Lark pursed his lips and kept them pressed together as though holding back a secret. Too late. He’d already confessed.
My hand shook slightly as I reached for his blue scarf, as though I’d never done this before. With Lark Elmray, everything felt new and frighteningly addictive. If I crossed this threshold, there’d be no turning back.
I stripped the scarf from his shoulders. He divested me of my waistcoat, then yanked off his own. Lightly tanned skin covered a beautifully sculpted torso. To be able to touch him fired off sparks in my head. Lark unbuttoned my shirt in a hurry. When he reached the last button, I was already jerking my arms out of the sleeves in my eagerness to be skin to skin with him.
We removed our pants, baring it all. He was as hard for me as I was for him. I reached for him, but before I could take him in hand, Lark’s mouth captured mine.
It was a frantic, desperate kiss that quickly got out of control. We didn’t stop kissing until we were on the bed.
It felt like I was living out my most reckless fantasy. Lark Elmray guided me onto all fours. He was behind me, spreading my cheeks, attentive and careful. Then flaming through me. An inferno of pleasure. Of course, he’d be on top. It didn’t surprise me at all. Feeling him push through and slide inside me made me stiff with excitement. His groan sounded ecstatic. With every thrust of his hips, he made little gasping sounds as though he was the one being ridden. I’d never been on the bottom; never had a male in me until now. I had no clue this kind of ecstasy existed until Lark rammed into my prostate. I nearly came over his bedspread.
He panted, reminding me I wasn’t the only one struggling to hold on.
Our pleasured moans filled the chamber. I’d never heard a sound as satisfying as the ones Lark made while our bodies mated.
When he took his release, he triggered mine. Lark’s guttural cry filled the chamber.
Halfling.
Darling.
I wouldn’t let him know I was thinking the last part. My darling prince.
I worried what would happen once we regained our breath. Would Lark laugh at me? Tell me this was all part of his master plan to put me back in my place after years of torment?
But no. He’d waited for me. He said he’d waited. But waited for what?
He eased off my back.
Warm kisses covered my shoulder blades and shivered down my spine. He ran his hands through my hair gently and murmured, “Sky above, you’re beautiful.”
This was no longer a fantasy. It had to be a dream.
Lark flipped onto his side and pulled me against him, holding onto me from behind as though I was a precious gift he didn’t intend to share.
Is this how Lark treated all his conquests? If that’s what this was, I knew I’d never recover.
I began to pull away. I couldn’t let Lark Elmray break my heart. It wasn’t too late to disentangle myself and forget this ever happened.
Lie.
There was only one type of falsehood a faerie could tell. Self-denial. We could lie to ourselves.
Lark didn’t let me get away. He pulled me back and nuzzled my neck. It felt so nice. A momentary fog settled over me as I luxuriated in his touch . . . until I remembered why I had to get the mother-loving Sky out of there. Even my toes were flexing, ready to run the moment I got my clothing back on.
As I prepared for flight, Lark whispered, “You were my first.”
I went completely still.
Then I heard snoring.
Lark bloody Elmray confessed to me that I was his first, then up and dozed off. I wanted to throttle him. No, that was another lie. My heart was spiraling into the clouds, chasing rainbows, and shining like fucking dewdrops on rose petals.
I loved Lark Elmray. And that was no lie.
My shoulders shook with laughter, but it didn’t wake my darling prince from his peaceful slumber. In that moment, he reminded me of the sweet boy I first met. He was still in there. Faerie hadn’t changed him. He simply grew up. And he’d chosen me. Waited for me. Me, who probably didn’t deserve him.
But maybe I did.
Lark
I was enjoying the most blissful slumber, snuggled against Crispin’s back, until pounding at my chamber door woke me up.
I groaned, my mind slowly processing the events of the past hour. I’d told Crispin I wanted him. Well, technically I’d alluded rather than admit that fact. It had still felt risky. But having someone threaten my life made me feel reckless.
