Page 19 of Treasured By the Fae Royal

Even though she claims humans don’t fall in love within a day of knowing one another. Even though she will likely find my interest in her abrupt and perhaps desperate. But she wouldn’t be wrong about my desperation. Gods, I am desperate to have her. I’m aching and eager, and I cannot help but wonder if perhaps it’s fate that I met her only days after receiving the missive from my father ordering me to take a human bride.

“My specific interest in you, sweetling, might surprise you,” I say, needing to stall for a moment. I also hope the pause gives her some time to brace herself for the answer that will no doubt leave her reeling with shock.

“Go on, then,” she replies in another soft whisper, though there’s also a taunting edge to her voice, as though she’s daring me to go through with it. “Tell me.”

“I want to claim you as my wife, dear Yvette. My father recently ordered me, as well as my brothers, to take human brides. Days after I received this command, I met you, and though I realize we haven’t known one another for long, I am already completely besotted with you. I cannot imagine taking another human female as my bride. I want you. That is my specific interest in you. I don’t want you as a concubine or a pleasure slave, though I’ll admit those two options hold some allure, but I want you to become my wife.”

CHAPTER9

YVETTE

I stareup at Prince Lucas, at a complete loss for words. I’m utterly stupefied by his declaration that he wants me to become his wife.

His wife!

I won’t lie. There’s a part of me that wants to throw caution to the wind and accept his offer. Not just because I’m fiercely attracted to him (yes, despite all the harm he’s inflicted on my people), but because mating with a fae male would cause my lifespan to expand by thousands of years. That’s what Mira told me happens when humans mate with fae, that the human absorbs the fae partner’s magic and typically lives at least as long as that fae partner.

I close my eyes, overwhelmed by his offer. I remind myself that he’s the enemy. I remind myself of the bloodshed and horrors I witnessed in Trevos. Because ussha won’t stop spreading, it’s unlikely that the fae will ever stop conquering human and orc territories. One day, the fae will rule over the entire realm.

Am I a traitor for considering Prince Lucas’s offer?

“It would seem I’ve shocked you, sweetling.”

His hands move from my face, and he starts caressing my hair, and I’m unable to stop the waves of blissful sensation his touch provokes.

Is it wrong that I want more? Is it wrong that I want him to kiss me again?

Finally, I open my eyes. “Yes, by the gods, you’ve shocked me. As you might imagine, I’m feeling very conflicted right now.”

“You aren’t yet married—I know this because I don’t detect the scent of a male on you—and neither am I. I want you, very badly, and I know you harbor an attraction to me, little human. I can smell it. I can smell the slickness between your thighs.”

I gasp and take a step back, but he follows me and keeps stroking my hair. He also pulls my body flush against his, allowing me to feel the unmistakable bulge in his pants. I open my mouth, ready to deny that I’m slick between my thighs, but at the last moment, I hesitate. I’m surprised and embarrassed that he can detect my arousal, but he’s been so forthcoming with me that it feels wrong to lie to him about my own excitement.

“You’re a big, handsome, muscular fae male with an impressive wingspan,” I say instead. Never mind that his wings aren’t out at the moment. “I would have to be dried up and well past my prime to not suffer from a slickness between my thighs, as you so eloquently put it, while in your presence.”

He laughs, and his sharp, pointed teeth gleam white in the ussha glow. “Fair enough, but I daresay it’s more than physical attraction you feel for me. You’re not vain enough to be tempted by an offer of marriage based on looks alone.”

“Not vain, I’ll agree with you on that, but perhaps I am stupid for being even slightly tempted.” I sigh as he works his fingers through my hair. Gods, I never knew how wondrous it would feel to be petted like this by a male. It’s a simple thing he’s doing, but it’s making my whole body come alive with pure, carnal need. The ache between my thighs is starting to become unbearable, and I believe I just might touch myself later in the privacy of my bedroom once I return to the cottage. I’ll touch myself while thinking about Prince Lucas, the Summer Court prince who wants to marry me. The Summer Court prince who conquered my people.

“I like that you’re tempted, sweetling.” He lowers his face, and his lips hover just an inch from mine.

I close my eyes and invite his kiss. It starts as soft and sweet as our first kiss, though it soon becomes something more. Something urgent that brims with possibility. My center lurches forward and I undulate my body against his. My hands drift up and down his back, pulling him closer and tighter to my body.

A sensual growl rumbles from his throat as he deepens the kiss, vibrating through me and sending a fresh pang of warmth straight to my core. He tightens his hold on my hair and slips his tongue inside to tangle with mine. He tastes sweet, like a mix of honey and cinnamon with a dash of vanilla. The summer warmth whirls around us, and the nighttime insects buzz louder as we remain locked in one another’s arms. A whimpering moan escapes me, and as the kiss goes on and on, I feel as though I’m floating amidst the stars.

I’d thought our first kiss was perfect, but I decide this one is even better.

Without meaning to, my hands slide up the back of his leather shirt and my fingers dig into his bare flesh. His long hair tickles my face and neck. Another growl leaves him and vibrates through me. Once more, I press my center against him, even though it’s my stomach that comes into contact with his hardness rather than my aching center. Gods, he’s so tall, for things to line up properly, we’ll have to get on the ground. Or find a bed.

A full body flush affects me, and I finally break the kiss because I’m burning up and desperate for air. I gulp in a huge breath, and it pleases me to see Lucas is panting too. The bulge in his pants feels larger than ever, and my face heats as I contemplate just how well-endowed he must be.

Surely the gods would give a Summer Court prince an impressively large appendage.

I almost laugh at my own thoughts, but a quick look into Lucas’s darkening gaze grounds me in the seriousness of our predicament.

He doesn’t have a fated mate, he’s been ordered to marry a human, and it’s me he wants as his bride.

Why haven’t I said ‘no’ yet?

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