Page 47 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
Heart pounding, Drue blinked at him, cheeks flushing as she covered herself below the waterline. Had she been too forward? What —
Then she understood.
Talemir stood a few feet away, his powerful body rigid and panting, as great membranous wings speared from his back.
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Talemir
Talemir was fucking mortified. Completely and utterlymortifiedby his lack of control, by the mere thought of bringing this monstrous side of himself into what had just happened between him and Drue.
He’d felt the first ripple of power as she’d arched into him, her body melting so perfectly to his touch. When she’d rolled her hips, the tip of his cock almost sliding home, he’d lost all semblance of sanity and the shadows had ripped free of their restraints.
He had nearly shot into the skies with the force of it.
He’d practically thrown her from his shadow-ravaged body in terror.
Even now, as he turned from her, facing the shore, the weight of his wings hung heavy between his shoulder blades and ribbons of darkness unfurled from his very being. Internally, he raged, savagely trying to claw the beast back inside, trying to contain it.
Around him, his form flickered.
He didn’t look at Drue as he left the spring, snatching his clothes from the shore and disappearing behind the outer boulders to salvage what little remained of his dignity. His heart thudded painfully, not just from the change, but fromher, from what they’d almost just done. What she’d likely never offer again. Not after this. Or had it been another of her games? A ploy to undo him and prove once more that he was a monster among men? That he didn’t belong with the Warswords, nor was he wraith enough to belong to the shadows… The thought carved a fracture within him as he shoved his wet legs into his pants and his wings disappeared completely. The weight was still there, though.
‘Talemir?’ her voice called.
He rubbed his neck and ran his trembling fingers through his hair. Gods, now he had to face her. Afterthat. His body felt wound too tight. He was teetering on the edge of a mighty fall.
‘Are you decent?’ Drue asked.
That, more than anything, made Talemir relax. ‘Bit late for that, isn’t it?’
To his surprise, Drue laughed. ‘I was being polite.’ She appeared at the side of one of the giant boulders, fully clothed and wearing her cuff once more. A pang hit Talemir low in his gut. She peered at him cautiously. ‘Are you alright?’
Heat bloomed in Talemir’s cheeks. ‘Yes.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Sorry, about… that.’
‘It’s fine.’
‘I…’ He could feel the blush deepening. ‘I haven’t been with anyone since… since the attack. I didn’t know that would happen.’
Drue’s brows shot up. ‘How long ago was that again?’
‘Long enough for a hot-blooded Warsword.’
Drue nodded. ‘Let’s just forget it happened, alright?’
Forget it happened.Only as the words left her mouth did Talemir realise just how much he didn’t want to forget those moments with her in the hot springs, how she’d tasted, how she’d fitted perfectly to him. But if forgetting was what she wanted, he couldn’t blame her.
‘Consider it forgotten,’ he said, forcing a smile to his lips.
‘Good,’ she replied. ‘So you can help me with the camp.’
They returned to their belongings and picked a patch of grass sheltered by the rocks. ‘You can use your own tent now,’ she told him. ‘I don’t have to worry about watching you around the others anymore.’
Talemir’s stomach bottomed out, his chest growing tight again. ‘Glad to hear it.’
His insides churned as he set up his lone tent. He wanted nothing more than to crawl inside and sleep the rest of the wretched night away.
But as he was finishing hammering the pegs into place with a rock, Drue spoke his name.
