Page 38 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

I love you, Lira,he connected, his hands and mouth working my body.Always and forever.

You’re my everything now,I replied. The pleasure heightened between us, and our emotions mingled. I continued,We’re each other’s. No matter what it takes. Promise me.

The corners of his lips turned upward as he kissed me harder.I promise. You’re never getting rid of me, sprite.

Our orgasms slammed through us, and I clung to him as our bodies rode out the pleasure and our souls connected. A sense of peace filled us as we felt complete once more.

Maybe this time hadn’t been slow and romantic, but it’d been raw and exactly what we needed after our cruel separation and the challenge to our relationship. After a few minutes, our bodies calmed down, but I refused to move, needing one more moment.

He kissed me tenderly, pressing our sweaty foreheads together.

I never realized I wouldn’t hate being a prisoner the entire time,he teased.

I rolled my eyes, but the corners of my mouth tipped upward.I’d still prefer to be in your bedroom so we could do this more than once and stay in each other’s arms the entire night.The thought of leaving him to return to my room made my heart bitter. No one should keep us apart.

It’s our bedroom. Not mine. Not anymore. Everything that belongs to me is yours, including the crown.Warmth exploded through our bond from the magnitude of his love for me.And we’re getting out of here soon, which is why you need to return to your room even though it’s the last thing in Ardanos I want.But getting out of here and determining a way that you’ll never be taken from me again is more of a priority.

Right. If I got caught tonight, it would make our escape harder, which would prolong this problem, and Father would take out his frustration on Tavish.Fine, but I need to know if they hurt you like that again. I need to be able to trust you, or I’ll lose my mind.

He sighed and nodded.I’ll tell you. I wasn’t trying to trick you. I didn’t want to risk you doing something foolish, though…He kissed my lips.I really enjoyed your visit, and it was something we both clearly needed.

My heart shattered at the thought of walking back to my room. But I’d already risked staying here too long.

I’ll be fine, and we can talk throughout the day tomorrow.He brushed a finger along my cheek.And I get to smell you as I sleep.

Footsteps sounded outside the room a little ways away, and I stood quickly. Tavish lifted his bottom, pulling up his pants, and I snagged my thin jacket with his bloodstains from the ground.

Go.Hurry,he replied, his eyes darkening with concern.

Hurrying on my tiptoes, I was thankfulI’d forgotten to close the door. It would have taken a moment to open it. I darted into the passage. Tavish and I locked gazes right before the door shut completely, and then another one opened.

Sweat beaded on my brow, but it wasn’t from sex this time. I’d almost gotten caught, and somehow, I’d escaped in the nick of time.

I grabbed the lantern I’d left behind when I’d opened the door and hurried back to my room. Still, I worried what the late-night visit meant for him.

Is everything okay?I connected, trying to prevent my legs from spinning around and racing back to him.

Finnian. They brought him back.Tavish didn’t sound happy.He’s hurt, but don’t come back. He’ll be fine. No one but the two of us should know about your healing magic. Not even my trusted friend. I suspect the guards will be watching us more closely now that we’re together.

Mouth drying, I wanted to march to my parents’ bedroom and tell them everything they were doing wrong. I despised the way they were treating Tavish and Finnian, but that was the crux of the problem. They didn’t want me to care about those things, so it’d only make them unhappy with me.

I made it back to my bedroom and was relieved that it appeared like no one had tried to check on me. I washed my jacket, not wanting evidence of Tavish’s black blood on my clothes. The water here washed it out, proving it had to be magic.

After that, I crawled into my bed. The place that had once comforted me made me feel like a prisoner in my own world. I lay on several fluffy pillows and closed my eyes, picturing Tavish. He was the one thing that made sense in this completely foreign world.

A knock on my door had my eyes popping open. I expected to find Tavish next to me in the bed with Nightbane at my feet, but reality swooped in.

I was in Seelie lands, and my beastly friend wasn’t here.

God, how I missed my animal companion.

“Princess Lira, the queen and king are requesting your presence for breakfast. They’ve asked me to help you get ready, as there is a special visitor. May I enter?”

I glanced at the open window, considering the consequences if I flew away and didn’t show up. They hadn’t informed meabout a special visitor last night, and my pulse quickened at the fact that they’d sprung it on me at the last second. Leaving wasn’t an option. Not with Tavish and Finnian trapped here.

I threw off the covers and strolled to the door. When I opened it, I found a gorgeous woman who seemed somewhat familiar. Her straight, dark-blonde hair contrasted with her sky-blue dress, and she glided into the room like she knew it well.

Of course she did. She worked here.

---