Page 40 of The Pastel Prince

“The coin shall be sent via the king’s treasury. Now, I ask that you all…do I know you, pixie?”

“Fuck,” Tezen whispered and released my braid to stand tall on my shoulder. “Yes, I think you do know me, Grand Advisor. I am Lady Tezen Plumwax of the Royal Court of Pixies. My father is King—”

“I see your father in you, young princess. We thank you for your aid in this elven unpleasantness. Please pass along our well wishes to your sire when you return to his court,” Umeris said in such a courtly manner I had felt the need to bow to someone. “Now, I wish to finish my paperwork and rest. Please go wash. You all reek of horse and death. The feast will begin when the bells of the kitchen ring out at dusk. I suggest you all wear clothing befitting a hero of the vills, which means no robes with bird droppings on them, Kenton.”

“Yes, of course, Grand Advisor,” I said, easing back out of the solarium before he could dig into me for some other fashion grievance. A pretty maid, slim with long delicate ears and her dark hair cut to her shoulders wearing the plain black robes that the staff wore, curtsied to us when we left the solarium.

“Greetings, I’m Kinda, and I am to show you to your suites. Please, if you would come with me?”

We followed along, the others chattering away as we climbed onto the third floor of the keep. Kinda led us to a bright yellow room with sheer curtains and a bed that could sleep four yeti, then motioned Tezen to enter.

“This is your room, Lady Tezen. Hot water for a bath is on its way as per the grand advisor’s request. If, after your nap, you need help dressing, please pull the cord in the corner for assistance.”

Tezen flew inside just a bit, hovered, and looked back at Beirach and me in the hallway.

“I didn’t pack for a hero’s fete,” she confessed, then went a bit pink in the cheeks. “You think that old elf with the tight pucker will mind if I show up in my old breeches and a corset?”

“We’ll find something for you, Lady Tezen,” Kinda assured her before closing the door on a very dour looking princess of the pixie realm.

Kinda then hustled off. She led us to a suite on the western side of the keep. This area was set aside for dignitaries and heads of vills when they visited. The huge room done in dark woods with forest green bedding, rich gold throw pillows on the bed as well as two long lounges before a patio, and lush tapestries on the walls. A large dark armoire stood in the corner, a desk in front of the open doors leading to the patio, and a bath filled with steaming water behind a screen imported from the Black Sand Isles.

“You are to rest and bathe here, Elder Dreyath and Prince Kenton,” she explained, backing out of the room after a nod of her dark head. She rushed off, probably to finish some chores to ensure the feast hall was set up for the feast.

“You did not correct her when she called you prince,” Beirach pointed out as he dropped his saddlebags to the floor. “Do you finally embrace your lineage?”

I shrugged, my mind on other things. “Titles are important only to those who deem them so. What I am more confused over is why I am to rest here and not in my room in the tower. Surely they do not know that we are lovers.”

“I should beg to differ. For all it would take would be a glance when I am looking at you to see my love and longing for you.”

I felt a subtle heat touch my cheeks. “Ah, well, perhaps. Tezen is always teasing us about how we drool over each other.”

“That she is. Someday that scamp will find a young lad or lass and lose her heart. Then she will see how hard it is to notlook upon the one you adore in a besotted way.” I chuckled softly at the thought of such an esteemed archdruid feeling besotted. “If you do not wish to bathe and rest with me, then please do not feel pressured to do so.”

I turned from the view out over the garden to find him staring at me. His whiskers had grown in thickly other than for the white scar on his chin. His hair was wind-whipped, his clothing covered with road dirt. I had never seen him look more appealing other than that eve spent in the hot springs.

“I wish nothing more than to wash your back then lie with you,” I softly answered, suddenly unsure of where we stood in this wobbly relationship. “If you would rather, I will gladly go to the tower to—”

“Come to me, Kenton,” he whispered, opening his arms wide. I ran to him, eager as a young pup, and threw myself into his embrace. His mouth settled on mine, the taste of him as he slid his tongue into my mouth beyond joyous. We’d had little time for each other on the ride home. And even if we had found a moment of solitude, his grief over his son was something I did not wish to intrude on with sexual demands. “Your lips are like the dewdrops on the primrose plant, sweetened by nature to draw the hungriest to sip from its petals,” he whispered when the kiss broke.

I clung to him like that tenacious vine in the solarium had my hand. “I longed to taste you on the way home, but it seemed unsightly to ask for your love when you are mourning.”

He slid his hands up under my ass, hoisting me off the ground. My legs wrapped around his waist as I plunged my fingers into his gritty hair.

“I have found that while in the darkness of grieving, the heart needs equal amounts of sunlight. You, my beloved, are my sun. You balance me with your genteel smile, soft laugh, and love of all things wild and free.” He kissed me again, gentler butno less arousing. My prick grew stiff in my trousers. I felt his cock thickening as the kiss grew longer and wetter. “You are the light that was missing from my life.”

“Shall we bathe?” I asked, breathless and hard, eager to peel him from his clothes and gaze upon his masculine beauty. “I would have you wash my hair.”

“And braid it when it is dried and lustrous?”

“Yes. Please braid my hair.”

His hold on me slackened just enough that my boots touched the gray stone floor. His hands lingered on my ass, kneading, working the orbs in such a way that made me grind against him, seeking release already.

“I’m too eager,” I panted, nipping along his whiskery jaw and running my tongue over his scar. “I need to learn restraint as you show, but when you are holding me so close…I cannot stop the urges that overtake me.”

“Mm, my sweet Kenton, never curb your desires. That you want me so deeply fires me like nothing else. Here, turn. Let me work on your braids.”

The last thing I wanted to do was leave his arms, but I slowly spun around, but not before I shed all my clothes. I moved around the screen, opening it wider, to stand by the huge tub filled with scented water. Pink water lily petals had been sprinkled over the surface.

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