Page 40 of Our Vicious Oaths
Kadeesha found herself telling Malachi, “I’ll dine with you.”
If nothing else, Kadeesha thought their usual banter would do well to hold back the tide of self-recrimination and fresh grief that would eventually hit her over dragging Samira into a situation where she’d almost diedagain. Then there was the other emotion that had been clawing to escape since the blast that she needed to keep locked down tightly. Doing something,anything, to temperthatemotion when it finally hit was critical.
She hoped she might literally swallow it down at dinner.
Chapter Twenty-One
SHE HADN’T BEEN BACK IN MALACHI’S APARTMENTSsince the morning she’d woken up in his bed after he’d presented her as his war prize. Her plans to seduce him aside, it had been a relief. Lingering in his space that one morning had disturbed her enough. There was something about being pleasured out of her mind and then waking up beside him that had felt immensely, uncomfortably intimate. During her time in his court, if she intentionally ended up on his cock a time or two—or dozens—to achieve a goal, that was one thing. But after learning the full scope of Malachi’s schemes, it shouldn’t have felt so good having his hands and mouth all over her. Having him inside her and filling her completely certainly shouldn’t have felt so exquisite. And when she’d fallen asleep in Malachi’s arms, with his warm, strong body pressed against her back, her slumber shouldn’t have been so peaceful. Sleeping not just inside the enemy’s palace but beside the actual enemy and in his bed should’ve in no way felt like a respite from the mayhem of her wedding and all that would follow. Especially not when Malachi had orchestrated the mayhem.
The very fact that Kadeesha knew all of this and yet whateverundeniable chemistry that existed between her and Malachi hadn’t dulled was a dangerous thing. It meant if she weren’t careful, then her plans to seduce Malachi might actually backfire. Her head might be the one that got twisted. That hazard alone meant she needed to remain vigilant around Malachi. She needed to get close to him without gettingcloseto him.
Yet here she was back in the most intimate chamber of Malachi’s apartments. A black marble table of modest size had been carried by servants into Malachi’s bedroom. Two chairs were placed at both heads of the table. Kadeesha thankfully sat in the chair closest to the foot of Malachi’s enormous four-poster bed that was made of polished oak. Because if she occupied Malachi’s seat, she’d be tormented with having to look upon his bed. And then she wouldn’t be able to not recall how Malachi had transported them to the center of the plush bed and made her come hard, multiple times. Her mind would specifically latch onto how her knees had sunk into the mattress while he had gripped her hips from behind and stroked her into oblivion.
She picked up the goblet filled with spiced cognac that rested beside her plate and took a deep swig. She let the burn of the drink chase away thoughts she should not find so entrancing. Already she fought the urge to shift in her seat, squeeze her thighs together under the table, use the friction to assuage the blossoming ache in her core.You will cease this madness, she ordered herself. Wanting this male so intensely—truly wanting him at all—was a betrayal to herself, her father, the multitudes of lives that had been lost during her wedding-turned-massacre, and to those who remained behind in her court whom Malachi sought to conquer just as Rishaud was trying to do.
But her mind couldn’t help but linger on a vision of Malachi spreading her wide on the table and feasting on her instead ofthe food before them, because great Celestials, the man’s lips and tongue should be outlawed, especially when he used them to …
No! You aren’t recalling that trick.
Malachi studied her as she drank, his eyes—cool pools of brown with gold flecks that only enhanced their beauty—spearing her as they always did when he gazed at her so intently. He said nothing at first, only picked up his goblet and drank as well. He returned his goblet to the table at the same time Kadeesha did hers, the silver cups clinking against the marble in perfect unison. She scowled down the length of the table. He was toying with her; he had to be. Before she could call him on it, he waved at the lavish spread of food between them. “It would be rude, I suppose, for me to start eating if you aren’t ready. But like I said, I am famished. Are you going to sit there and contemplate whatever it is you’re thinking about all night or shall we dig in, Princess?” He posed the question in his usual pushy manner and with a lilt that told her he’d scented exactly what consumed her thoughts.
