Page 138 of Across an Endless Sea

When I open them again, I’m in bed, tucked in securely with the shawl folded neatly over the headboard and the scent of leather and horses fresh in the room.

“Drystan?” I mumble groggily.

“Go back to sleep, huntress.”

The words are so quiet, and my mind so foggy with tiredness, that I might’ve imagined them. As it is, I’m so tired that I do as he says. When I wake up to the sound of my maids clattering around the room, I’ve all but forgotten the whisper in the darkness.

Forty-Two

Lorcan

Temples are boring, and even the huge crowd murmuring amongst themselves can’t make this one any better. We’re in the centre of the round inner chamber, waiting. The crowd has packed in to the large hall and spills out of the door and along the hallways. Everyone wants to see Rose get crowned, and the fae with wings have taken to the rafters to watch from above.

Kitarni made me wear this stupid black jacket—and she had the nerve to hide my white one! Doesn’t she know how hard it is to make blood show up on black? How is Rose going to admire the blood of her enemies if she can’t see it?

Even Wraith has been forced to undergo a bath. Now he’s positivelyfluffy.

I bounce on my tiptoes, hating the waiting. All four of us have been standing up here for what feels like hours, and Kitarni is waiting behind us with the hooded priests in the centre of the only free space in the room. I’m not allowed to steal from the guests either, or let Wraith intimidate them.

Fun stealers. There’s literally nothing to do.

The dignitaries from the courts are in the front row, and I give Cressidick’s niece a smile full of teeth. She glares right back. Her brown eyes are only a shade lighter than the glistening, iridescent oil spill of her dress.

Horns blare, and my head jerks up to see the fae with their polished bronze instruments blowing earnestly into them. I want a horn. Before I can blink up to the gallery above and steal one, Drystan grabs the sleeve of my jacket and tugs down firmly, keeping me in place.

Oh right. I’m not allowed to do exciting things today.

Jokes on them. I have plans for Rose after this, and they don’t involve the stuffy ball with the ambassadors.

Just thinking of my sneaky greatness brings another grin to my face, and beside me, Drystan’s frown deepens with concern.

Of course, he forgets all about it when she appears at the entrance to the grand hall.

Rose is all glowy in the midday sun. The hush ripples out from the crowd, but I’m too busy glaring at anyone who takes a fraction too long to bow.

That female dies. She was looking at Rose’s tits. They’re mine. Mine to mark. To play with. Bite—

Damn. Trust me to get a boner in the middle of a sacred ceremony. Why did Kitarni make me tuck my shirt in again?

It doesn’t help that those perfect globes are on full display in her perfect dress. My plans for after this whole ceremony pivot, and suddenly I’m picturing just blinking her to a private corner and ravishing her. She’s not a virgin anymore. She can handle me. Right? I’ll even let the others watch. In fact, the more the better. Screw the private corner. I could rut her in front of the whole crowd, and—

No. Bad Lore. Definitely not.

Can’t let others see her pretty breasts.

Rose is gliding towards us in an explosion of purple skirts and gold shiny beads, oblivious to my lewd fantasies. Her smile is soft and shy as she meets Jaro’s eyes, then she bites her lip as she sees Bree and Drystan. I grin for her, and sure enough, that gets a true smile out of her.

Poor dear, not having fangs. She’ll have to find other ways to mark me. Like her nails. They almost broke skin last time. Fuck. Now my dick is painfully hard.

No. More. Sex. Thoughts.

But that ass…

I can’t help but turn to watch it as she passes me. If only those skirts were clingier. Or she was naked. Maybe I can convince the laundresses to shrink her clothes…

Wraith bashes his head into me as he follows her, and I realise I might’ve just groaned a little. Drystan is definitely giving me stink eye. Ah, that might be because my cap has sprung up again… Stupid cap, outing me. At least it’s extra red. Everyone can admire it, and…

Drystan rolls his eyes, and I stick my tongue out at him. Like he wouldn’t be eyeing her up the exact same way if he could. I bet Rose’s nerves have her aura glowing like a firefly.

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