Page 152 of Bound to the Shadow Prince

“I never imagined we’d come to Darkfell,” he tells me, one arm locking around my waist and the other skimming up my throat in a possessive gesture. His hips twitch under the water, pushing him deeper into me, and I suck in a breath. “I thought that when we left the tower, I would follow you. I’d follow you anywhere. You know that, don’t you, Candra?”

I whimper, because his cock is swelling inside me, his words a teasing whisper against my ear.

“My plan was always to return with you. To be yours.”

Is that what he’s worried about? I know Nemeth is a plotter. I know he likes to have everything thought out and figured in advance. “This isn’t your fault,” I breathe, biting my lip when he shudders and I feel every bit of it. “Fuck the plans. We’ll make new ones.”

“Just…never lose faith in me, Candra. Everything I do is for you. For us.” His arms harden around me, that hand gripping my throat just tight enough that I feel the prick of claws. It sends a shiver of arousal down my spine. Nemeth lets out a ragged breath that sounds curiously close to a sob. “I thought I’d lost you yesterday. I thought I lost you and there was nothing left for me…”

I reach behind me, caressing his jaw. “You’re stuck with me, I’m afraid.”

And I wriggle against his cock in a very deliberate manner. He doesn’t need to dwell on the past, I decide. For now, we think of the future. And when he bends me over the edge of the tub again, his hand on my clit, I can’t think of anything at all.

I wakeup some time later, my hair dry, my body clean, and I’m alone in the bed in Nemeth’s chambers. Yawning, I sit up and eye the statue sitting in the center of the teleportation circle. There’s a note on the bed, too, and I squint at it, sounding out the words because I really am shite at reading.

Have gone to speak to my brother. Stay here. There is a food tray in the antechamber. I will return soon.

Hmm.

I move around Nemeth’s home, eyeballing his belongings. It’s strange, because this place is absolutely not built for humans. The bed is large and circular and low, designed for wings and thick legs that bend backward. There’s a lavatory on this floor, along with the bathing pool, but other than that, I can go nowhere. I pick up a mushroom from the tray and eat it like a piece of fruit, moving to the ledge and eyeing the spread of rooms below. I know he spent most of his life at the Alabaster Citadel, preparing for a life inside the tower. Did he come home often? Was this a refuge for him or just another prison?

More than that, is he glad to be back?

I wander around his quarters for a bit longer, then dig into the tray. There’s a bitter cheese and some bread, and a handful of nuts, along with more mushrooms. I eat everything and avoid the wine carafe, drinking water instead. When Nemeth doesn’t return, I yawn and retreat back into the bed.

Nemeth must be meeting with his brothers. He’s rarely ever mentioned them to me. While I’d bring up Erynne regularly, he never talked of his family. At first I thought it was because he was deliberately hiding information from me, but I think he’s just not close to them. After all, I rarely speak of Meryliese.

Still, I hope they are being kind to him. I hope they don’t rage at him for leaving the tower.

I wish I was there. Nemeth is too polite, too kind. I’d let his brothers know what I truly think of them and the fact that they left us to starve in the tower.

Perhaps that’s why I’m here alone while he’s visiting them.

I doze throughout the afternoon, only to awaken again to a large body sliding into the bed next to me. I roll over to my side, and Nemeth tucks me against him, spooning my smaller form against him. He holds me tight for a long moment, then sighs heavily.

“It went that well, hmm?” I ask, tucking my arms against his.

“My brothers can be very stubborn.”

Not surprising, given that one is the king. “What did you talk about?”

He hesitates, then presses his mouth against the back of my head, breathing in my scent. “They were surprised I left the tower. They said they sent a delegation with food but they must not have made it.”

“Dragon shite,” I mutter, rolling over to look at him. “Do you buy that?”

He thinks for a moment. “No.”

I study his face. He seems as if he’s aged in the last day. Nemeth’s expression is worn and tired, as if the weight of the world is suddenly upon his shoulders. For what feels like the millionth time, I wish we were back in our tower, alone and oblivious to the world outside. “Did you tell them that I’m here with you?”

Nemeth’s mouth twists slightly. “I did. They do not believe you’re my mate. A Fellian should never marry one of our ancient enemies.” His voice is bitter. “They called me a fool and said I was lying.”

I sit up and take his hand in mine, turning over his palm to display the bite mark tattooed there. “They said this was a lie?”

“They said it didn’t count.”

“Did you tell them about the baby?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t want to tell them any more than I have to. I don’t trust them, Candra. I know they’re my brothers and I know we must try to get along so we have a safe place, but I just want to grab our things and leave this place.” His expression is hard. “Tonight.”

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