She refused to address the web of heat and longing that returning to Malachi’s bedroom had ensnared her in, or even acknowledge it in any way. Her pride wouldn’t allow it. Pride also held her back from jumping to do as Malachi bid and fill her plate. The sudden growl of her stomach, however, had other opinions. The following stab of hunger was vicious enough that she immediately reached for the serving fork resting atop a platter of smoked honey-glazed boar. When a group of servants had carried the table in, there had been others hauling in trays overflowing with equally tantalizing food. In addition to the ham, candied yams, seasoned greens, baked rolls, and post-dinner tea cakes also weighed the table down. Once she placed two tenderslices of honeyed boar meat on her plate, the voracious depths of Kadeesha’s hunger revealed itself and she helped herself to a hefty portion of each selection. She’d never utter it within earshot of Malachi, but the food within the Apollyon Court and the delectable spices his people cooked with were superb. Malachi quietly filled his plate much the same and they ate in silence.
At least they did until midway through the meal. When their plates were half empty, Malachi resumed peering at her in that unnerving way. She was about to demand to know the reason behind the way he gazed at her when he said, “I’m curious. What were your plans after wedding Rishaud? How did you intend to kill him?”
It took her mind a few moments to process what he casually asked. When it finally did, she responded, “What makes you think I had anything planned?”
“From all I’ve learned of you, you don’t seem the type of woman who’d willingly be married to that motherfucker,” returned Malachi.
“Willinglyis a strong word,” Kadeesha said. “I was promised to Rishaud to secure a close alliance between the Aether and Hyperion Courts when I was a babe. I had no say in it. The marriage was my father’s wish.”
Malachi took another sip from his cup. “Perhaps, but that doesn’t answer my question. You still don’t strike me as the sort to let anyone dictate your fate, even your kingly father.”
“You are supposed to take a wife soon, are you not?” she asked him.
The air about him automatically grew darker at the mention of his impending nuptials. “That is what Nychelle counsels I should do.”
“You clearly don’t desire it. Yet you do intend to wed. Why?”
“Because it is my cursed duty. As king, I am expected to do what is best for the longevity and security of the crown and larger court,” Malachi ground out.
“Exactly,” Kadeesha said.
However, Malachi continued to press her. “My infernal circumstances are different. I am the Apollyon sovereign. I will retain every scrap of power I already hold once I am married. Rishaud would’ve stripped you entirely of yours, no matter if you held the title of high queen.”
Malachi stating the future that had awaited her so plainly, the future that her mother and father had willingly given her over to, was like a dagger slipped between her ribs. She bared her teeth, the need to commit violence swelling up. “So you admit that you and Rishaud are one and the same,” Kadeesha snapped.
The shadow that Malachi’s form cast against the floor amid the dim lighting of the room grew darker. Larger. “I am nothing like that motherfucker,” he said tightly.
“And yet you mean to take a queen and strip her of power too,” Kadeesha shot back.
Malachi snorted. “I never said such a thing. I said thatIwould retain all of my existing power, but queens of the Apollyon Court are revered and respected by our people. They are listened to and looked to for protection and guidance as much as the king is. My queen would help steer the court as much as I do. Honestly, I’d let her have the reins entirely if she was competent and capable because I sure as fuck don’t like listening to tedious petitions and playing nice with the nobles.”
It was a pretty speech. And yet … “You saidyour peoplewill revere and respect your queen. You failed to say thatyouwould behave toward her that way,” Kadeesha pointed out. “So again,it makes you a similar asshole as Rishaud and most domineering fae males.”
Malachi shrugged, not denying that particular charge. “My future wife will be well cared for and protected, enjoy boundless wealth and luxuries and pleasures,andI won’t eventually kill her when I grow tired of her or she becomes useless. I’d say that makes my ambivalent feelings toward anybody I’ll end up marrying a nonfactor. And my future wife’s treatment will make me leagues better thanyourbetrothed.”
“Formerbetrothed,” Kadeesha spat.
