Page 77 of A Kingdom of Destruction

“You know you don’t have to choose between us,” he said, his tone casual but his eyes watching her carefully.

Aven’s mind wandered. She knew fae nobility had different rules—sharing partners wasn’t taboo like in her kingdoms. She could technically marry both brothers, and the thought made her skin flush. For a brief, wild moment, she imagined them both, Cillian’s cool touch, Roran’s burning fingers, their contrasting energies creating something… overwhelming.

Her breath hitched.

She had thought about it, briefly.

But no, it was ridiculous. Cillian was like water—cool, calculated, gentle. Roran was fire—intense, unpredictable, dangerous. To expect them to share her would be more than selfish. It would dishonor them both.

“I want it this way,” she said, her voice steady. Final.

Cillian’s smile told her he’d seen right through her—every hesitation, every unspoken thought—but his eyes fixed on her face, rounded with something very close to relief. “I’m glad to hear it. Now please sit, and let’s have breakfast together before we discuss this further.”

Discuss it, rationally, like some kind of business deal. Laughter lifted her spirits and disappeared before she voiced it out loud. Itwasa business deal.

Her heart raced in her chest, and she willed it to slow down before it made her lightheaded. Especially when Cillian stood again without waiting for her to do as he’d asked. Without waiting for anything before he swooped her into his arms and spun her in a circle.

A breathless chuckle eventually escaped before he set her down on her feet.

“Do you have any idea how happy you’ve made me?”

“I’m not sure why you would be happy,” she countered.

Cillian grabbed her hands and stroked his fingertips across her knuckles. First, he lifted her right palm to his mouth to press his lips to her skin. Heat caressed through her from the touch heading straight between her legs. Maintaining eye contact, Cillian brought her other hand to his mouth to kiss it as well, slowly, tenderly.

Her heart pounded for an entirely different reason.

He was strong, his lips soft and smooth. Aven glanced down at the hands he held to get herself under control. Her breathing got shallow, her skin tight and hot, the longer he held her. Especially when Cillian’s tongue darted out to wet his lips. Something contracted in her lower abdomen, and when he tugged her against his chest, she did not hesitate. Not when the heat shifted from him into her, and back again.

Everywhere their bodies touched went sultry and tingled.

This time when he kissed her, he kept the contact light and exploratory, pulling back to check her reaction. When he found no hesitation, he shifted his head and deepened the touch. Kissing her passionately, reverently.

Her arms lifted to wind automatically around his neck as he pulled her closer still, crushing her to him. His palms splayed across her lower back and gripped her hips. They might have let the touch go on forever. She twined her fingers through his hair and crushed those silken strands until Cillian groaned.

The sound was music to her ears.

No one had kissed her this way. Not any of the farmer boys she’d tugged to her to experiment. None of the soldiers who thought it might be a challenge to tame her. None of them sparked this deep exhilaration to life in her.

Cillian broke the kiss too soon, his hand solid against her back. “It’s going to be a very busy day.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is cause for celebration! We need to make sure preparations are in order.”

She allowed him to take her hand again and pull her out of the parlor through the rest of the palace. “This isn’t an actual engagement,” she reminded him. Her lips felt bruised in the most delicious way.

He appeared too thrilled to pay anything but half a mind to her protestations. “We should have a parade.”

Aven wasn’t sure if he said it to her or to himself.

“Oh, yes, a parade is definitely in order. It’s been too long since our kingdom had such a cause to come together this way. We need to show you off!” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “This next step toward ending the war deserves a production to assure the people they have a reason to hope. Allow me to do this, please.”

“I don’t think I’d be able to stop you,” she said with a chuckle.

Cillian tucked her under his arm while he called for several of the fae in the palace who would be responsible for seeing his will done. She watched him plan the parade in near silence, staring up at this man she felt like she was only beginning to get to know.

He took every opportunity to touch her, going so far as to place numerous kisses on top of her head.

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