“Which won’t happen again, nor will you be lost to me. With my mark on your skin, I’d be able to find you if anyone decided to pop in and steal you. I’d rather be safe, than sorry where you are concerned. You are a trouble magnet.”
“You afraid you can’t protect me?” I taunted him. Unwise? Yes. Did I care? No. I’d worn his mark before. It was tempting, but at the same time, I wanted him to trust me.
“You carry my child inside of you,” his hand moved to touch my stomach. “There is no fucking chance of anything happening to either of you. Even if it means that I have to protect you from yourself.”
Chapter Thirteen
I was dressed via Ristan, who had stopped by to assure me that I needed to go to dinner. I, on the other hand, was not impressed. He’d dressed me in a white baby doll dress that barely covered my ass, and black stockings that had the heads of cats on the front of them just above my knees, and tails that went up my legs, and stopped at the lace bottom of the dress. He was chuckling “here kitty-kitty” and prompting me to throw things at him as he winked in and out, sifting as he avoided the missiles.
Darynda thought it was cute and convinced me to keep the outfit on, and then brought in Faelyn and they’d whipped my hair up in a magical updo (and by magical, I mean they’d used magic and it was done), and once again, my face was done with a light touch of make-up.
“I really don’t think I should be going to dinner with Ryder. Not when I want to neuter him and watch him writhe in pain,” I mumbled unhappily.
Darynda snorted and scrunched up her face. “You need heels,” she mused and glamoured a pair of white heels, with black trim. She leaned down and helped me into them.
When she was done, she stood back and smiled. “Looking like that, you guys won’t even notice the food!” she clapped happily, proud with her efforts.
I shook my head. “This is stupid,” I complained.
“Syn, he asked for this. Just give him a shot. He’s trying.” Ristan grinned with a mischievous look in his eyes.
“Give him a shot? I’m more likely to get shot around him! I’m pregnant; he’s done what he needed to do with me. His job as King is finished where I am concerned, so what is the point of this?”
“You should know better than that, Flower. Ryder isn’t done with you, nor is he likely to ever be done with you. He didn’t plan on this pregnancy, and if you need to be pissed at someone about what you have been through, it’s me. I’m the one who told him what I saw in the vision.”
“That wasn’t done with malicious intent, Demon. Ryder played me for a fool, and he will do it again. Can you tell me he won’t marry Abiageal? Can you tell me that he will be mine, and only mine?” I saw him flinch, so I didn’t need his answer. “I didn’t think so. I deserve better than that, I need better than that. I won’t become just another woman in his growing collection. He’s already got more than anyone should ever have. He won’t give them up, and I won’t change what I was raised to believe. I want more, and my child deserves more.” I lowered my eyes and exhaled a shaky breath.
“You need to let go of some of the social mores you learned in the human world, Flower. They will do you no good here. Sooner or later, you will see that. Now, come, your King awaits his woman.”
I took Ristan’s hand and was sifted out of the castle to a pool that had hundreds of white roses and lilies floating over the crystalline surface. Thousands of small white lights lit up the sky, and two full moons hung high in the sky. I looked around and found Ryder in a tux, and a cocky smile on his face. Great, I wanted to wipe the smug off his face. I also wanted to rip the tux off of him, and do naughty things.
“Princess,” he smiled wider.
“Fairy,” I groaned.
Why did he have to look so freaking sexy all decked out? It would be so much easier if he were a three headed monster with a pitchfork. And his smile…he knew just how to disarm me, and exactly how to make my center turn to pudding.
“Witch,” he amended.
“Asshat,” I growled and narrowed my eyes.
“Okay!” Ristan clapped loud enough that we both turned our glares on him. “Now that we got the foreplay out of the way, we can get right onto the main course.”
Ryder snorted, and I crossed my arms.
“Ryder,” Ristan said patiently, and I could tell they were doing the mind to mind thing again from the look passing over their faces.
“I’m trying. She’s the one who started it!” He growled out loud at Ristan, who shook his head as if he were annoyed with Ryder and sifted out.
I moved toward a hammock that looked comfortable, and sat on the edge. My eyes strayed toward the pool, and I sighed. It looked inviting and utterly beautiful with the flowers floating over the surface.