Page 137 of The Ballad of a Bard

“Why’s that?”

He turned towards the crowd that still stood stunned by the doorway. “With Empress Osira Talon gone, and her son following after for the rightful execution of his crimes, there leaves a gap for the throne. If Altivar hadn’t sired a son, then there would be a problem to fill, but luckily for us, he did.”

Crimson’s knees might have buckled had West not been directly behind her, holding her up as if he sensed her shock and awe from what he was insinuating. Her head spun around and around as she began to understand what he was implying.

“No,” She rasped.

“Yes,” He confirmed. “Altivar’s son is none other than Cobalt, which makes him the next in line for the throne of Tazali.”

SixtySeven

“Now,” West mused, striding for her as her back hit the wall, “We’ve got things to discuss.”

“We do?” Crimson’s mouth was dry, extremely dry as he closed their apartment doors behind him. They’d headed back from Altivar’s room, Damien promising to take Cobalt to the healing ward and keep him there while Leysa did an entire examination over him to make sure that there were no issues with his newlesser Sainthood.Even so, Altivar was gone which meant that the curse over that lineage was vanquished for good.

Which meant that they were alone for a good hour or so, if they managed their time well enough. Curse or not, she was more than glad for the time alone.

West had simply jerked his head in silent command towards the hall and began to walk out, signalling for her to follow. She had, mind racing to find whatever reason she could come up with for what he wanted.

“We do,” He nodded. “Now that you’re a full Saint,” He stepped even closer until there was barely any space betweenthem, “And I’ve admitted that I love you.”

“Oh,” She breathed, her lungs restricting as she understood what he was talking about. His toned chest nearly bumped into hers, his legs halting a couple centimetres away.

“Oh, indeed, Heartstrings.” West murmured, stroking her cheek as he came even closer. The air constricted, her body ignited and her mind lost focus on everything but him, but herself, but them. On what he was insinuating, on what they were about to do.

She hoped she was correct otherwise it would be extremely hard to talk her down from that ledge.

Crimson tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, chest heaving as he lowered his head to hers, pausing just above her mouth in a tempting, taunting way that wasn’t fair. She didn’twantto be fair. Not after all the times he’d lured her. Even if unknowingly.

He spoke, his breath caressing her lips. “I need to know if you taste like necta-”

She wasn’t waiting any longer.

Crimson wrapped her arms around his neck and forced him down, smashing his mouth into hers. He groaned and didn’t try to utter another noise, pushing her back against the wall. She grunted but didn’t remove her lips from his as they clashed for control.

Her hands tangled in his soft hair, a length of dark brown spilling over her fingers. It was everything she wanted, everything she needed as he kissed her again, her legs tucking around his thick waist. She could feel the corded muscle there, of hiscenturiesof working his body into a weapon. It was with that strength that he kept her upright, that allowed him to pull them both from the wall and easily walk over to the bed.

He wasn’t going to let her go, clear in the way his massive hands grabbed her backside, holding on for dear life. As if herstint in the cells had terrified him and he was never going to let them be parted again.

She’d scared a Saint.

Crimson may or may not have found miniscule pleasure in that fact.

West kneaded her ass and she whimpered into his mouth, which unleashed him in a primal way. His tongue slipped past the barrier of her swollen lips, licking up the roof of her mouth. She rubbed against his leg, desperate for anything to bring her closer to that shattering that would leave her trembling, shaking in his arms.

He’d stay after, too.

She knew it.

Crimson broke apart for air, and when her eyes fluttered open, she understood why he’d been created as an immortal god. His golden skin was no longer just a shade of light, but a shimmering, incandescent thing that glowed. His eyes held a rich midnight blue, stars exploding with his gaze and it pinned her to the spot as he knelt off the bed.

With a fluid motion, he pulled his cream shirt off, letting it fall aside as he began to mess with his pants. His constellation tattoo glittered with each shift he made, shirking the belt off, followed by his black boots. West didn’t take his focus off of her as he removed each leg, one at a time and left his undershorts on.

They were tight and she could make out every line of his length as it strained against the restrictive fabric. His hair fell into his face, messy from how she’d pulled at it.

“I want you more than you could ever know. And I plan on spending eternity showing you.” West applied pressure to his knee as he climbed overtop of her once more, creating a cage with his body in the bed that they’d spent so many nights in. Somany nights doing nothing but sleeping, when they’d both been wishing for more.

Now, they’d christen it in otherways.

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