It turned out it didn’t matter. I’d felt like I was going to die when Crispin’s engagement to Pervinca had been announced. All I’d known in that moment was I had to get as far away from him as I could. Then he’d stopped me. The gorgeous fox had reset my heart to beating. He’d kissed me with a hunger that mirrored my own. I was his. He was mine. Crispin Maglen was a dream come true.
He scooted off my bed and hurried to put on his clothes as the pounding continued.
“Lark, are you in there?” Folas bellowed.
Oh, pitberries!
I sat up. “Yes, I’m here! Safe and sound,” I yelled back.
“Is the earl with you?” he demanded.
I smiled, enjoying the sound of that. “If you must know, yes. And we would prefer you didn’t walk in on us.”
Red tailored pants halfway up his legs, Crispin spun around and scowled. I wanted to laugh, but I knew he wouldn’t find the situation amusing. Not Mr. Propriety. He looked like a frantic lover, yanking on his clothes and trying to escape before his sweetheart’s partner thundered in and found he’d been a naughty, naughty elf-Fae.
“You shouldn’t have left without telling me,” Folas continued to rant through the door. “And now the earl’s parents are searching the manor to find him. I have to return him before they realize he left Ashcraw.”
My smile dropped. A petulant voice inside my head crooned, No. I’m not giving him back.
“It won’t be long before the count notices your absence as well.”
“I’m coming,” Crispin announced while fumbling with the buttons on his waistcoat.
“Again?” I asked in a low voice, only for his ears.
My tease was met with a sigh. He made me want to kiss the indignation right off his lips. I hadn’t gotten nearly enough time with him.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and swooped down for my clothes. “Then I’m going back with you.”
“It’s better if you stay,” Folas said through the door.
“Not happening,” I returned.
An audible huff came from the hall. Crispin waited as I hastened to put my clothing on. He’d resumed one of his all-too-familiar poised stances. Already, I could see his thoughts drifting away from me—off to Ashcraw and his infernal responsibilities.
“I don’t want you to go back . . . to her.” I wrinkled my nose.
“No date’s been set. I never even proposed to her.”
Noticing his buttons were out of order, Crispin refastened them into their proper holes. He finger-combed his hair next. I’d never seen him disheveled. All I wanted to do was drag him back to bed and keep him for the night . . . and every night after that. I’d been waiting for Crispin Maglen for nearly a decade. Now that I had him, I didn’t intend to let him go.
“Break it off,” I said.
Crispin scoffed and squinted at me through the dark. “Sure. My parents would only disown me. They’re desperate for the Peppercuff fortune. Father already advised me to marry Pervinca, then find my pleasure elsewhere.”
“I won’t share you,” I growled.
“And I don’t want to share you,” he returned.
Oh, how I wanted to shut out the rest of the world so I could kiss him some more. But Folas was pounding at the door again.
Leaving the scarf discarded on the floor, I picked up our masks and handed Crispin his. I looked at the door, then back at him, and nodded. He returned the nod. We put on our masks.
“Ready, Folas,” I said.
The blond giant walked inside
with a glower. “Let’s hope the parlor is empty when we portal into Ashcraw,” he grumbled.
Crispin stepped through the portal first. I hurried ahead of Folas in case he tried to cross through and close it on me.
A rush of swirling wind blew over my masked face right before my boots landed in the Ashcraw parlor.
We weren’t alone.
Far from it.
CHAPTER NINE
Crispin
My parents and the Peppercuffs stepped forward to surround me the moment I emerged from the portal. They’d all removed their masks. The better for me to see their outrage, I supposed. Father’s eyebrows were squished against his lashes with eyes so narrow I couldn’t make out his irises. Mom looked annoyed. Mr. and Mrs. Peppercuff’s snarling faces were lethal. Then there was Pervinca showing her teeth between glossy pink lips. Her eyes were wide and crazed.
Father’s mouth opened to speak, but Pervinca’s shrill voice cut him off.
“Where in the seven hells have you been?” Her dress looked too pretty for her contorted face. “Answer me, Crispin.”
I went rigid with indignation. Was this the wifely shrew I had to look forward to? I glowered at her, though she probably couldn’t see with my fox mask in place.
