He continued to fuck me, both of our bodies shaking with pleasure as blood dripped between us. Suddenly everything was clear. My mind, my heart, my senses. I could feel him everywhere, inside me, against me.
I pulled back, licking my lips of his blood, meeting his slitted eyes that glowed bright yellow with feral male satisfaction.
All was silent for a moment, save for the pounding of our heartbeats, which were remarkably in sync. It was as if I would feel the shifter under my skin and all around me, his magic leaking into me as if he was pouring it into my soul straight from his.
Our breaths evened out as we stared at one another, both of us realizing exactly what we’d just done. I didn’t see an ounce of regret in his eyes.
Footsteps from the darkness had us both stiffening as a familiar voice called out to us. “It would seem you’ve found your Source Mate, shifter. How special for the both of you.” Tetia appeared in the light of a single flickering torch. The runes on her skin flashed like the whites of her eyes.
A sick feeling coiled in the pit of my stomach as Remus pulled out of me, securing my dress around my thighs. He placed a warm plam on my cheek, forcing my eyes to meet his again. “I regret nothing, and neither do you,” he whispered with a wink. “Let’s see what this bitch needs and then finish this elsewhere.”
I nodded, my lips tilting into a small smile that fell an instant later and I flicked my eyes back over his shoulder to where the priestess stood, watching us with her hands clasped in front of her and a sickening smile on her pretty lips.
Remus turned, his body pivoting so that he stood in front of me while I fixed my dress and lowered myself from the railing.
“What do you want, Priestess?” I asked, a bitter edge lacing my words. I wouldn’t hide the fact that I didn’t like her. I didn’t bother addressing her words to Remus. Whether or not I’d truly become his…Source Mate, was something we would deal with once we left this place far behind us.
“It’s time for you to meet King Basillius. I was asked to warn you to be on your best behavior.” Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, noting the disheveled state of my hair. With a wicked grin, she snapped her fingers, and a crackle of magic ran over every inch of my skin. When it was over, she clicked her tongue. “Yes, that’s much better,”
I touched my hair to find it perfectly smooth, not a hair out of place. The wetness that had been previously dripping down my legs was gone, and my dress was unwrinkled. It was as if nothing had happened between Remus and I. I wanted to carve her eyes from her skull.
* * *
Tetia ledus through the grand halls of the castle, the floors made of gold and glittering jewels embedded into the stone walls, flickering like starlight against the torches.
We passed through throngs of people, each of them draped in beautiful silks, dazzling diamonds and rubies, some of them wearing ornate eye masks while others adorned their hair with feathers, flowers and fur headdresses.
We reached the throne room eventually, though it had been transformed into a party hall, with tables laden with drink and sweets, fountains of melted chocolate and wine.
The crowd parted down the center of the room as we passed through, all eyes drinking in the two strangers approaching their king.
At the very head of the room was a man, sitting high above all the rest, with an empty throne beside him and no queen to be found.
Basillius. King of Nexus, and Nero’s older brother.
Rijjat and Caldor stood below the king, having been summoned before the two of us arrived. Caldor’s eyes were hard on Remus, as if somehow he could tell exactly where we’d been and what we’d been doing. Rijjat’s face was stoic and stern, but I noticed the way his shoulders relaxed the second our eyes met.
The court watched me approach the steps that would lead to the gilded throne, where I stopped and curtseyed, bowing my head in respect to the foreign king. Several people in the crowd behind us tittered, whispering behind our backs. I ignored them, raising my head again to meet the king’s sparkling eyes. Beside him, was Nero, already watching me with an excited light dancing in his color shifting eyes.
“So, you’re the infamous X,” Basillius said with a click of his tongue. It wasn’t a question. Just as I expected, Nero had told his brother exactly who I was. I responded with a simple ‘yes’ and a nod of my head, and the king glanced at Nero. “Not much of a talker, is she brother?”
Once again the crowd murmured. Before now, none of them had known who exactly was in their midst. But they knew now, and my name was infamous. I wasn’t going to volunteer him any information unless specifically requested. It was the best way to not only lie, but to omit the truth, by sticking as close to it as possible without saying too much.
“And what do you think this spymaster, poison master…whatever it is she calls herself, can do for me?” His question was for Nero. Indeed. I’d asked myself that very same question. “I have no need for another political prisoner, you know this. What am I to do with a spy and her entourage, slinking around my kingdom in the dead of night and conspiring behind my back? I do trust you, brother, but I have to admit I’m stumped.”
Nero tore his eyes away from me, and it was as if the physical weight of them had lifted. He turned towards the king. “I have reason to believe this woman might be the answer to our…predicament. ” His eyes flickered toward the waiting crowd, which once again began to murmur, gossip already beginning to spread.
Predicament?What was he talking about? Was Nexus in some kind of trouble the rest of the world didn’t know about?
A new sort of scrutiny entered the king’s cunning eyes as he looked me over. I felt every inch of that cunning stare. Remus shifted on his feet beside me, a growl already beginning to build in his chest. I could tell he wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible.
I met Nero’s eyes again, glaring into them, pushing every shred of emotion towards the prince. Hatred, regret, betrayal and disgust and hurt. He was just like all the rest of these males, wanting to use me for their own games, political or otherwise.
I didn’t know why I had thought he was any different, but something inside me ached at the realization that I’d been used again.
His lips flattened into thin lines as he held my eyes. Then I felt it. A wave of tingling magic caressed my skin like the lightest of touches. I braced myself for Nero’s power to alter my emotions. For him to forcefully make me more compliant. But the compulsion never came. Instead, I nearly staggered backwards at the invasion of emotions that were clearly not my own…grief, torment, fear, anger and longing.
The king’s booming voice cut through the moment of silent tension between the prince and I, and the wave of emotion dissipated. “I’m intrigued,” he said, stroking his chin with his palm.” He collected himself, clearing his throat. “I’m afraid this discussion is much better held in the privacy of the council chambers.” Basillius sent his brother a warning look that I couldn’t decipher, and Nero just nodded. “Perhaps our guests are willing to…” The king’s next words were cut off as movement caught my eye and the out of place scent of roses filled my nose.