rivals the Witches, Princess.”

She laughed, low and seductive. “Stay, and I will show you just how wicked I can be.” But then, “Are you serious?” She flopped back onto her pillow.

A mass of snowflakes had appeared near Sorin’s head now, and he winced slightly. “I tried to warn you.” He reached up and pulled a note from the flurries, this one from Briar. Apparently, Talwyn had summoned him as well. Of course, he didn’t know Scarlett had claimed their Courts, and thus their allegiance was now to her. He sighed. “May I make a proposal?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You always have a choice,” he answered gently. He leaned down and brushed a featherlight kiss to her lips. “Let’s go homeand,” he continued over her groan, “let’s find Beatrix, have her sanctify a marriage, and see what Talwyn has to say. Then we can spend the next few days here, all by ourselves.”

She seemed to consider, then said, “The next week. I rather like your earlier idea.”

“Deal, Princess,” he replied, leaning in to kiss her again. Then he slid from the bed before he, or she, could take things any further. “Get ready, Love,” he said over the protesting curses she was muttering under her breath. As he said it, the tub near the window began to fill with steaming water.

Scarlett sat up while he walked around the end of the bed. “Get ready here? All I have is that red dress. I have no idea what you did with my witch-clothes.”

He took her in, sitting naked amongst the mess of sheets and goosefeather down comforter. It took all of his self-control not to get right back in that bed with her. “Check the armoire,” he said, sliding on his pants and walking to the bedroom door.

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