Page 87 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
“The servants of Anastarros are capable of restoring torn limbs during the war. I’m sure the tongue is no issue for them,”Rhianelle answers with a gentle smile of assurance, failing to catch my vile wish.
“Why do they get to talk to you like that?” I ask her. Rage reignites in my vein as I recall the bastard’s audacity.
Rhianelle’s mouth turns down at the corners and her bright eyes dim a little.
“The Aeonians don’t trust me and my court is divided. There are those who doubt every decision I make,” she says, her voice a whisper.
Something in me tugs at her words.
“I didn’t mean to put you through this. Is what Lord Rivtarr said about the food true?” she asks, her voice wavering. “That they taste like dirt?”
Her amethyst eyes sparkle in the dark like stars, waiting for my answer. I don’t think I’m capable of lying to her while looking into them, so I look away.
I feel a sudden tug on my arm. “Svenn, please tell me.”
Rhianelle will not let this go.
“I need to know,” she asks again, pulling my face to look at her. Sheer determination colors her features and I know there is nothing stopping her from the truth.
I take another sip from the bottle before staring down at her. Perhaps it’s the heat in her eyes, perhaps it’s the dress, or the fact that she had stolen a kiss from me first in the evening.
I raise her chin and lean down until our eyebrows touch. “It tastes like this.”
I brush my lips against hers, parting them softly. It’s just a feather-light flick of the tongue as I pass what remains of the wine into her mouth, but the thrill of it runs deep in my veins. The pulsating heat sears through each nerve ending. I forgot how intoxicating she is. I want to savor her a moment longer.
But I know I shouldn’t.
I force myself to part from her.
Rhianelle blinks and licks her lips. The innocent movement sends tingles straight to my cock.
“The wine tasted like wine?” she asks, her sweet breath ghosting my face.
I nod.
Fuck, I need to stop fixating on those gorgeous lips or else I’ll claim them again.
I clear my throat, focusing myself on the conversation instead of our proximity. “Fermented drinks are the only exception we’re granted. Your vampire expert was right. The rest taste as dry as the earth.”
Silence follows my revelation. Rhianelle doesn’t say anything. She simply stares at me, her eyes wide and nervous. The ticking thing in my chest goes into free fall the longer she keeps it up.
It’s becoming damn near terrifying.
Shit.
It’s the kiss…
I shouldn’t have done that. Whatever the fuck happened to controlling my impulses so I can win her? It’s too soon. She needs more time.
But I wanted to kiss her. Needed to.
Maybe I’ve screwed it all to hell.
Rhianelle swallows and her eyes start to glaze.
“Svenn… I’ve been feeding you potatoes and biscuits,” she whispers with a tremble. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
I tilt my head and stare at her in confusion.
