During the rest of the flight, I was able to convince Nicholas that I did not need to be emergency lifted to the hospital. He didn’t seem pleased at first, but we compromised with allowing the doctor to look me over once we were back at the palace. If she wanted more tests done, I would concede to h
Just as they were about to enter the house, Nicholas turned to look at me. We didn’t truly say goodbye and already we were pulled apart from each other once more.Despite all the trauma that occurred at the island, good things happened too. Nicholas and I being able to spend so much time together wa
“Oh.” Susie’s eyes widened. “I suppose you wouldn’t have known.” She hung her head a little. “Tensions with the Bear People have more or less exploded. Mark says more and more soldiers are being sent to the northern border. War seems imminent.”I didn’t want to believe that. “Surely there’s somethin
“I don’t understand,” I said. My thoughts were entirely addled. How could Nicholas’s parents not only forgive Bridget for all that she had done but also continue to want her to be Queen? Hasn’t she proven herself unsuitable? Unstable? At least, disrespectful?They had to have known that she slapped
Nicholas, meanwhile, looked down and to the side. He wouldn’t meet my gaze even as I walked nearer to him.“Nick?” I prompted, fear weighing heavy on my heart.“Unfortunately, that isn’t all of the bad news I have to share,” he said.I braced myself. “What else?”“Joyce has somehow escaped.”I gaspe
At first, Nicholas simply pressed his lips to mine, non-demanding. It was sweet, and I cherished it. But it wasn’t enough.With all the bad news now weighing heavily upon us, threatening to drag us down, we both needed the affirmation of the other’s presence and affections. My devotion to Nicholas w
It was difficult while he was touching me like this, but I forced all of my thoughts away from my own pleasure and toward getting Nicholas as naked as me.I dragged my hands up the front of his torso, appreciating every curve and dip of his hard muscles along my way to the base of his throat, where
That night, despite the worries and the fears and the dark murmurs all around us, I was able to sleep soundly, feeling well and thoroughly loved.I was also likely happy to be back in a familiar bed, surrounded by familiar faces.And not everything was so dire. Elva was healthy for the first time in