Page 74 of Degradation

Darian laughed. “She makes a point.”

“More importantly, I don’t like being excluded, and I know more than Philip. He only saw with his eyes. I didn’t. The warning I’ve felt growing under my skin is related to the queen. I felt it the moment she appeared. I also felt her power. It pulsed around her, but not from within her. At least, nothing significant did. Her power is in the casting crystals she has, which is why I shattered three of them.”

“You what?” Garron asked.

I knew it wasn’t truly a question but an utterance due to shock.

“I was barely in control, Garron. In my mind, doing nothing wasn’t an option. The queen couldn’t touch Pogwid’s power. Neither could Pogwid. Breaking the stones gave Pogwid the power she needed to speak out and make her choice clear.” I fisted my hands in my skirts so they wouldn’t see how angry I still felt. “Death was better than surrendering even an ounce of her power to the queen, and I understand why. The queen carries so much already. The three casting stones I broke are merely a drop in the power she possesses.”

Darian and Daemon exchanged troubled glances.

“It would be wise not to speak of that to the casters we meet,” Garron said.

I scoffed. “Wise? No, it would be a mistake to hide it.”

“Kellen, they?—”

“Won’t join us if they know the true risk?” I finished. “Then we tell them the risk of remaining hidden. The queenknows,Garron. She knows someone powerful is out there because of today. Pogwid’s willingness to sacrifice herself only proved to the queen that powerful adversaries are lurking, waiting for a moment of her weakness. What do you think she will do as a power-hungry ruler who fears being overthrown?”

Garron tiredly rubbed his brow.

“We will impress upon them all the reality of their situation,” I said firmly. “Secrets never unite people.”

“Yet you’re being introduced as Philip’s niece,” Daemon said.

It annoyed me that he was right. “Then we reveal the truth as soon as possible, so long as it doesn’t distract from our goals.”

“Claiming you as our ownisour goal,” Darian said.

“Yes, yes,” I said impatiently. “Once our other goals are met.”

I felt the surge of their collective fear and wanted to stomp my foot. Instead, I turned toward Darian.

“Help me undress.”

He deftly disrobed me within moments and trailed his fingers over my bare shoulders.

“Your shift appears dirty, too,” he said, his voice soft.

I understood their need to distract themselves from the mess I’d made of their return. They didn’t blame me, and I knew blaming myself would change nothing. So, instead, I gave myself over to what they needed.

Me.

“I believe you’re correct,” I said.

Daemon swept the shift over my head from behind me. His lips pressed against the back of my neck as Darian dropped to his knees in front of me. The tender way he kissed me below the navel brought a pang to my chest.

Reaching back, I tangled my fingers in the hair at the nape of Daemon’s neck while also running my fingers through Darian’s hair as his sweet kisses trailed lower. Darian’s hand teased the skin behind my knees a moment before he gripped one and lifted it over his shoulder.

My head lolled to the side, giving Daemon access as he nibbled my skin. Their desire wove a spell of its own on me. I forgot everything and simply felt them. Their need for me. To love me. To care for me. To hold me and make me their own.

Darian’s tongue toyed with me until I shook.

“The bed,” he said against me.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

I groanedat the vibration of his words and barely noticed Daemon’s arms wrapping around me until he plucked me away from Darian’s kiss. A whine escaped me, and Daemon chuckled.

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