AnwenI rap on Estrella’s door, the hallway behind me humming with activity. All the delegations are here—including Snowcrest—and the servants race around like ants in a colony, completing final preparations before the welcome ball just getting underway downstairs.She opens the door.“Fuck,” I mutt
She giggles, a sound I can’t wait to hear every day. “I’m certain that made a good impression–at his wife’s funeral.”“Hey, I think he smiled,” I say. “Or ordered me to stay quiet for the rest of the service.”She giggles again. My heart’s going to beat out of my chest and move into hers if she keep
“You should be. She was ravishing that night.” I wrap an arm around Estrella’s waist and pull her close then murmur in her ear, “Keep the talk light until people have time to get drunk. Questions that require specific details are tactless.”She nods.“You lovebirds are sweet,” Evangeline coos.We tr
EstrellaI stare across the ballroom at Anwen, surrounded by gorgeous women. A brunette throws her head back in a laugh and starts to put her hand on his arm, then pulls back. If I wanted to be kind—if I hadn’t already spent three hours stumbling through conversations like some kind of backcountry r
“I do not wish to talk about it,” I say thickly.She nods, smoothes the sleeves of my dress. “Gotcha. Um… I never asked you about the boat ride back to Sundrop.”Her awkward attempt scares a small smile out of me. “Less nauseating, thankfully.”“Goddess, I hear you on that. Father always tries to co
AnwenEstrella never comes back to my side. At first, I’m worried—did something happen? Has Floyd moved from murder to kidnapping? But I would feel her pain, and I know she wasn’t having a good time. Plus, I’m used to running these events on my own. It’s easier to float through unattached, saying wh
Estrella arches up into me. She rotates her wrists in my grasp, struggling to escape, but I hold fast. Clearly, she wants my touch just as much as I want hers. I circle one nipple with my tongue, scrape my teeth across it, pluck the other like harp string. Groans tumble from her lips. She’ll tell me
Estrella“My hair wouldn’t stay. It’s too fine.” Candace runs her fingers through her cornsilk tresses sadly.“You’ve never had your hair braided by Tess,” I say. “She is simply a genius for it. Allow her to try, and you’ll be surprised.”Tess smiles shyly. “I am happy to make an attempt.”Candace g
When he brings a hand up to tease my other nipple, I remember I can actually move my arms. One hand, I thread instantly into his hair and tug. The vibrations of his grumble ripple through me. The other, I slip down his back, nails out, scratching red lines I can’t see. I need to mark him as much as
CandaceI trail after Hollis through the dark halls of the castle, my heart pounding. If Finn didn’t talk to me after the meeting, I would’ve let Hollis whisk me on whatever adventure he had planned for today. I never would’ve heard the story about his mother—and he wouldn’t have told it. Judging by
“Long story short, I pitched a fit.” I shake my head. “She finally told the painter she’d sit with me in the room, or not at all.”Candace giggles. “Don’t tell me that’s when you gained your taste for paint thinner.”“No, but I did eat a fistful of blue paint I’ve never seen come back out.” I stare
HollisI take a full step back from Candace before my brain catches up with my body. We were supposed to go try to get some of the staff on our side today—and if the idea appealed, maybe have a private lunch in the kitchen, without all the pressure of a formal meal. Talking about Mother is… not exac
Maybe I don’t have to. Hollis and I made it into town the other day, and it’s really not far from the castle. If Kieran paid for my accommodation in an inn there, that might go some way toward easing the tension. Maybe mine and Kash’s. He’s still enjoying the palace far more than he has any right to
Candace“King Andri has refused my latest meeting request,” Kieran says.Taner groans. Finn rolls his eyes. Ingrid cracks her knuckles and glares at the portrait of the king that hangs over the small sitting room they’ve been granted to use for their meetings.I scratch a line through the bottom ent
Open the east gate, I call through the mind-link to the soldiers that should be on guard there at this time.They do as they’re told, and metal whines in the distance. Candace pricks an ear then picks up speed. Fuck. I can’t explain to her that’s just my orders being followed. She doesn’t even know
HollisMy first plan didn’t work out. Hell, I haven’t seen paw nor tail of Kash since that disastrous conversation with him. I have no idea why it went to shit. It really seemed like we were onto something, like Candace was about to unearth some big secret… and then he just shut down.I roll out my
Kash frowns. “Then how’d she find out? See a mark?”“In effect.” Hollis stares at the rocky floor.“He’s softening it.” I bite my lip. “We didn’t not pursue as much as we intended to, and she caught us. We made a terrible, selfish mistake that’s caused a lot of problems, and we just want to fix them