Page 88 of Bride of the Fae Prince

Warmth envelops me from behind as an arm slides around my waist and pulls me against a broad chest with a low, quiet groan. My breath catches.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” he whispers, nuzzling his face into my neck. “But I’m glad you did.”

I can’t breathe. I won’t ever breathe again.

He presses a soft kiss to my hair. Then he leans back, resting his head on the pillow next to mine, and lets out a long sigh. Hisarm around my waist relaxes, but doesn’t leave. It’s only a few minutes before his breathing evens out again. This is different from our wedding night. He’s actually asleep this time.

Getting poisoned must have taken a lot out of him.

It takes nearly an hour, but eventually my own heartrate slows down. My fear leaks away, and I relax into Ash’s arms. It’s such a new sensation, but I think . . .

I think I can get used to this. To the warmth and strength of his body, the gentleness of his touch.

I think I like this.

I think I likehim.

As I drift off to sleep, I snuggle a little closer to him. When his arm tightens in response, and his warm breath stirs my hair in a sigh, I let the butterflies in my stomach sing me to sleep.

It’s much colder whenI wake. Which is strange, because the second thing I notice after the irrepressible chill seeping into my bones is the fact that Ash’s body is still wrapped around mine. I shiver, trying to scoot closer to him, but my limbs are stiff as lead.

A pair of lips press light kisses to my hair and ear as I stir.

“You’re awake,” a deep voice rumbles between kisses. “Why do you shiver, little darling?”

My throat is painfully dry. I lick my lips, find them equally dry. My brow puckers.

“Maybe we should stay here all day,” Ash murmurs, his hand beginning to draw slow circles on my waist. “I could pretend I still feel horrible, and you can say you’re tired. We can abandon this whole prince and princess thing and just . . . be together.”

Staying here sounds nice. Maybe he can find another blanket and keep holding me. I’m just sotired.

He gently pulls my hair back from my neck and leans to press his lips against my cheek. He freezes. Pulls back. I mourn the loss of his warmth.

“Stella?” he breathes, sitting upright.

I wish I could answer him! My tongue cannot form words, and when I peel open my eyes, everything blurs in my vision. He lays a hand over my forehead, and I drink in his warmth, shivering as my teeth chatter.

“Your skin is cold as ice!”

All of me is cold as ice. Why is he so surprised? Why does he sound scared?

The bed shifts as Ash flings aside the covers and throws his feet over the edge of the bed, standing and almostrunningto my side. His bare feet slap against the floor. The loss of his warmth almost makes me too cold to think. It’s like my body is slowly freezing over, starting from inside and moving outward.

More blankets land on top of me, and then a sudden wave of heat rolls through me, but it’s not enough to make me stop shivering.

“What is wrong, Stella? I can’t even warm you with magic!Edvear!”

Only a minute later, the door opens. The blurry outline of Ash’s head whips up.

“Edvear! Get a doctor here immediately! A human doctor! If you have to smuggle him across the border, then do so! Something’s wrong with her.”

My awareness tunnels until the surrounding voices are lost to the cold.

Chapter 31

The Prince

“Poison?” asks Edvear, hiseyes going wide with alarm.

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