I sighed. “The Nacht family is responsible for thousands of Midnight Fae deaths, Aflora.”
“Kols isn’t,” she insisted. “He’s not even the king yet.”
“No, he’s just the groomed heir destined to take over the violent reins from his father,” I deadpanned. “His destiny is to become my biggest threat. We will duel. It’s inevitable.”
“You don’t know him like I do,” she whispered. “He’s not okay with what his father and the Elders have done.”
“Once he ascends, his personal feelings will no longer apply.” I attempted to gentle my voice, but she flinched anyway. “Let’s table this discussion for later and focus on our trust exercise. Take me to your mates. I’ll behave in your dream. Maybe then you’ll consider attending the gala with me.”
She swallowed, her blue eyes widening. “R-right now?”
“It’s an appropriate hour for dreaming,” I said, noting the midday sun outside.
Of course, it was always sunny here. I’d made it that way to better hide our paradigm in this realm.
However, I could read the time because I knew the nuances of my creation. It was close to noon in the Midnight Fae realm, making it the dead of day for our kind. They would all be asleep, or should be, anyway. If they weren’t, then her spell would pull them into dreamland.
I set her off to my side and made a show of sliding beneath the sheets before lifting the black silk in invitation.
“I promise I won’t touch any of them. Unless they attack me, then I’ll only defend myself.” Like I’d done with Kolstov the first time around. He’d targeted my enchantment, and I’d retaliated. Seemed only fair, considering our dark fates.
She nibbled her lip again, then she slowly joined me. The sheets moving over her skin drew her focus to her exposed legs, her brow pulling down. “What am I wearing?”
“My shirt,” I replied, amused that she had just now noticed. “Now lie down and take us to dreamland, Aflora. Once you’re satisfied, we’ll sleep.”
Her brow crinkled as she settled her head on the pillow beside me, her blue eyes wary.
“I’m not going to hurt them,” I repeated, doing my best to hide my irritation. All she needed to do was look into our bond to find my sincerity.
Did I want to hurt her mates? Sure.
Would I? Not yet. Perhaps not ever. At least where Shade and Zephyrus were concerned. The former amused me. The latter provided my mate with defensive magic. Both were worthy reasons to keep them alive.
Kolstov, however, would die. Just not tonight.
“Aflora?” I prompted when all she did was stare at me. “Do I need to repeat my promise a third time?”
“Uh, no.” She cleared her throat. “It’s just… I’m not sure… Well, I don’t know how to…” She trailed off, her nose scrunching the way it used to when we were kids.
My lips curled. I loved that look on her. Part confusion, part annoyance. Not at me, but at herself. Which was how I figured out what she meant. “You don’t know how to invade their dreams.”
She shook her head slowly.
My smile grew. “How disingenuous of them. I know they’ve played in your mind countless times, yet no one ever showed you how to return the favor?”
“I learned how to take over, um, in my own ways.”
Memories of her naked body beneath me populated my mind, heating my blood. “Oh, I’m very familiar with your methods, little star.”
Her cheeks reddened. “I thought you were a figment.”
“I know,” I replied, slowly leaning forward to give her a chance to move. When she didn’t, I lightly brushed my lips against hers in a chaste kiss.
She shivered in response, remaining still.
I considered that a minor victory and a prelude to our long battle ahead.
“Every bit of what I did to you was real,” I whispered. “When you’re ready for a live performance, let me know, and I’ll show you what happens when I’m in control.” I kissed her again—a bolder touch, but still soft—and pulled back to study her flushed cheeks.