Page 49 of The Lost Princess

I wanted confirmation. I wanted him to say it. If my suspicions were correct, I didn’t know what I was going to do.

“Of course. You were what snapped me out of my madness. I had been under it for years. Maybe even decades.” He paused. “When I feel the darkness creeping in, thoughts of you push it away. When you touch me, I remember who I am. Memories are even coming back at the oddest times.” His gaze hit the far wall as if he was lost in thought.

I swallowed hard. “I see.”

His eyes widened. “I don’t … That is, I want to say again how much I would like you to stay here.”

I bit my lip, using the pain to keep myself from crying at his show of raw emotion.

Nasi took in a shaky breath. “However, if you wish to leave, I won’t stop you. My problems are not your responsibility. I appreciate whatever help you were able to give.”

He went silent, and we both stared at each other. I crossed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around his waist. His hands came down around my shoulders, holding me tightly to him.

No one said a word.

“It’s getting late. Let’s sleep,” I finally offered, patting his arm gently to let me go.

His body tensed around me. “But what about—”

“I will leave tomorrow morning,” I interrupted him. “For now, let’s just … let’s just be together. Is that ok?”

He pulled away from me, his dark eyes swimming with emotion. “Yes,” he conceded, allowing me to lead him to the pile of furs by the quickly dying fire.

Nasi stopped right in front of them, his feet planted on the cave floor. “Just … just promise me one thing,” he whispered desperately.

I held my breath. “Yes?” I asked.

“Don’t leave while I’m sleeping.”

A lump formed in my throat, and I blinked away tears.My poor Nasi.

He continued feverishly. “I don’t want to wake up and think it was all a dream, some cheap trick thrown on me by the gods. That will surely take me back into madness, and it will swallow me.”

Oh gods, what was I supposed to do with that?

“I promise,” I whispered back, and he gathered me into his arms. We laid down next to each other and went silent.

* * *

Usually, it was pathetically easy to fall asleep in Nasi’s arms. Why wouldn’t it be? Having those strong, scaled hands holding me close made me feel invincible. I usually slept soundly in this small, dingy cave with just a few furs. My bedchambers in my castle couldn’t even compare anymore, not even with their feathers, plumped mattresses, and soft pillows.

The difference had to be Nasi.

And now I was exchanging his arms for silk sheets, his kind eyes for the lewd gazes of the courtiers, and his kindness and patience for my father’s rules and expectations.

I laid awake for hours, simply listening to Nasi breathe.

After a while he shifted in his sleep, his arms around pulling me close until his lips barely kissed the side of my neck. Wanting more, I tried to scoot closer so they made contact. My rear ground into his pelvis. It hadn’t been on purpose, but I felt him harden.

I couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like to have it … in me. I was a bit nervous, but I also craved to know more, to feel more. It wasn’t likely I’d be allowed another opportunity once I was back in the castle.

That stopped me. What exactly was my plan?

My father and the kingdom needed to know I was safe. I at least owed him that. I also had questions about my parentage since clearly I wasn’t human.

Perhaps going into full court is a bad idea, I thought.

A real plan started to bloom in my mind. I would fly to the castle, and wait for the guards to shift around two in the morning. Then I would drop down onto my father’s balcony and go into his private chambers. I would tell him my story, ask my questions, and finally have answers.

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