It isn’t three days yet, but she makes perfect sense. If I can have just a drop of her before I become ravenous, I’ll be able to hold out for longer.
It’s like taking a potent and addictive drug. Regular, steady dosing prevents the madness.
I’ll stop at a taste.
Just a taste.
“Very well,” I murmur. “Is there any particular place you prefer me to bite?”
The way in which her eyes widen is oh-so adorable. “How considerate of you, Corvan.” She raises her left hand, offering me her slender upturned wrist. “You may take from here. Just enough.”
I take her wrist and kiss her skin just above the part where her artery sits close to the surface; that little hollow where I can feel her rapid pulse fluttering against my lips.
Slowly, tenderly, I break her skin with my fangs. Sweet, heady nectar stains my lips. I kiss her again, lapping up her precious essence.
A tendril of warmth courses through me, infused with light.
It’s magic.
Her magic.
I feel light and euphoric. Powerful. As if I could vanquish all my enemies and conquer the Four Continents.
I almost want to.
She writhes gently as I hold her. I savor her taste, allowing myself to take just enough.
The dark part of me wants to take much, much more, but I stop myself there. This time, it’s easier to control myself. And it’s important.
She must learn to trust me.
I can understand her skepticism; the way she keeps a little bit of distance between us, even when she demands my presence in her bed.
It’s because of where she’s come from; her family, her upbringing.
Because her life started in tragedy.
I lick over the tiny puncture marks in her wrist, careful not to bite my own lip—as I normally would—even though I’m so tempted to give her a little of my healing blood.
I don’t want to accidentally invoke her powers again. Not until we know more.
If anyone can give me a sliver of knowledge about her dryad heritage, it would be the Khaturian Elders.
She doesn’t know it yet; I’ve intentionally kept her in the dark, waiting until we can be alone together… until I feel she can process the truth. But sooner or later, she will find out, and when she does, her entire world is going to come crashing down.
How will she take it?
I honestly can’t predict.
I release her arm. She lowers her wrist, staring at the spot where I bit her. There’s a faint blush in her cheeks.
She meets my gaze.
Really, she’s utterly gorgeous.
“Was I good?” I ask, unable to stop myself from teasing.
She gives me a baleful look. “It depends on what you mean by good.”
I reach out and brush a stray strand of hair away from her face. She’s radiant. “I was restrained, wasn’t I?”
“Yes, and no.” Her expression turns coy as she pulls the sheets over her body and curls up beside me. “But you were perfect.”
Ah. Why does her praise strike me right in the center of my chest, like a pitch-tipped burning arrow?
I smile at her. It’s the first time in years that I’ve felt so unburdened. “I enjoyed it very much. As for the other thing… perhaps a schedule is in order.”
“The other thing?”
“Well, I don’t want to turn into a ravenous bloodthirsty lunatic again. Regular dosing should keep me sane. At least you’ve given me enough to tolerate a few days in the mountains.” Unable to help myself, I lean in and kiss her.
She yields, then kisses me back.
Her warmth spreads through me, thawing my undead heart. “As much as I’d enjoy lying in bed with you all day, we must get going. I want to reach Niize before nightfall.”
“You get dressed first,” she says softly, a slightly devious look entering her eyes. “I’m spent. I’ll just lie here a little longer.”
“Oh?”
“Well, I don’t mind watching you while you get dressed.”
I chuckle. “The audacity.”
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that you’re very pleasing to the eye, Your Highness?”
There’s that burning arrow sensation again. “Not really.” Well, Kaithar does, but that’s just stupid banter; my commander swings strongly in the other direction.
“Well, I’m sure there are many that have thought it, but considering who you are, I can see why nobody would dare.”
“And yet, you have no reservations about objectifying my naked form.” I’m surprised at how much I’m enjoying this lighthearted back-and-forth.
“Well, I am betrothed to you, and now we’re lovers, so I should think this sort of thing is entirely appropriate.”
“As you wish, my lady.” With a resigned sigh, I caress her cheek and roll out of bed.
She props herself up on one elbow and gives me a heated look. I feel her eyes burning into me as I turn and retrieve my clothes. Glancing over my shoulder, I snort softly and quickly get dressed.
I’ve never been so blatantly ogled by a woman before.
“You have a magnificent ass, Corvan.”
I pull up my trousers and fasten them, before slipping my belt through the loops.
I smile, baring my fangs. “A schedule, then.”
She holds up her wrist, where I’ve marked her. “For this, yes. As for the other thing…”
I silence her with a look. “That will never be scheduled. It will be spontaneous and frequent. Initiated by either party. And always freely given, never forced. Do you agree?”
A fleeting look of surprise crosses her face, quickly hidden. “Yes…” She tips her head; a little deferent now. Her lips curve ever so slightly. “Your Highness.”
“The only time I would ever want you to call me that is in bed,” I tease as I don my shirt and fasten the buttons.
The fact that I can tease her like this… it pleases me immensely. For although I’ve become monstrous, she treats me as if I were still human.
She isn’t afraid of me. She invites me into her bed as if I were a comely lad she’s decided to have a quick fling with.
I put on my jacket, keenly aware of the way she watches me.
“Well, if that is what you please,” she says quietly, giving me a demure little look. I can’t tell whether she’s being serious or not. It drives me a little crazy.
I’m starting to get aroused again. As I bend down and retrieve my boots, I allow my gaze to linger. “We’ll continue this discussion later, Finley. I’ll wait for you in the antechamber.”
32
FINLEY
We leave Tyron Castle on foot, discreetly exiting through a side gate with not a single soul to bid us farewell.
It isn’t the departure I’d expected for a Prince of the Empire, but Corvan is unexpected in so many ways.
It’s midday. The sky is clear and brilliantly blue—a rarity in the middle of winter. The bright sunshine reflects off the snow, turning it incandescent. As we step outside the castle walls, I shield my eyes with my gloved hand.
“Here.” Corvan reaches into his pocket and retrieves two pairs of gold-framed glasses with dark lenses. He hands me a pair and dons the other, concealing his crimson eyes. “For the glare. I had these specially made for my light-sensitivity, but they’re also useful to ordinary folks.”