Page 46 of House of Mages and Raven

Everything happened for a reason. Barbie had her heart cracked so I could take over and see the daylight. And she needn’t worry about a thing. I’d have a great fucking time for both of us.

“Fuck me harder, sugar Rowan,” I called, and lifted my ass a few inches from his lap to let him drive into me, fast and furious. He fucked me with brutal force, and my cunt milked his length mercilessly.

“My insatiable little monster,” he growled in approval. “No one else but me will fuck this needy, greedy cunt.”

“That has yet to be decided,” I said, loving riling him up and aiming for a more intense rage fuck like a junkie.

His next punishing thrusts sent me to the edge of the cliff. Dark waves of boiling lust dragged me under. Rowan spanked me again, pain and pleasure fusing together.

My fae prince and I fucked wildly the whole night, and I orgasmed so many times that I lost count. Barbie only sank deeper into her slumber. I fed bountifully, and I wasn’t sorry that she’d missed out on all the extra feeding.

I might feel a little sorry for her, but guilt could never take root in someone like me.

While Barbie took a siesta in the mossy darkness, I lived and shone brightly.

19

Sy

Wind danced in my tangled braids and warm light touched my cheeks. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment I felt disoriented, as it was vastly different from waking up within Barbie.

I found myself in bed, a real bed, and I wasn’t alone. I had a male companion. Rowan held me in his arms. I stretched myself against him, snuggling into him, just like I’d pictured a thousand times but never thought I would experience.

I turned my face and gazed up at my princeling to savor this moment. A pale ray of sun filtered through the canopy of ancient trees, kissing his thick lashes. His curvy lips tugged up in a pleased and lazy smile, lust seeping into his silver eyes.

His features were noble, yet he wasn’t the fae king’s true blood. No one knew about his birth secret except his queen mother, him, and me. And Barbie. One word from our mouths, and we would ruin him. But he never needed to worry about us.Even if he ever betrayed me like the chaos prince did to Barbie, I’d still carry his secret to the grave.

I might be morally gray, but I had my own code of honor.

I traced my thumb across his high cheekbones, brushing my claws over his skin carefully. He sucked in a breath. He could appreciate both my roughness and my tenderness.

“Good morning, little monster,” Rowan said softly.

He’d been watching me sleep. He was definitely hooked. I smirked, remembering our wild coupling all night. The feast would last me a week or two, and I could get used to this. I traced his chest with my fingers as he watched me quietly, something on his mind. Something was on my mind too.

I’d been observing the world through Barbie’s eyes and absorbed everything she’d learned. I’d evolved. I was no longer Barbie’s shadow or a wild creature who only cared to feed, fuck, and kill to protect my other half. I’d developed my own full-grown persona, needs, and intelligence.

With all the data and intel available to me, I was able to conclude that it was always more effective to play dirty politics and use others to fight our battles than claw our way out with blunt force.

Ever since Rowan had confided in me about his true heritage, I’d been worrying about him. And when he called me his mate, even though it’d been in the throes of passion, ambition took root and then grew in me.

I held his secret, so I had his best interests at heart.

It wasn’t impossible that one day I could become his queen. All the more reason to secure his position and make him a king. The chaos prince had bailed out of being Barbie’s protector, which gave me more motive to make sure Barbie and I had a safety net in Mist of Cinder.

First things first, we must get rid of Rowan’s fake dad and seat Rowan on the throne. If he wasn’t up to it, I wouldn’tmind getting my hands red. Assassination had always been a hot career, or I could just do it myself to save money. I could eat the current fae king, so no one would even know where he ended up.

I planned to do something spectacular now that my other half was curled up in the corner, eyes closed and handing me the reins. I’d promised her that I wouldn’t usurp her again. I was just stepping up for both of us to secure us a future while she was losing every fight.

“We need to eradicate the imminent threat,” I started, trying to dull the cold, calculating light in my golden eyes.

“What imminent threat?” Rowan asked lazily.

“The king isn’t your blood father,” I said, and he darted his silver eyes around. “Your secret is safe with me, and nothing we say here will be heard by unwanted ears. Underhill is the safest place ever.” Outside our love nest, the shadow beasts howled in confirmation. “You must secure your place on the throne and be the king before your fake dad has a chance to find out that you aren’t his blood. No secrets can be kept forever. Let’s take action before he does, and he will, as he is one of the cruelest rulers in the realm.”

Lurking within Barbie, I’d heard whispers that Rowan had been beaten by his “father” as a child since the king wanted to toughen up his heir. Rowan had barely returned to Kingdom of Fae since he’d come to Shades Academy unless he was summoned. He’d never mentioned the beatings, but he stayed away from his own court.

Picking up gossip and news here and there, I’d learned that none of the heirs, except Cade, had a nice childhood. As heirs, they had to carry heavy burdens and keep their eyes open at all times to watch out for backstabbers and power grabs in their courts.

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