And I intended to fulfill it appropriately.
Chapter Four
Aflora
Talk about a wicked dream, I thought, stretching against something warm and solid.
I frowned.
Did I fall asleep at Glacier’s place again? I wondered.
Wait…
My eyes sprang open to find an icy gaze watching me intently.
I attempted to scramble backward, but a set of iron bars held me captive while my front was entirely caged in by a lounging predator in jeans and a shirt. “Shadow,” I whispered, recalling the reality I’d hoped was a really bad dream.
“Shade,” he replied.
“What?”
“It’s my name, darling flower. As we’re betrothed now, I imagine you should use my preferred appellation.”
Appellation? I repeated to myself. Seriously? His vocabulary matched the pompous arching of his dark brow.
“Are you ready to leave yet?” he asked. “Because we’re well into the midnight hours and I have things I want to do today.”
“What?”
He sighed. “Is that your chosen word of the day? Because I’m already bored. What a dull mate you’ll turn out to be at this rate.” He rolled along the concrete floor, popping easily to his feet and holding out a hand. “Jacket, please. You’ve been drooling all over it for the last hour.”
I nearly repeated my “chosen word of the day” because I felt like needling him, but the realization that I was snuggling into his coat captured my attention. Black leather surrounded my entire upper body, the soft part of it under my head.
How…? I glanced up at him. Had he given me this while I slept?
His expression told me not to bother asking, that he would probably insult me if I tried. So I shoved away from the makeshift bed on the ground and stood. If he wanted his precious jacket back, he could pick it up himself.
He did.
After putting it around his shoulders in a quick shift of his strong arms, he rolled his neck. “Prince Kolstov is waiting for us upstairs.” With that, he opened the door and left.
I glanced at the stone gargoyle, waiting for him to react. When he didn’t, I tentatively followed and practically had to run to catch up to Shade on the stairs. It seemed he wasn’t wasting any time.
“Does this mean I’m free to go home?” I asked as we reached the top floor.
“No.”
He didn’t elaborate.
Just pushed through the door and led me back to the obsidian reception area we’d originally waited in.
A male in a suit with a long black cloak stood waiting for us in the center of the room. His golden irises smoldered with power as he glowered at Shade. “You took your fucking time.”
“My mother taught me never to interrupt a woman in the middle of a beauty nap,” my captor drawled. “Besides, I enjoyed watching her sleep. She is quite fetching.” He winked at me, causing me to glare at him almost as harshly as the other man was.
“You’re a willow stump,” I told Shade, folding my arms. “I hope I never have to see you again.”
“A willow stump,” he repeated, considering. “Most women refer to my cock as more of a tree trunk than a stump, but we can elaborate on the nuances of my girth later. Prince Kolstov is in charge of you for now.” He gave a little bow, backing away. “Do enjoy your time together, and I’ll see you both next week.”