“Right … to an extent. Three thousand years is a long time for people to breed, even for fae lifespans. You can’t be too far removed from Prince Borromeo’s bloodline for Azariah to think you’re a royal.”
“And I can’t be this Odelia’s daughter…”
“Because she died long before you were born.”
“Right. What about the other three sisters? Where are they?”
“I don’t know. Probably hiding from the queen, if they’re smart. But it doesn’t have to be that close to the original elven bloodline. It could be a cousin, maybe even a second cousin, that kind of thing. But I’m not sure. It’s why I need Azariah.”
I clenched my teeth. “Or for the king to tell me who my mother is already.”
“Or that.” Rush once more looked at me, his gaze dropping to my breasts.
“See something you like?” I asked to lighten the somber tone of our conversation.
Instantly he grinned, reminding me of a dragonling anticipating mischief. “I see something incredibly delicious. Two somethings actually…”
“We can be done talking,” I offered, long before I thought I’d be finished getting answers to my endless questions. But if Rush was one thing, he was tempting.
He dragged his teeth across his plump bottom lip and my core pulsed. Now that I knew exactly what he could do for me—to me—all that he could make me feel, I was greedy for more—so much more.
“By a dragon’s veins, I’d love that so fucking much.” With effort, he dragged his stare up to my face. “But I’m going to go check on things.”
“What? Now?”
“Now. I take unease seriously.”
“Why?” I was whining, I realized, and hastened to adjust my tone; I didn’t want to appear as desperate as I suddenly felt at losing something I’d never truly had in the first place. “I’m uneasyall the time. I’m living in a palace as aprisonerof a queen who wants to murder me and everyone I care about.” I laughed nervously. “Of course I’m uneasy.”
“It feels like more to me.”
“Why?”
“Because I feel it too.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m feeling … somehow … different. And what I can’t understand, I don’t like, not at court.”
He pulled back the sheets, revealing that gloriously bejeweled wand.
I could feel myself pouting, and reined in my disappointment while my gaze raked across his manhood, semi-erect despite his plans to go elsewhere.
“What if tonight’s really all we get?” I asked.
“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that’s not the case.”
“How?” I asked yet again.
“I don’t know. But that won’t stop me from trying.” He leaned down and kissed me as if he were staying, as if the night were still long and all ours.
His tongue tangled with mine, and he clasped onto my lip with his teeth and tugged.
I groaned and looked at his wand—fully erect now.
“Stay,” I breathed.
“First and foremost, I have to keep you safe. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”