Pervinca placed her hands on her hips and swiveled a glare at Lark. “Well, it’s plain to see who you were with. What were the two of you doing?”
Lark pulled his mask off, his expression a façade of boredom. “That, Pervinca, is none of your business.”
“What you do with my fiancé is absolutely my business. You stole him before we even had a chance to toast our engagement and dance.” She took a hostile step forward. “You lured him out the same way you lured me to your garden during your under-the-sea ball.”
Mrs. Peppercuff gasped and clutched her chest. Face turning molten red, Mr. Peppercuff looked ready to murder Lark where he stood. Folas must have gotten the same impression. He moved to Lark’s side, a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Pervinca paid no mind to any of them, determined to create a grand scene. “I know all about your little conquests, Lark. It’s pathetic. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, given your upbringing.”
“Pervinca!” I snapped. My tight jaw felt ready to crack.
Father stomped his foot. “Did you seduce my son, Lark?”
Lark folded his arms over his chest. There was no more light in him. Walls had been erected. He stood unmovable without a single spark of his true spirit. They were smothering him. Stripping the shine off my golden prince.
I ripped off my fox mask. “For fuck’s sake, Father. Lark Elmray did not seduce me.”
“Were you fighting?” Pervinca’s eyes brightened.
“No.”
Her cheeks hollowed. “Fucking? During our engagement ball?” she demanded shrilly.
Princess Sarfina tsked. I hadn’t noticed her until she sashayed her way to Lark. “Vulgarity does not suit you, my dear,” she spoke chidingly to Pervinca.
“I think you should leave,” Father said to Lark.
Princess Sarfina sucked in a gasp. “You dare throw the Prince of Dahlquist out of your humble little fete?”
“If the count won’t, I will.” Mr. Peppercuff thundered forward. He was a stocky male with a potbelly.
I moved to intercept Pervinca’s father at the same time Folas drew his sword.
“Time to go,” the guard said.
A portal burst open. Lark was shoved through by the blond giant. Lark’s lips parted in surprise, but any sound was swallowed up as his body was sucked away, out of sight.
Princess Sarfina lifted her head regally. “Well, this evening proved more exciting than I’d anticipated.” She smiled, flashing teeth, before stepping into the portal.
Folas kept his sword drawn as he backed into the rippling blue mass. Then he was gone, leaving me to my doom.
No regrets.
I’d gotten to love Lark Elmray. For a little while. It was worth any price.
Lark
“The nerve of Ralphio,” Aunt Sarfina huffed upon our return.
Folas had portaled us outside the throne room. He sheathed his sword and narrowed his eyes when he noticed my glower.
“Insulting my nephew. Chasing us out like a pack of crocotes.” Aunt Sarfina sounded breathless. Invigorated.
At least someone had gotten a thrill out of the disastrous confrontation. I was ready to portal back, grab Crispin, and roast anyone who tried to stop us from leaving together.
“Outrageous! And to suggest that Lark seduced Crispin, when clearly it was the earl running after our dearest prince.” Aunt Sarfina’s throaty huff was both gleeful and vexed.
“I’m going back,” I said.
“No, you’re not.” Folas stepped up to me, puffing out his chest. It was like a wall of muscle coming at me.
“You can’t stop me.”
“Maybe I can, and if not, I can follow you and drag your princely ass back to Dahlquist as many times as you make me.” Folas flashed me a wicked grin.
I scowled. How could Folas possibly understand the bleeding gash in my heart? He didn’t know what it was like to be in love. He didn’t even stick to one paramour. Sometimes adults forgot how observant children were. From an early age, I’d noticed him sneak off with various females in my family’s staff: Gem, Magnolia, Kaylin . . . sometimes Gem and Magnolia at the same time.
“They could be hurting him,” I pleaded. My nails bit crescents into my palms as I remembered the angry grooves in the faces of Crispin’s father and the Peppercuffs.
What kind of male was the count? Was he the type who would take his belt to Crispin?
I growled. I’d fry anyone who laid a harmful finger on him.
“Ralphio is all bluster. He would never strike his children,” Aunt Sarfina said.
