Page 92 of Vicious Is My Throne

Personally, I thought Coz was laying it on a bit thick, but then the Oracle looked intrigued enough his ploy might have worked.

And when she smiled her spider’s smile and took the hand he offered, I was already calculating how fast I could fly to Varitus.

39

ANARIA

Istripped then flopped onto the bed, trying to curb my excitement.

We had another keystone.

Even better, there might be more out there, like some sort of high stakes hide-and-seek game where the winners got to take on the most powerful entity in the world in a fight to the death.

And these fucking Descendants.

After all their posturing, they were nothing but thieves.

Tomorrow we’d either prove our theory true or end up one keystone richer. Either way, I’d take the wins where I could.

“You’re thinking quite loudly over there, princess.” A pause. “Let me guess, planning the demise of your enemies, or are you celebrating today’s victory?”

I froze at Raz’s voice, lifting my head to find him in the furthest chair from the fireplace, barely discernible from the shadows sifting around him.

“I thought you were…guarding the castle or patrolling the perimeter or some other testosterone-filled male rite of passage,” I teased, flopping back down. “I’m glad you’re here.” I closed my eyes, basking in the fact that Raziel was watching over me.

“How are you?” The question was quiet. Tentative. “Coming back here has to be…hard.”

“Don’t ruin the moment, Raz.” The words came out tighter than I’d planned, almost a rebuke. “Just…we need to concentrate on why we’re here, not what happened a lifetime ago.”

“It’s been less than a year since the Scything, Anaria,” he pointed out since he was too stubborn to let anything go.

“A lifetime,” I said firmly. “Slave to princess. Weak to powerful.” Every word seemed to settle deeper like lodestones sinking to the bottom of a pool. “Unloved to loved. A different lifetime, Raz.”

The bed dipped, strong arms wrapping around me like a shield against the world, and a heart beating with the same cadence as mine thundered against my cheek. “You are loved. With all my heart and soul, you are loved, Anaria.”

“I know. I planned to remake the world, Raz. To help people like me,” I whispered, afraid if I spoke my truth too loudly the fates would hear and sweep down to crush my dreams, like always. “But in all my imaginings, I never thought I would find you.”

“Well, technically, we found you, so…”

I sank my elbow into his side. “You know what I meant.”

“Oof. That was uncalled for.” Raziel readjusted, and that quickly, I was pinned beneath him, staring into those liquid brown eyes. “So. I was thinking…this is a very nice bed. And this could be our last chance for a while. Princess.”

Maybe it was how he put that little sensual curl on the end of the word, but heat spiraled through me like that first fierce blast of flame when you set a match to kindling. His hand cupped the bottom of my breast, thumb brushing my nipple, teeth nibbling greedily up the side of my throat.

How easily he ruined me with just a word and the brush of a finger, making me fall apart with the dominant pressure of his body settling over mine. That rush of breathless anticipation made my eyes flutter closed as I basked in a sea of sensations.

“You are very naked, Anaria.” Raz slipped his hand between us with a dark, sensual chuckle. “And very, very wet. Is this all for me?” His fingers slid through my slick pussy, spreading my juices before his thumb strummed across my clit, my whole body throbbing in response.

“Yes.” My answer came out strangled.

“Yes, what?” He pulled his hand up, and while I watched, he licked off his fingers, his wide tongue picking up every shining drop. “Yes, what, princess?”

“Yes. I’m wet for you.” His wicked, approving smile really shouldn’t have sent another curl of heat through me. It really shouldn’t have.

“I think you need more than just me tonight.” Raz slid his hand back between us and then I shifted to meet his probing fingers, arching my hips to drive them deeper, because I did need more. I needed to be filled and fucked until every old, hated memory and fear was blasted apart.

Until this fucking castle disappeared around us, and the only thing left was us, burning together.

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