Breaking branches sound, and we all scramble away from each other as Ezryn and Kel burst through the leaves.
“Anything to report?” Ezryn asks, looking at each of our guilty faces.
Kel’s just staring at us. He doesn’t look mad but… pained. Then I remember he can feel what I do, or at least some version of it.
“Let’s get moving,” Ezryn says. “We have to brief the Princess before the festival.”
Keldarion shakes his head, then turns. “And for stars’ sake, lace your bodice, Rosalina.”
I look down at the shirt Dayton unlaced. Yep, I’m indecent. Without the thick leather holding everything in, my breasts hang loose in the thin fabric.
But when Keldarion wants me to do something, it makes me want to do anything else. “If you want it laced so badly, do it yourself.”
“It seems you are getting used to royal life, with servants dressing you,” he growls. “Do you enjoy being treated like a princess?”
When you’re the one treating me that way, I think. But I shake my head. “Whatever, I can do it—”
But he’s in front of me now, swatting my hands down, and delicately picking up the laces. His fingers are rough and calloused, looping the thread through the eyelets of the corset, stitching it closed. Every brush of his hands against my sensitive skin sends skittering pulses of heat through me, and I clamp my legs shut.
Damn Dayton for starting this all. And damn Keldarion’s hands for feeling so good against my skin.
The other princes move in a semicircle, watching as if in rapture. There’s something predatory in their gazes. Chills run down my spine as if Kel and I are cornered by hungry animals.
Maybe we are.
I take a deep breath, causing my chest to rise. It presses Kel’s hands against the delicate skin of my breasts.
His fingers tremble. “Rosalina,” he says, a warning edge to his voice.
A warning I want nothing more than to ignore, so I tilt my head at him, hair falling over my shoulders. So easy to tear, so easy to rip apart… Words I wish he’d say filter through my mind, and it’s like I can hear his deep voice etching a place within me. Lay you bare and have you here upon the forest floor.
“Move your hair,” he says. One of his fingers dips between the valley of my breasts. I press my thighs together, sensing I’m going to soak through my underclothes.
There’s a heavy presence behind me. Ezryn. “Let me.” A rough, gloved hand caresses my neck as he sweeps my hair away from my face.
Oh stars. Ohh stars. Kel’s gaze shifts from me to Ezryn. It’s like there’s a silent conversation between the two of them. I can’t handle this. I’ve already been pressed between two fae princes today.
I can’t help but let out a soft groan as Kel’s rough fingers delicately touch the last of my exposed skin, tying my corset together.
A small, matching growl escapes his lips, then he snatches my face. “Are you satisfied?”
My eyes flit over him, down the hard planes of his chest, until I see the obvious outline of his arousal. Hard and yearning. Yearning for me.
Ezryn gives a tight yank on my hair, and I fall against his hard metal frame. “Careful what you say next, Petal.”
But I don’t want to be careful. Not around them. “I could ask you the same question.” My voice comes out husky, dripping with desire.
Kel’s grip tightens on my jaw. Wild thoughts race through my mind as my body trembles. He just did up my laces, but I want to throw off my top, all my clothes, and toss myself naked onto the forest floor until one of these muscled idiots fills my aching— Keldarion loosens his hold and turns. “You are going to be the death of me.”
Dayton clears his throat. “You know what I’m feeling? Forest orgy. Hear me out, we all get naked and—”
Keldarion storms away, and Ezryn gives a dissatisfied sigh, letting go of my hair and following Keldarion.
I giggle. Did he read my mind or something? I walk over to Dayton. “Sorry, Day, no forest orgies today.”
“It’s alright.” Dayton throws his arms around me and Farron. “There’s always tomorrow.”
40
Rosalina
Thank goodness for the cold breeze because my skin is seriously heated from that last encounter. Being pressed between Day and Fare, then Kel’s hands over me, Ezryn pulling my hair… I need to get my head on straight. We have real actual problems here. I can’t constantly be lusting after these princes like Marigold.
I step cautiously through the dense undergrowth, my feet sinking into the earth. The air is thick with the scent of decaying leaves and the distant sound of trickling water. Between twisted trees and tangled roots, a bog gleams in the moonlight.
I stop in place. “There’s something out there.”
A light bounces at the edge of the water—not the shimmer of moonlight, but something floating. It oscillates back and forth, resembling a dancing flame on the wind.
Almost in a trance, I step closer to it, mud squelching beneath my boots as I approach. I peer into the blackness, trying to see through the thick mist.
“Careful.” Kel grips my forearm.
“I’ve read about this,” I say.
Farron nods as he creeps up beside me, then gestures for the others to be quiet.
“Is this a will-o’-wisp?” I whisper, turning to him.
His broad smile is the only answer I need. “It might be. This is only the second time I’ve come across one.”
“A will-o’-what?” Dayton asks.
“A will-o’-wisp,” Farron says. “They’re said to be the wayward hearts of mated souls who never completed their bond.”
“Stars,” Dayton says. “Better break that celibate streak of yours, Kel, or you’re soon going to look a little more… flamey.”
Kel growls, but I ignore them, nearly vibrating with excitement as the little blue flame dances.
“They’re not dangerous,” Farron continues. “Well, unless you’re—”
“Professor Thaddeus Goldstorm,” I finish. “Man, his book was dry. He spent half of it explaining his research credentials. Every single night, he camped out looking for the wisps. His book was pages upon pages of his injuries, from eating the wrong mushrooms, to animal attacks, to getting stuck in his own traps.”
“After a thousand pages, he finally admits he never found one.” Farron laughs, and his eyes sparkle as he looks over at me. “I think we were darn near ready to throw his book in the fire after that.”
“As cute as you two are, being all smart,” Dayton drawls, “are you sure these things aren’t dangerous? Because this one’s got some friends.”
Two more blue flames flicker to life. Farron lets out a long sigh. “The Harvest Goddess must truly be blessing us to see so many.”
“They’re not dangerous,” I reiterate. “Legends say they can be mischievous, leading bewildered travelers off the path. But others say they’re leading you toward your destiny.”
“And why do you both know so much about these… things?” Ezryn asks, swatting one away that bounces too close to him. Farron utters a pained hiss at Ezryn’s movement. The flame weaves back, skittering blue light over his armor.
“We looked them up while we were researching mates.” An idea sparks in my mind. We’ve been so busy trying to figure out this frost, I haven’t spent as much time on my original goal: finding a way to break the princes’ curse. Finding their mates.
Warmth blooms on my skin. Maybe there’s another reason I’ve been avoiding that mission.
But I have to stop being selfish. This is for the entire Enchanted Vale.
“Farron,” I say, “do you remember that legend about catching a will-o’-wisp?”
“The lighting of the mate bond.” He nods. “One myth says that if you catch a will-o’-wisp, it will temporarily alight your mate bond, and you can see a path to the other half of your soul.”
Keldarion grumbles as if the whole thing is ridiculous. He already knows his destiny and hates it.
“Come on,” I urge the others. “It can’t hurt.”
Slowly, they follow my instructions and creep toward the will-o’-wisps.