Page 103 of Slaying the Shifter Prince
“How much you what?” He said it softly, little more than a breath.
I swallowed back what my tongue had tried to trip me up with and formulated something safer. “No matter what I feel about you. No matter how good a partnership we are.” The acrobat and the fae prince. Who’d’ve thought?
But I couldn’t wallow in the warmth of that. I needed to know. “Will you stand in my way? Tell me now.”
He exhaled, sinking back in his chair, frown deepening. “No. I won’t stand in the way of our plan, if that’s what you truly wish to do, even knowing there will be a price. I want to see her killer bleed.”
“Good.” I said it with finality. That was the end of this nonsense about me not carrying out my plan.
Standing, he gave me a half smile. “Now come to bed or you’ll be too tired for your performance tomorrow.”
I dropped my sketchbook on the chair and stretched. “I was going to go and have one last rehearsal.”
He sauntered over and slid his fingers into my hair. His fingertips whispering over my scalp dragged a low exhale from me. “You can do that in the morning. I’ve locked the door. Not to stop your revenge, but because you need a good night’s sleep for it.”
The massage eased the tension that had been building in my head all afternoon and evening as I’d focused so hard. I groaned, pushing into his touch, letting myself notice his musky, outside scent. “You’re good at this.”
“Of course I am.” My eyes were closed, but I could hear the smug smile in his voice. “I’m good at everything.”
I grumbled but had to admit I hadn’t found anything he was bad at. Not yet, anyway. “If you want me to sleep, you’re going to need to fuck me until I’m tired.”
“I was going to do it to distract you, but that works, too.” He swept me into his arms and carried me into the bathroom, unlacing the back of my dress.
I frowned at the bedroom door. “In here?”
“I want you in the shower.” He tugged down my bodice, making me gasp as cool air reached my nipples, tightening them. His low sound of approval purred into me, and he bent and flicked his tongue over one aching peak. “I want your whole body drenched, just like your pussy gets so drenched for me.” He gave a wide, wicked smile, claws clicking on the rubies of my collar. “Do you object, pet?”
I was already tugging off his shirt as I answered, “No, my prince.”
“Good girl.”
* * *
After,he took me to bed, and I sank into his arms, deliciously sated and tired out, despite all tomorrow would bring. Aside from our argument earlier, this might be the closest thing to a perfect last night on earth. I’d take it.
For a long while, he traced circles on my back. “I have something for you,” he said at last, reaching for his nightstand. From the drawer came the glint of metal.
But this wasn’t a pretty bracelet or another diadem.
Hilt first, he handed me a blade.
My Prince of Monsters, the man I’d tried to kill, sat here naked, giving me a weapon.
I frowned from it to him. “What’s this?”
“A dagger? I expected you to be familiar with the concept already, since you were holding one the first time we met.”
I scowled at him.
He grinned right back, the full length of his canines showing. “I had your iron blade reworked to something that suited you better. That old thing was so ugly. After all our hard work to ensure everything tomorrow looks perfect, I couldn’t have it ruin your moment.”
His attention fluttered in my chest, bright and winged, stealing my breath for a second.
Sure enough, the dagger’s pale gold-coloured hilt and light blue stone matched the bracelets he’d given me.
I twisted my wrist, testing its weight. That too had been improved, rebalanced, so when it slashed through the air, it sang.
At last, I had a weapon that could kill him. But…
