Page 3 of Fae Crown

“Remember, for the contestants, it’ll be about a lot more than wanting to marry me.” His statement was free of the usual confidence I’d earlier mistaken for arrogance. There was ever so much more to Rush than I had guessed when I had opened the door of my new fancy prison chambers to find him standing on the other side—so obviously strong, totally freaking adept, and so fucking beautiful I’d scarcely been able to look away from him since.

“Though they like to put on a show about throwing themselves at me,” he went on, “it’s not really about that. It’s about power and control. Not just for them, but for their families too. Winning the crown of Embermere is a political move, not one of the heart.”

Except for me.

I snorted. “Is that why all those bitches practically hump your leg every chance they get?”

“Yes.”

Once more, I turned in his hold to study his face. “You don’t seriously believe that. They practically pantwhen they see you. They want a good boning as much as they want the position.”

Hearing the words outside of myself, I scowled and turned back around, sinking into him with a jerk that set the water to sloshing a bit.

“No matter whom I have to … ‘bone’”—his distaste wrapped around that one word before he continued—“you have to remember, it will mean nothing. Less than nothing. It’ll be awful. So fucking awful. But at the end of it?—”

“Don’t you dare say it again.”

“—it’ll just be my body.”

I growled. “We’ve been over this. You aren’t going to bed the queen or any of her fucking little simpering ‘ladies’ just ‘cause she crooks her finger and tells you to. No. Damn her, Rush.No.”

“It will only be you in my heart. Always. Forever.”

“I don’t care.” I actually really did. “I forbid you from doing it.”

That was majorly fresh coming from me. I might be tempted to do something justbecausehe—or anyone else, for that matter—forbade me from it.

Mate or not, I had no right to command him like this. I wouldn’t take it back though. I’d already tried the route of reason.

He nuzzled his face beside mine in clear affection, but his voice was resigned, sad. “I’ve told you before, my ferocious little tigress. I haven’t had a true choice for a very long time. I don’t usually get to do what I want. I don’t get to refuseher. Not if I want to protectyou. If it takes me”—an audible gulp—“servicing her to keep you alive, then I’ll do it without complaint.”

When I only breathed heavily through my nostrils, he amended, “It’s what I agreed to when she allowed me to ‘kill’ you instead of her doing it. I gave up myself then … for you.”

My body went rigid in his embrace. “That was all a fucking ruse. You heard her, she knew we were mates all along.”

How? How had she known?

When Rush was silent, I pressed, “Don’t tell me you feel the need to honor your word when she never does.”

Still nothing.

“Rush…”

“No. No, I don’t. Since she isn’t honorable, honor means nothing with her.”

“Exactly. You don’t have to do a thing she says.”

But this time, when he didn’t answer, I knew he’d already decided. He’d do whatever he needed to in order to spare me. Whatever that was, whatever it took. Whatever he had to give up and allow her to destroy within himself.

“Rush,” I said again, this time gentle with empathy.

Eventually, he spoke. “You’d sacrifice yourself for those you care about. Fuck, you already did. You volunteered to let her kill you in the throne room to save your friends and mine, my sister. How’s this any different?”

I heaved a burdened exhale. It wasn’t.

“Just … if she … beckons, I’m coming with you.”

Now it was his body that stiffened. “No, El. I won’t do that to you.”

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