“Fuck, Ilara,” he breathed.
He deepened his kiss while his other hand roamed everywhere . . . over my spine, along my thigh, up my breast. He briefly cupped my heated flesh as he tweaked my nipple through the thin gown.
I cried out in his mouth.
Breaking the kiss, his lips traveled across my jaw and down my throat while his hands held me, owning me.
With each path his lips and hands traveled, his aura grew denser, more potent, and then the air was kissing my skin, sliding over my scorched flesh, stroking me in the most tantalizing ways, and Mother, I was on fire. I had no idea his affinity could do that.
He dragged his mouth back to mine and then hooked my leg around his waist. His cock was right at my entrance again. All it would take was the swipe of my underthings to the side and the loosening of his pants, and that thick girth would be plunging inside me.
“My, oh my, brother. You certainly didn’t waste any time.”
Nuwin’s snickering comment had the glassy fog shattering all around me. I gasped, pulling away from the crown prince just as a terrifying snarl ripped from his throat.
Prince Norivun released my leg and shielded my body with his in the same beat. “Get the fuck out of here, Nuwin.”
“Trust me, I wish I could, but I’m afraid the time has come. Father is asking for you.”
Norivun seethed. “Not now. Not yet.”
His furious response was enough to clear my head, to cut through my lust, and . . .
What in the realm am I doing?
I hastily pushed against him and slid off the balcony, straightening my attire and hoping my hair wasn’t a mess, but the prince refused to release his grip on me.
His cock pressed into my abdomen, and he was still very much ready. He continued scowling at his brother, but Nuwin only raised his hands in apology.
“Father’s asking. I figured it would be better if I found you versus him.”
Norivun’s wings extended slightly, shielding me completely from view as I straightened my gown more.
Mother Below, I’d nearly fucked the crown prince—the very male who’d murdered my family.
My cheeks burned in humiliation.
“Ilara?” The prince looked down at me again. My mind was such a jumbling mess. “Lara,” he said so quietly that I almost didn’t hear him. “I have to—”
“Here he is. I knew he was still out here.” Michas appeared behind Nuwin, and his eyes widened when he saw how closely the prince and I stood. “Ock, did we interrupt something?”
“No,” Nuwin said quickly, too quickly. Michas retrieved his jacket from the ground as Nuwin forced a bright smile. “The crown prince was just about to head inside. Weren’t you, brother?”
The prince stiffened.
“Shall I escort Lady Seary?” Michas offered.
“No,” the prince growled, and his aura pounded out of him.
“You intend to have her at your side while . . .” Michas let his words hang, his eyebrows rising.
I gave both the prince and his brother a confused look as I continued to relentlessly chastise myself for what I’d done.
“What’s happening?” I finally asked.
Michas grinned. “The king is going to announce Prince Norivun’s potential betrotheds. Didn’t you hear? Tonight is the beginning of the Rising Queen Trial.”
CHAPTER 26
The Rising Queen Trial? What?
I brought a hand to my forehead. No, I hadn’t known. Or . . . maybe I had. I briefly remembered Finnley and Birnee talking last month about an upcoming trial in the capital. Perhaps this had been what they’d been speaking of.
“Time to go, Nori,” Nuwin said under his breath, his words soft and full of apology.
The prince gave me one last look, a look full of heat and savage longing, before he snarled and ripped himself away from me.
Numbly, I followed, and Nuwin stayed at my side as the prince prowled back into the throne room.
But Prince Norivun kept glancing over his shoulder, kept eyeing me, then his brother, then Michas, as a permanent mask of fury painted itself on his features.
At least I had the foresight to return the crown prince’s jacket right before he came into everyone’s view, but my mind was still swimming, and my body was still throbbing by what had just happened.
And what in the realms had happened? As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I’d just kissed the prince. Worse, I’d wanted to do much more than that and probably would have if we hadn’t been interrupted.
And now he was going to meet his betrothed?
A nauseating feeling swept through me, and I barely had the wherewithal to put one foot in front of the other without tripping. Thankfully Nuwin seemed to understand my state of mind because he kept a firm grip on me and prevented me from falling.
Inside the castle, the dancing and music had stopped, and the center of the room had been cleared.
All of the attending fae formed a U-shape around the throne, the great crowd expanding all of the way to the back of the room. Lined up at the front of the group were three females.
My breath caught as I surveyed their opulent gowns, jeweled necks, and flawless makeup. Behind them stood nobles, who I guessed were their parents.
“Ah, he’s finally decided to join us,” the king called.
A tittering of laughter rose from the crowd as King Novakin beckoned Prince Norivun forward. Another sickening feeling swept through me when I beheld the three females again. He was to marry one of them?
My stomach clenched, and sweat lined my palms. Gods, what was wrong with me? What did I care who the prince married?
Another pulse of the prince’s aura shot out of him as his scowl deepened.
“I’m sorry, brother,” Nuwin whispered. “I know it’s not what you wanted.”
“It doesn’t matter what I want.” The prince nudged closer to his brother. “But by gods, Nuwin, if you pull another stunt like you did earlier and take her somewhere I can’t protect her, I’ll have your head.”
For the first time since meeting the prince’s brother, Nuwin didn’t smile cheekily or reply with a facetious quip. He nodded gravely. “I won’t. On my honor.”
Nuwin moved closer to my side as the crown prince glanced briefly at me. His gaze was weighted as fire and ice seemed to clash within his soul.
Without another word, he proceeded to the throne as the three sets of parents proudly displayed their daughters. The young females all stepped forward, smiling and curtsying prettily.
A male fairy stood in front of them and bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, I have scoured the continent these past five winters, and I have returned with the most blessed females of our realm. I present them to you now.”
Dozens of the capital’s females, the ones who’d been dressed so finely and had looked so hopeful, all gave sniveling and envious looks toward the three. Nuwin had been right. None of them were in the running.
“Thank you, Sir Featherton,” the king replied. “Proceed.”
Prince Norivun grew even more rigid as Sir Featherton swept an arm in a flourishing motion, and the three sets of parents and their daughters stepped forward.