Page 16 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

It was her. I knew it; deep in my bones, I knew it. After all these years, I would get the chance to be near her. Nothing would stop me.

A woman with blonde curls bumped into me in the hallway, and I apologized with the intent to move on swiftly before the color of her dress made me pause. Palegreen and yellow. The giggling fae that had been all over my nephew earlier. The one he’d left with not long ago.

Creeping dread inched its way over my skin and sunk into my stomach, filling my mind with visions that enraged me.

Here she was, returning to the party, far too soon.

Alone.

Damon was nowhere in sight.

That meant one thing.

Not for the first time, I wondered what would happen if the king of Faerie killed his successor.

Tonight, the kingdom might learn the answer.

Chapter 6

Meera

Prince Damon tasted like wine and bad life choices. I knew the taste all too well.

Basically like every ex-boyfriend ever, except this guy was a damn good kisser. I’d never had to seduce someone. I wasn’t even good at flirting. I had quite literally tripped and fallen at the prince’s feet. Not exactly a sexy and enticing maneuver. This lifestyle wasn’t for me. I was far better off sneaking around and finding artifacts.

Tilting my head to the side, I bit down on Damon’s lower lip. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, clutching my bag in one hand. My fingers fumbled with the opening, trying to get the magical handcuffs out while pushing him toward the bed. Damon let out a low chuckle and moved back to unclasp the collar of his shirt.

“Impatient much?” he said with a grin.

“You could say that.”Impatient to get out of here.

“Slow it down,” he said, grazing his thumb down my cheek before he held my chin and tilted my head up so he could look at me. “We have all night. Let metake care of you.”

Said no man I’d ever been with.I could see why women found him so charming. He was still a pig, but if he was looking to give out pleasure and not just receive it, that was an appealing quality.

“Take care of me?” I let him move my body, giving him access to trail his lips up my neck. “That’s generous for a no-strings attached one-night stand.”

He pulled back, and I tensed, fearing I’d said the wrong thing. My poor attempt at flirting might have just cost me my edge. Right now, he was putty in my hands, and I didn’t have to use magic.

“No-strings attached?” he asked. “Not out for a favor or to gain status in the court?”

“Do you sweet talk all the girls this way?” He shrugged playfully, and I fiddled with the collar of his shirt, gripping it tightly as I looked him in the eye. “No favors, and I don’t care about status.”

“Guess there’s a first time for everything,” he mused, pulling me against him as his hand moved to my face. His five o’clock shadow brushed my chin, tickling skin as he pressed his lips to mine, then moved down the column of my throat.

“We have all night?” I asked, trying to use my most playful and seductive voice. He hummed the confirmation as he kissed my neck. “If that’s the case, how adventurous are you?”

He chuckled against my skin, sending goosebumps over my arms. His husky voice taunted me, and my heart began to race. “What’d you have in mind?”

I took a chance. If I could do this the easy way, I’d be in bed with my book by ten. Pulling the handcuffs from my clutch, I held them up, dangling and swinging them lightlywhile I raised my brows in question. He smiled wickedly in return.

“I’m all yours,” he said, his voice darkening as he backed up a few steps until the back of his legs hit the edge of the bed and he began unbuttoning his shirt further.

“Yes, you are.” I followed and leaned in to kiss him, smacking the cuff against his wrist hard, hearing it click as it rounded over and caught the other side.

The bedroom door flew open and cracked against the wall with such an intense urgency, both Damon and I startled. He accidentally bit my bottom lip, and I gasped. My clutch had fallen to the floor. Red lipstick smeared over the prince’s lips.

“Uncle?” he said, both pissed off and alarmed.

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