Page 99 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
Oh, Fate. Please don’t let it behim.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Briar
Igritted my teeth. If that was Many-Greats barging into another damn bedroom again, he’d get to experience my true wrath, especially with Vad here with me. He couldn't just barge into the future king’s private areas like that!
“Stay here.” Vad bolted up.
By the time I realized what he was doing, he had taken a robe out of his wardrobe, flung it on, and bounded to the door. “What do you want?” he demanded as he pulled the door shut behind him.
Wait. If that was Many-Greats–
Hearty laughter followed on the other side, which confirmed the visitor was definitelynotMany-Greats.
Someone pounded on the door. “You cheeky little minx! You justhadto make sure Kaylen didn’t pull in the win, didn’t you?” Thalen called from the other side of the door.
Vad made a low grumble, so I tapped into my wolf magic. “If you even think about going in there, I willkillyou.”
Something sizzled inside me for a second, and a rush of frustration washed over me that didn’t feel like my own.
Strange.
My wolf hearing flickered out as the strange sensations took front and center.
“How’d you do it, Chaos?” Thalen called out, ignoring Vad.
What in the world was Thalen talking about? I wrapped the blanket around myself, padded to the bedroom door, and cracked it to peek out.
Thalen stood in front of Vad with his arms folded and his expression bright. “Are youserious?”
Giving him a push toward the outer door, Vad shook his head and said, “Get out and inform him that herhomeis withme,thus the terms of the vow are fulfilled and she remains here. She is myqueen.”
“Really?” Thalen gave Vad a huge smile. “Can I hug the bride?” His gaze slid back to the door, and he froze when he caught me peeking through the crack. “Copper Chaos! You’re staying.” He then bowed dramatically. “I am at your service, my queen.”
Vad smacked his shoulder and then held a hand over Thalen’s eyes. “You donotneed to be looking at her right now.”
“She’s completely covered by a door.” Thalen shook off Vad’s hand and gestured toward me as if it should be obvious.
“Go.You can talk to her later,” Vad rasped, pushing him once again toward the outer door.
“Fine. I’ll go, but only because the sooner it’s done, the sooner I get to see the looks on all those scaffing windbags and Fate twisters when they see who you’re really crowning.” Thalen tapped his brow as he stepped back. “See you soon, Your Majesties.”
Vad returned inside, shaking his head. He shrugged the robe off, letting it drop to the floor. “I did not intend for us to beinterrupted so soon. He was just providing me with updates on various matters, one of which I think will especially please you. Elias has been retrieved, and he is recovering in a safe location.”
My heart leaped as relief flooded me. “So he’s going to be all right?”
“‘All right’ may be a flexible term, but he is receiving the best care possible. You can visit him after the ceremonies.” He sighed and dragged a hand through his hair, then scanned me in a way that made me want him inside me once more.
He groaned, “Feck, why do you have to be such a temptation? There’s much to be done, and it would be wise for us to start the preparation process. We’ll have all night to delight in one another.”
“But…” I walked alongside him and teasingly stroked his beautifully sculpted lower abs down to just above his dick. “What if you have another problem before the coronation and wedding?”
He caught my wrist but didn’t move it. “We’ll just have to savor the anticipation.” He grimaced as he moved my hand away, as if doing so pained him. “But I am pleased to hear that the sigil turned gold for you. That means you are unequivocally Fate’s winner in the trials, and I want to take you back to your guest room so that you can see your prize.”
I nuzzled into him, not in the mood to be separated. The hard planes of his body pressed against me, and his wonderful smoky, spicy scent filled my nostrils. “You mean I won a prize other than you?”
He growled again, then kissed my forehead. “Iam the true winner.”
