“Any one of us could do it,” Drey added.
“Not me-” Fane started, only to be cut off with a sharp look from the dragon.
That was odd. Her reaction to Drey’s words had been instant agreement, yet Fane wasn’t going with it. She wondered what all that was about. She didn’t feel a pull towards him like she was between the other two in the room. But did that really mean anything?
“I can do it,” Drey offered. “Maybe the fact I could eat her in one go will help.”
“Don’t make me repeat it again. No eating my mother. Not unless you want to find yourself in the dungeon.”
“The fun dungeon?” Drey perked up.
A sly smile lifted Aledwen’s lips. Now that could be fun.
“No, not the fun dungeon. The very real, very dark dungeon we have beneath the palace,” she teased, while also being a little serious. No matter what her mother had done, she didn’t want her to be eaten. It would cause all kinds of mess. And not just the kind which could be cleaned up with a mop.
“Alright, fine, no eating family members.”
“Thank you.”
“But we do need a plan,” he pointed out.
“She’ll hold court tomorrow. We wait until it’s in full swing, then you come in asking your questions. She can’t really deny your request with so many other people around.”
“You’re sure?” He looked uneasy, and Aledwen had to agree that it was odd.
“No, but this is our best short without threats and actual harm. So that’s what I’m okay with for now.”
He nodded once. “Very well.” He rose from his seat, pausing where Aledwen was standing. Leaning down, he kissed her softly. “Have a good evening, Dwen.”
“Wait, where are you going?” She didn’t like the idea of him leaving her, not with such an important even tomorrow.
“To relieve Brandon, so he can get some...rest.” The pause in his words had her thinking of things that definitely weren’t restful.
“Thank you,” Cyprus answered for her, and Aledwen frowned. Now what was all that about.
“I’d better go too,” Fane jumped to his feet. “Good night, princess.”
He rushed past them all, and Drey looked on in bemusement. “He’ll realise eventually.” He cracked a smile. “Have fun without me.” With that, he followed the elf from the room.
“So...which way to your room?” Cyprus murmured as he stepped up to her, and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back into him.
“This way,” she said a little breathlessly, pulling his arms away, but grabbing his hand to tug him along behind her.
Fifteen
She wasn’t as nervous as when it had been her and Drey. Which pretty much meant she wasn’t nervous at all. There was something about all of the men that had suddenly appeared in her life, that had her feeling safe and secure. More than she had in her entire life. If this was what finding a mate, or in her case, mates, was like, then no longer it was mythical. Everyone should have this.
Aledwen reached up and touched Cyprus’ face, smoothing her thumb against his cheek. His green eyes looked on with intense devotion, filling her with joy.
But he didn’t let her enjoy it. Or he did, just not in the way she had been. Instead, he pressed his lips against hers, taking her in a demanding kiss and backing her against the wall behind them. Her hands grasped at his shirt, tugging at the material and desperate to remove it. He was hers, and she was desperate to feel all of him.
“Off,” she moaned into the kiss, receiving a chuckle in return. But he also played along, pulling away from their kiss, and quickly divesting himself of the shirt, letting the starched white material fall to the floor.
He kissed her again, and she wished more than anything that she was a witch, and that she could magically divest them of all their clothing, but as that wasn’t going to happen, she’d have to break the mood by trying to get off the terrible contraption she was wearing.
“Can you rip it?” she asked, only pausing their kiss for a moment. She didn’t want the contact to be lost for long.
“Yes,” he responded breathlessly, and she felt a sharpened claw down her back, splitting the fabric as it did, but not her skin. Cyprus was too careful for that. For which she was grateful, even if it wouldn’t have mattered in her current state.