Page 84 of The Light Falls
CORMAL
Featherlight strokes across my back wake me instantly. I roll over and see tears sliding down Meri’s face. “What is it?” I sit up, prepared to fight whatever is causing her pain.
“Your back. It’s you in the memories trying to surface. Leandra caned you. Why?” she asks in a near whisper. “It’s because of me, isn’t it? I see the fear on her face when she looks at me. Tell me. It’s time.”
“I can’t. I’m tied to a spell,” I reveal, at least able to tell her that much. “You’re remembering. One day, you’ll have all the pieces.”
I lie back down and pull her into my arms. Smiling, I marvel at the fact that I’m in her bed again. I grasp her chin with my thumb and finger and pull her eyes up to meet mine. “No regrets?”
She looks surprised. “I don’t have any, and you’re not allowed to have them either.” Traces of worry cause shadows in her bright eyes.
Capturing her lips with mine, I roll her over and slide into her. “My only regret this morning is that we have limited time to enjoy one another.” She raises her legs and locks them around my back, and on the next thrust, I slip in deeper. “Every morning should start with you wrapped around me.”
Her nails slip down my back to grip me and pull me in tighter. “Harder.”
“What was that? Slower?” I ask, hooking my arms around her legs to push in just a little farther.
“Cormal,” she drawls. “Eris is going to appear in this room in ten minutes. Get a move on. Harder.” Face flushed; she arches her back.
Changing the pace, I speed up and slip my hand between her legs to stroke her until her body begins to shake. A breathless moan escapes, and the sound triggers my own release. Breathing hard, I lie between her legs and kiss her pink, pouty lips, savoring the feel of her in my arms for a few more minutes.
“Besides the council meeting, what else is on your agenda today?” I ask her.
She looks up at me with a defiant look in her eyes. “Finding Madoc. Look. I need him to teach me how to wield faery fire. Solandis didn’t look well when she left yesterday afternoon, so I don’t want to bother her. Plus, I want to talk to him about Leandra.”
“Two guards,” I order her. “It’s non-negotiable. There’s too much going on right now. I’m going to secretly check in on the enemy. I want to see what kind of impact your declaration of war had on the Water Fae.” I place a finger on her protesting lips. “In and out.”
“Kavi goes with you,” she demands in return. “I mean it.”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. She does care for me. “Agreed.” I tap her on the nose and slide out of her body. Groaning at the feel, I stand and wave a hand to dress and clean us both.
She looks down and raises an eyebrow. “Good try.” With a laugh, she changes the baggy sweatshirt and pants for leggings and a crop top. “I’m famished.” Her eyes dance with suggestive innuendo.
I slide my thumb into her mouth. “I’ll give you—”
Ahem.
“Good morning, Eris,” I greet the brownie with laughter in my voice.
“Breakfast is on the balcony. Chop, chop,” she replies, as she looks over the food we left out last night.
Waving a hand, I make it all disappear. “Only your queen. I can clean up after myself.”
Brown eyes soften. “Always my queen. I’ll pick out an outfit for today’s council meeting.” She disappears into the closet.
“Look at you. Making friends in your old age,” I say with a laugh.
Meri narrows her eyes and flips me off. She sashays to the balcony and picks up her coffee. “Today will be interesting.”
Her eyes are full of worry.
I give her a firm kiss. “One thing at a time. Eat now. Play later, remember?”
With a groan, she picks up a piece of toast and sits down.
* * *
This time,Kavi and I slip into one of the tunnels instead of the backyard. Riding the shadows, we make our way to Fisk’s war room. Hundreds of people are slipping in and out of the room. Fisk is yelling orders right and left. Too bad the light Fae don’t allow full-blooded Lesser Fae to serve. He’s one hell of a general.
