Page 25 of Merciless Is My Crown

“Tavion.” I shook him harder. “Wake up. We have to get moving.”

The room blurred, and that quickly, I was pinned beneath him, strong hands trapping my wrists above my head, his hard body unrelenting against mine stretched out beneath him, completely helpless.

“Tavion,” I whispered, searching his face. “Tavion. Wake up.”

There was nothing in his face except blind hunger. No recognition in his hazed eyes. Fear lanced through me, my body bucking beneath his, but he only held me tighter, his pupils dilatating down to pinpricks. “Mine,” he growled, his fangs sliding down like daggers. He dragged them up my throat, his cock grinding against my belly.

Oh gods, was he going to bite me?

“Tavion,” I breathed. “It’s me. Anaria.”

He breathed me in like he was inhaling me, tasting me, his tongue licking a wide swath down my throat, digging into the hollow between my collarbones. “Mine,” he growled again, but this time, it came out as more of a soft purr, his hips rolling as he worked his way between my thighs, a flicker of arousal heating my core as if my body was totally on board with this.

“Tavion Montgomery. Get ahold of yourself and stop dry humping me. We have to get moving. We’re leaving for Nightcairn Castle in a few minutes.” His body stilled, the grip around my wrists relaxing enough I pulled my hands free and cupped his face.

“You’re going home, Tavion. Remember? Home to Nightcairn. Come on, snap out of it.”

His eyes cleared in a single blink, some of that wildness bleeding out of them. “Anaria?”

The door blew open and Zor’s thundery scent wrapped around us, shadowy power turning the room instantly to night. Zor looked like an avenging angel, his magic rising behind him like a pair of enormous black wings, talons at the tops, the rest covered with black glossy feathers.

Tavion was off me in a flash, his face a dazed mask, his hands…gods, his hands were shaking so badly, he couldn’t even clench them into fists. How long had he been hiding his symptoms?

“I have everything under control, Zor.” I flew off the bed and moved between them, my hands braced against their heaving chests. “Tavion was just…” My words trailed off when I met Tavion’s eyes. Saw the utter misery there. “He was having a nightmare and took a minute to wake up.”

Zor’s dark, suspicious gaze swung between us. “That’s not what it looked like.”

I took Zorander’s arm and walked him to the door. “I’m telling you, he had a nightmare, nothing more. Now give us a minute and I’ll be down.”

Zor grumbled the entire way through the door, probably all the way downstairs from the sounds of it before I closed the door and put my back to it.

“Are you alright?” I ran my eyes over Tavion, pulling on a thin pair of breeches. “I didn’t lie. You were dreaming, and you took a long time to wake up.” Almost like he was having a seizure. The moment the realization hit me, I schooled my face into a bland mask.

“I’m fine.” But he surveyed the room dazedly, like he was seeing it for the first time. “What time is it?”

“Time to leave,” I told him tightly, deciding action was more useful than words right now.

“Everyone is waiting, if you want to say goodbye. Otherwise, we ride out in a half hour.” He dragged his hands down his face, looking so uncertain I crossed to him, putting my arms around his neck. He hugged me to him, hard and desperate, like a male who was utterly lost.

“Get dressed. I’ll be downstairs. There’s food on the plate; make sure you eat.” I swallowed then threaded my fingers through his hair until he relaxed. “We’ll be in the tunnels for two days, right?”

“Two days,” Tavion repeated as if he was still trying to work out where he was.

“There are fresh clothes across the hall in the Wynters’ suite. They’ve been picked over by now, but maybe something’s left.”

This was madness, heading into those tunnels with Tavion so sick. But keeping the Oracle’s eyes on us and off Torin was the only way this would work. I forced my fears into a dark place, blotting out the memory of those enormous, forgotten skulls waiting for us.

How sick my husband was and how I couldn’t help him.

I kissed him, hard and fast, then stepped away.

“I’ll be waiting for you outside, Tavion. Get yourself together then come downstairs.”

Raziel was checking my horse over when I stepped outside, Zorander tracking my every step like an overprotective parent.

“Stop your mother henning, Commander. I’m fine,” I grumbled.

“Didn’t look that way ten minutes ago,” he muttered, then added, “when I felt your fear like it was my own. But as long as you’re sure.” I went straight to him and slid my hands beneath his coat, his muscles flexing beneath my palms.

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