Page 8 of Courting the King of Cliffs

Completely and utterly fine.

As long as I didn’t think about how I was going to explain any of this to Storm, at least.

I sighed heavily, closing my eyes against the onslaught of emotions.

After washing my hair with the soap I found in the shower—it smelled almost as delicious as the rest of the house—and scrubbing the rest of my skin down too, I turned off the water and stepped out. The thick robe hanging nearby went over my arms and skin so softly, I sighed again at the feel of it.

Since I didn’t have any clothes, I left the robe on as I wrung my hair out and then tied it up on my head with a thin strip of stone I created.

A knock sounded on the door at the absolute perfect time, and I padded over to it, tying my robe securely around my middle. It was so big it practically swallowed me, but that made me feel safe.

I opened the door to find a simple envelope resting on a tray of food, and my lips curved up slightly at the thoughtfulness of Eeva not staying to chat while my mind felt so scrambled.

After carrying the tray to my bed, I tucked my legs under the blankets, and pulled the food onto my lap. I inhaled it quickly, without taking time to really savor the unique flavors.

I’d savor it the next time I ate.

I forgot about the envelope, leaving it on the tray as I set it on the bedside table. Though my hair was still wet, I tugged the robe off and sprawled out on the bed.

With the food in my belly and the house’s delicious smell in my nose, I fell asleep almost as soon as my face hit the mattress, pillow be damned.

Chapter 4

Granite

Crag and Eeva were waiting in my castle’s living room when I got back. I typically spent my days there, in an effort to be accessible, and didn’t go home until the evening came around.

“Which room is she in?” I rasped, dropping my exhausted, sandy ass into my favorite seat on the couch and closing my eyes to the pain that reverberated as I did.

“One,” Crag said.

One?

It took me a minute to process the information.

My eyes flew open. “What the fuck?”

“Tell me, from a king’s perspective, what would happen if we put a powerful fae’s mate in another man’s room?” He leaned back against the couch, pulling Eeva closer.

I scowled. “I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

He lifted an eyebrow at me. “So if she walked into this castle smelling like Basalt, you wouldn’t feel a thing?”

My nostrils flared, and my fists clenched. “No.”

“Clearly.” Eeva sounded amused.

Guess I was sleeping in the damn castle.

I’d wake up in more pain than usual, but I’d survive. Pain wasn’t anything new.

I closed my eyes again.

“She’s not going to wait forever,” Crag said. “She’s an attractive woman, and even when she’s overwhelmed, she’s kind. The power coming off her is insane, too. If you don’t claim her, someone else will.”

I clenched my jaw and said nothing.

Though I couldn’t stand the thought of her with another man, there was nothing I could do about it.

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