Page 93 of The Blood Crown

"Jealous?" she asked, mouth tipped into a coy smile as she looked up into his handsome face, the strong jaw, his blade of a nose.

"Everyone knows the pretty ones are all talk," he murmured with a seductive curve of his lips. "And you should know by now, Love, that I make good on my word." The sensual caress of his voice sent a lick of fire up her spine as he pulled her closer. The midnight and indigo skirts of her gown sighed, swirling around her as Ven's hand spanned the small of her back, leading her across the floor.

Silver caught her eye where Valea stood at the edge of the room. The female's expression was unreadable as she nursed a glass of Red. Wary looks from the Wraiths beside her seemed to track every minuscule movement she made. But Ven’s half-sister was no fool, she must have felt the thin ice she walked on—choosing to ignore it all the same.

It wasn’t long before a Wraith a head taller than the rest parted the crowd nearby. And it was only then that the veneer of Valea’s cold composure cracked just slightly, carnelian eyes widening as Karro made his way toward her.

Brave, indeed, Aurelia thought, as Karro was waylaid by his fellow Wraiths. Just enough of a distraction that Valea slipped out of the noisy room, cutting through the crowd like a blade. Karro’s eyes trailed down her spine as she left, but unfazed, he extended a hand to a female nearby, her beaming smile enough of an answer that Aurelia laughed to herself as Ven twirled her again.

Green flashed in her periphery as Nira spun Embra around the floor beside them. Her deep plum colored dress swishing around her, waves of emerald hair unbound as she picked up her skirts and linked arms with Seth. Her silvery laugh drowned out every other sound, and Aurelia didn't think she'd ever heard anything more beautiful.

Asher stood off to the side, his copper hair stark against the dark-haired Blood Folk surrounding him. A drink in his hand and a grin on his face—eyes darting to the Wraith and away again as Seth gracefully dipped Embra before passing her back to his twin. But in that moment—her brother looked like hebelongedhere.

Sadness gripped her, unexpected and aching in her chest as she looked at the joy—the peace—surrounding her.

It was not an easy thing that Ven had asked of his people—theirpeople—and yet none of them had flinched from what awaited them.

But that was the way of the Blood Folk and the goddess they served.

They met her with open arms, and they met her with honor.

And their people had not had their fill of blood quite yet, it seemed.

But this—

Thiswas a celebration of life.

Chapter 48

Lips brushed against Aurelia's ear, the soft lavender light of dawn bleeding through the windows.

The festivities had gone late into the night, the ale she'd shared with Karro and her brother resurfacing as a dull pounding in her skull. She wasn't ready to face the morning just yet.

Ven's lips were more insistent at her throat as she tried to burrow deeper into the warmth of his body. but it was clear from the hard length against the curve of her ass that he had no intention of letting her go back to sleep.

She turned toward him, playfully nipping his lower lip with the edge of her fangs, her eyes still heavy in a half-dream state as she reached for him.

“Later,” he purred against her neck. “We have business to attend to today.”

She let out a disgruntled sigh. “You tricked me.”

“I let you sleep as long as I could.” Ven stood up from the bed as Aurelia rolled over onto her stomach, digging further into thewarmth of the covers. “I need to pay a visit to an old friend, and I’d like you to join me. As my queen.”

“So official,” she yawned, cracking an eyelid open and catching the magnificent view of his powerful legs as he walked toward the bathing chamber.

“I’m afraid my motives are far less noble,” he threw over his broad shoulder, a smirk on his face as he caught her staring. “Hathos is much more amenable to a pretty face.”

“You shouldn’t have any trouble then,” she called after him, “so long as you shave.”

She closed her eyes again, letting sleep tug her back under just as footsteps neared the bed.

Ven’s laughter was in her ear as his stubble grated against the skin of her back, pressing kisses into her spine that made her arch in invitation.

Without warning, he ripped the heavy comforter off, the jolt of the chilled air enough to make her hiss as his rumble of laughter filled the room.

And for a moment—just a brief, glorious moment, she nearly forgot the worries that hounded them.

“No time to waste, Love,” Ven drawled, snapping his fingers.

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