Page 44 of Destined for the Fae King

“Only so much as it’s good to know one’s neighbors, so to speak. But I think it could be a really good thing for the Court of Fire to have them visit. It’s a chance to show how comfortable and competent you are in your reign. I know the courts have not mixed much in the past and relations have not always been good, but you could change that and create a new dawn for the Seelie fae.”

“A new dawn,” he muses while rubbing his chin. “I do like the sound of that.”

“And maybe it could be nice to have closer allies, especially if things with those-who-shall-not-be-named go poorly?”

A strange look crosses Vasilius’s face before he tips his head to the side and asks, “Those-who-shall-not-be-named?”

“Sorry, it’s kind of a joke from my world.” I briefly touch his leg before retracting my hand and bunching the fabric of my dress in my fingers. I drop my voice into barely a whisper. “I was referring to the Unseelie.”

“Ah.” His eyes darken. “Them. You’ll be safe here, Mira.” He pats my leg, and I nearly jump out of my skin at the unexpected touch. “Bound to me, they cannot take you away.”

Not like they did the King of Air’s mate.

He doesn’t say it, but it lingers unspoken between us.

“I know you’ll keep us safe.” It’s hard to imagine a threat out there with how calm and pleasant things are in the Court of Fire. Especially today, here in the garden, it’s as idyllic a setting as they come.

He leans back with a sigh, closes his eyes, and stretches his arms out along the back of the bench. One brushes along my shoulder in the process, and I sit a little straighter, my abs tensing.

“If only all of my advisors had your confidence,” he laments.

“They wouldn’t be very good counsel if they always agreed with you though.”

A light huff of air escapes through his nose. Vasilius turns his head my way and opens his eyes. “I suppose not.”

“It must be hard to be a king.” I lean in to him just a little. “Trying to balance everyone’s expectations and still do what you think is best in your heart.”

“You have no idea.” He sighs. “Speaking of, it would be nice to stay here and relax, but I still have a few others I need to spend some time with.”

“Oh.” My stomach drops straight to the ground. “So soon?”

“I do wish I could stay here longer,” he adds, sitting up a little in the seat. It’s the rebound I need, the boost of courage for what I’d planned.

“Before you go…” I place my hand on his leg and leave it there this time as I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “You see, I’ve been hoping…”

“Yes?” He leans in, mirth sparkling in his eyes. That outstretched arm of his curls in just a bit, urging me closer, and I go, leaning in until his scent fills my nose and my heart tries to pound straight through my ribs.

“Can I kiss you?” I blurt.

The corners of his lips curl up into a blinding smile. “I believe I would enjoy that.”

I swallow and lick my lips. “Ah, good.” My pitch rises as I sit a little straighter. “I’ll just…”

I lean in all too awkwardly, a nervous laugh climbing up my throat.Shit. It was supposed to be natural.

Vasilius laughs, and before I have the time to consider whether it’s at me or with me, he tugs me closer, cups my cheek with his free hand, and leans in to place his lips against mine.

My hand falls to his shirt, which does nothing to hide the rigid planes of muscle below. He’s so warm, his spicy scent filling my nose. His lips are against mine, and at that moment, I feel…

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I feel like a teenager just learning to kiss again, all awkward and unsure of how I’m supposed to move and wondering if my breath smells bad. But the butterflies that I justknewwould be there, that have been there the few times we’ve touched before?

They fall still and silent as death.

Vasilius gives a little groan of pleasure. His head tilts to the side as he moves to deepen the kiss, the tip of his tongue flicking against the seam of my lips.

---