Page 78 of Dark Sun (Wicked Lovely 6)

“Like in that movie?” She couldn’t remember the name, but her mother loved it, mostly because of the fight choreography—at least that was what she said. Katherine couldn’t help but notice that the actor looked a lot like her father.

“The one with the faery as the lead actor? Yeah.” Urian rolled his eyes. “I don’t know how he thinks no one will notice. He doesn’t age at all.”

Katherine felt foolish for not realizing. It certainly explained how graceful he was. No one that beautiful, that ageless, that graceful could be a mere mortal.

“But yes, like that.” Urian pulled her closer. “Do I need to be jealous?”

“Of an actor?” She laughed. “No, well, no . . . unless it’ll make you need to remind me why I want you.”

This time, Urian gave her a wicked smile. “For days, weeks, months. My only plan is to have you at my mercy.”

“Mmmm, tell me more . . .”

The car pulled up in front of what looked like a castle. Towers speared the sky, and an honest-to-goodness moat surrounded the building. Several swans swam in the water, so obviously there was no dragon or monster there.

The building was a dark grey brick, and the drawbridge that they had to cross had brass works rather than steel.

Urian put a hand on the small of her back and directed her across the bridge. At the far side, two guards stood on either side of massive arched wooden doors that looked at least two-feet thick. They looked at Urian with recognition.

One said, “Your father called and asked us to put you on the top floor with guards.”

“I’m not interested in a prison,” Urian said lightly.

“To make sure you are undisturbed.” One guard looked at Katherine. “He also had clothing delivered for both of you.” He lowered his voice. “And accessories.”

Accessories?

“Silver? Brass?” Urian asked.

“Yes. Steel, as well.”

Katherine realized then that they weren’t talking about shoes and things of that nature, but weapons. She wished her expression was as unreadable as Urian’s, but that was not anywhere in her skill set.

Urian nodded to the guards and led her inside.

The foyer or lobby or whatever the right word was seemed like it was out of a children’s film. There was an air of age here, a sort of elegance that ought to be outdated, but instead it looked like a perfectly preserved space. Gemstones and silver and marble created massive art pieces in the floor. It felt criminal to step on it. Behind the lobby clerk was a tapestry that was perfect enough that she expected the unicorns in it to move.

“Sir. Madam. Do you have bags you need brought up to the suite?” The faery was as mundane as any she had seen, looking almost human aside from reptilian eyes.

“We would love a full meal brought up. Champagne, too.” Urian smiled in a way that made it perfectly clear that jeans and a faded shirt made him no less the prince than he was. “No bags, though.”

“Very well.” The man made a note. “Do you have a flower preference, madam?”

“A what?” Katherine looked at Urian.

“They bring fresh flowers each day,” he supplied.

Katherine frowned. “Pass. We want to be undisturbed unless we request something.” She wrapped her arm through Urian’s. “It’s our honeymoon.”

A warm smile came over the man’s face. “Of course.”

Urian glanced down at her then. “Race you? Or carry you?”

She laughed, but as Urian took the key and they got directions to their suite, she said, “If you catch me, you can carry me wherever you want.”

Then she took off running.

Urian’s laugh was close enough that it would make her run faster if she intended to outrun him, but she didn’t really want to win—at least not by outrunning him. She slowed down and waited for him to catch up at the top of the staircase.

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