Page 27 of The Dark Prince
I imagined her brown eyes darkening with lust and her cheeks going pink. Ugh, this was not helping.
Laying on my back, I closed my eyes, imagining the gory scene of the man I’d killed for her. I couldn’t muster up any disgust; all I felt was a deep satisfaction that I’d protected Isadora.
Think of Father. Think of the curse.
My ardor cooled immediately. I couldn’t forget the purpose of why I was here—of why Isadora was here. If I couldn’t break the curse, I’d break her heart into pieces.
And I was no longer sure that was something I could do.
“No. Stop.”
I jerked at the sound of her voice, but her eyes were screwed shut. She tossed and turned fretfully, and I relaxed when I realized she hadn’t caught me. She was having another nightmare. Did she have them every night like I did?
I slid in against her back, tucking her into my chest.
She sighed in her sleep and went still.
Gods, what was I going to do with her?
Protect her. Shield her. Give her everything she wants and more.
My hands shook as I fought to regain control. I needed to just enjoy her while I could. Soon enough, we would return to the castle, and eventually she would learn the truth about who—and what—I truly was. Then her smiles would turn to scowls, and her ardor would twist into disgust.
I’d seen it before in Aella’s eyes.
It would not please Aella to learn I’d wed, though she certainly had her choice of my men if the way her and Maddeus had carried on during their teenage years was anything to go by. Still, I couldn’t begrudge her anger—father raised her to believe we would marry one day. Even if we hadn’t grown up as the half-siblings we were, I could understand politically why the match made sense; the king was with no other male heir, and the queen was cold in her grave. Aligning the two of us would ensure the kingdom had a powerful couple to lead, instead of risking bringing in a foreign king to marry the princess.
My head ached. I hated politics, especially when they involved me. I nuzzled my nose into Isadora’s neck, greedily inhaling her scent.
For now, I wouldn’t think about machinations or the consequences of my actions. I’d ignore my obligations, my father’s expectations, and simply live in this moment. Because it would only last a moment and then the truth would rear its ugly head.
It always did.
I carried a dark curse, and the only way to save my people was to pass it on like my father had. To accomplish this, I had to take a wife. I’d have to use Isadora and hurt her.
I wouldn’t think about that now, though. For now, Isadora was in my arms, sleeping soundly. For now, I would pretend I was a husband with his wife, like any other man and woman.
I held my wife close and drifted off to sleep, having no nightmares for the first time in a decade.
Thirteen
ISADORA
Iwoke slowly, mostly due to the glorious warmth that wrapped all around me. I didn’t want to leave it. I snuggled more firmly against it, and an answering hardness prodded against my back.
My eyes flew open.
Tyr had fallen asleep next to me and hadn’t moved. One large arm wrapped around my waist in an iron grip, holding me to his chest like his most prized possession. He buried his face n my neck, his warm breath tickling my skin with each exhale. The hard plane of his mask dug into the flesh near my throat and sat on his face at an odd angle. I realized with a start that it was slipping off his face.
You could bump it off and see what lay beneath.
I dismissed the idea before I’d even finished thinking about it. Tyr had protected me and given me freedom from my step-family. I wouldn’t disrespect him like that. But how to wake him so he could recover gracefully? A smirk stretched my mouth.
I stretched against him, taking extra care to rub my backside against the protuberance near his waist. He groaned against my neck and tightened his grip on me but didn’t wake. I pushed again, butterflies in my stomach as my dangerous game sent a warm giddiness to my core.
Tyr shifted in his sleep, dragging his teeth and lips against the flesh of my neck. “Tyr,” I whispered, my voice huskier than normal. He snored in response.
So much for staying awake and guarding the cottage.