My jaw tightened.
“I’m sure the Earl of Ashcraw is capable of fending for himself.” Folas’s fingers twitched over his thighs, clearly ready to grab me if I attempted to flee. He inched in closer. “And now I think it is time I took you home to Pinemist.”
“What? No!”
“Lark did nothing wrong,” Aunt Sarfina snapped.
Folas heaved a sigh of frustration. “The citizens of Dahlquist are already rallying against us. After tonight’s scandal, the royal family could lose support from the gentry and nobles as well. We can’t have everyone opposing us, Sarfina.”
“Teryani isn’t against us,” she answered stubbornly.
“Teryani has her own kingdom to rule.”
Aunt Sarfina removed her mask and ran her fingers over the feathers. “I don’t see what the big deal is. This is hardly the first affair to have ever taken place.”
“Perhaps it was the timing.” Folas grunted.
“Yes, shocking. Crispin should have waited until after he was married.” Sarfina smiled.
I found no amusement in any of this. “I am going to bed,” I announced.
“I am coming with you,” Folas said.
My mouth gaped open. “You’re joking.”
There was no mirth in his eyes, only cool determination. “Unfortunately, I am not. I will have to watch over you inside your room to make sure you don’t portal back to Ashcraw—at least until morning when I can arrange for access points to be closed off to you.”
“You don’t have the authority.”
“That’s true. I’ll have to run it by King Liri first. Perhaps I should get your fathers involved.” Folas rubbed his jaw. “Or maybe this is a job for Mel. Fight fire with fire.” He raised his brows, seeming to take to the idea.
“Now, Folas, I’m sure there’s no need to involve Lark’s parents,” Aunt Sarfina chided.
“Fine. Watch me sleep if you must.” I softened my face long enough to kiss my aunt on her cheeks. “Goodnight, Auntie. Thanks for having my back.”
Stuck inside the chamber where I’d made love to Crispin, I felt the thrill of the memory at war with the worry and ache tugging at my chest.
Having him had been like entering another realm. A magical portal for dicks.
I had to stop thinking about Crispin naked beneath me, clenched around my cock, or I’d make myself hard. Jerking off in front of Folas wasn’t my idea of a satisfying conclusion to the evening . . . unless it scared him away. I pursed my lips and regarded the muscle mass seated on a wing-backed chair by the door, meaty arms folded.
Yeah. Doubtful.
Didn’t matter. I wasn’t in the mood for chasing memories. I wanted the real thing. I needed to know Crispin was okay.
Striding to my dresser, I yanked open the middle drawer and looked down into the piles of neatly folded cotton pants. I stripped out of my suit pants, keeping my back to Folas as I dug out the vial of sleeping powder and set it on top of the stacks. I removed my waistcoat and worked on schooling my expression while my back was still turned.
Hands in the drawer, I uncorked the vial and sprinkled a small amount of powder into my palm. I fisted the powder then turned and stormed straight up to Folas, whose eyebrows slanted as I approached. He never made it to his feet as I blew the powder into his face.
My stomach clenched as his eyelids closed and his head drooped to the side. The instant effect of the powder was unsettling, especially used on someone other than me. Guilt coiled tightly around my chest. Squeezing. I felt like I might suffocate or throw up on the floor.
This is what Alok had done to me in my own home. I hated doing it to Folas, but my heart, not my head, was in control.
I hurried and changed into a fresh pair of black breeches and a long-sleeved ribbed Henley tee I’d bought in the mortal world. Then I removed Folas’s sword carefully from his hip, ready to swing it at anyone who tried to stop me from seeing Crispin. The sight of the weapon would help them remember I was not to be trifled with. Not that I’d ever use it unless defending the ones I loved. A dark fury had taken hold of me the night Malon held a knife to my cousin Fraya’s neck. I was only sorry Alok got away. I would have killed him too. I didn’t like bloodshed, but I’d do anything to protect my family—my real family. Not villains and pretenders like Malon and Alok. Alok was going around saying he was an Elmray prince. But he was little more than traitor spawn. The son of a dead imposter.
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