Page 46 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash

"If you ever speak of Lady Alora again, or bring up your wretch of an offspring, you will find yourself at the wrong end of my sword." Oryn let Yrenez go, the older male crumbling to the ground, holding a hand to his own throat and struggling to stumble away. His hunched over body disappeared into the crowd. Ryn faced the attendees, all in a trance of shock, "For anyone else who believes the gods are wrong, they are not. Lady Alora is my gods given mate." Soft cries of shock rumbled through the crowd. "She is the only one my heart and my throne will ever belong to. Anyone who turns a sharp tongue or blade against her is considered to have made that statement about the crown itself and will be punished, severely." His stare was like a shard of ice as he looked deep into the nervous souls of his gathered people. Some seemed to shift their stance, many looked down to the floor, very few were bold enough to meet his unyielding gaze.

His ferocity sent a thrill through me, and I found myself following that dull buzz, that golden thread humming between us, drawing me to his side. My hand found its way to his chest, almost of its own accord. It's like he finally took a breath and began to relax under my touch, his arm wrapping around me protectively.

The king rose from his throne and cleared his throat, "We are honored to have such a blessed union tomorrow," he raised his almost overflowing goblet of wine towards us, "To the future of Sunneva."

"Sun blessed," the crowd answered.

Oryn leaned by my ear, the warmth of his breath tickling the side of my face, "Ready to get out of here, Love?"

I nodded, letting him take his hand in mine and lead us out of the throng of drunken fae. My gaze swept the crowd, catalogingpotential threats. It's clear many of them would rather see a blade in my heart than a crown on my head. A shiver ran down my spine as I caught several pairs of eyes glaring daggers at my back.

Chapter 33

The crown prince's chambers were more opulent than mine. As expected for the heir to the throne. Warm wooden floors flowed throughout the suite, with an intimate sitting area near the entrance. Two chairs and a sofa the color of summer skies sat before a stone fireplace. A wooden archway led to his bedchamber.

"Wine, Love?" he asked as I mapped the quarters in my mind. Two exits—the door we entered and the balcony doors near his four-poster bed. A resplendent golden sun spread across his ceiling.

"I'd love some." Instead of taking one of the azure chairs, I explored his room, where he didn't have gold accents, he had that same blue. The decorator had clearly favored a theme. I stopped at a large oak desk, adorned with another sun motif. Parchment lay in neat piles near a quill. I perched upon its edge as he approached with the promised beverage. He seemed distracted, his mind anywhere but here with me. It hurt a bit; despite my plans to leave, I had glowed internally in the ballroom. This male had denounced any possibility of wanting another. He had chosen me above all when every single one of those nobles thought I wasn't worthy. They knew I wasn'tworthy. The irony stung—their disdain only matched by my own self-doubt, even as their prince claimed me as his.

Oryn sighed as he placed his hands on either side of my thighs on the hard desk and placed his head on my shoulder. I brushed a loose strand of his golden mane off his face, releasing a subtle citrus scent into the air, mingling with the warmth of his skin and the lingering spice of wine on his breath.

"Where are you right now?"

He lifted his head, raking his fingers through his hair. "Those nobles are ruthless. We need to increase your security detail." Magnus and the soldier rotations might not be enough to dissuade them from making an attempt on your life." His finger gently traced my jawline, lifting my eyes up to his. "I'm sorry they marred our engagement party with their pettiness. No woman, fae or human, could ever compare to you. I'd rather give up my throne, my crown, my life than spend it without you, my mate." His voice trembled with raw emotion, his eyes blazing with fierce devotion as he pressed his forehead to mine, his breath mingling with my own.

His words shattered my resolve, my plans of escape dissolving like frost in sunlight. My fingers traced the lines of his sun tattoo, warming beneath my touch.

"I'm not so sure you know who you're chaining yourself to."

His light eyes darkened to stormy seas, desire eclipsing the blue.

"I'm certain you have no idea how sure of this, of you, I am. There'll never be anyone else. Only you."

I silenced him with my lips, and his response was instant. A growl rumbled through his chest.

His hands gripped my waist, lifting me fully onto the desk. Papers scattered to the floor as he stepped between my legs. Our bond flared, desire scorching through my veins. I fisted my hands in his tunic, dragging him down. Our lips met with savagehunger. His hands roamed my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I arched into his touch, wrapping my legs around his waist.

His lips blazed a path down my neck "Gods, I've missed you."

"Then show me." My breathless lips crash upon his once more, desperate for the contact.

He swept me off the desk in one powerful motion. Cool stone pressed against my back as his burning body pinned me to the wall. The intoxicating blend of citrus and sandalwood flooded my senses. Our bond hummed with electricity as his hands traced invisible paths along my body. Not an inch of my skin remained untouched by him.

"Mine," he breathed against my skin. "My mate. My queen."

"Yours," I gasped as his teeth scraped my neck. "Always yours."

His lips found mine again, softer this time but no less passionate. I felt his hard length pressed against my entrance, sliding through my slick heat.

Desperate moans escaped me as I shifted my hips, begging to feel him fill me completely. A dark chuckle rumbled from deep in his chest as his hand wrapped around my throat. He pulled me from the wall and laid me back upon his desk. My thighs spread for him as his hips pinned me to the hard surface. He held me there, captive under his burning gaze while he continued his sweet torture.

"Ryn," I breathed.

His knowing smirk sent fire racing through my veins. Gods, this male would be my undoing. His golden hair caught the firelight like a halo, his muscles rippling beneath sun kissed skin. The deep V of his hips was a temptation made flesh.

"Tell me what you want, Love."

A whine tore from my throat as his touch coiled the tension in my core even tighter.

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