Page 45 of Kiss the Filthiest King

Between labored breaths, she sighs, "Needed that."

I chuckle against her chest. "That makes two of us."

My mouth finds hers again, finally managing an actual kiss, not that all-powerful claim, demanding more.

"You were perfection today. Beautiful and terrifying. They'll love you in time, you know."

She laughs out loud. "That's highly unlikely."

"Not all that much. You're new, and the man from silver was right: our kind doesn't do well with changes. But when they're used to the fact that we have a queen again, they'll love you. More than anyone loved Morrigan at the end."

"Rena will love me?" she teases me.

"You’ve got me there. Maybe not her, or Serila, or Valmort. But almost everyone else."

"I don't need them to love me—I need them to not actively attempt to murder me all the time."

"That would be a start," I say, regretfully straightening her clothes.

The bustier is a little crooked when I'm done, but things could be worse. "There."

I pull my pants up, too.

"We probably reek of sex."

"Who doesn't by one in the morning at a fairy revel?" I roll my eyes. "Besides, you've done your duty for the night. You can retire."

"And you?" she presses.

"I shall do damage control and see if I can spot who actively wants to murder you right this minute, my mate."

Her skin flushes a little. "You haven't called me that before."

No, I haven't.

I clear my throat, feeling a little defensive. "Well, you are."

"Mm. And it's like a wife, right?"

I sigh. "Wives come and go, here especially. The most common contracts of marriage on Ilvaris are valid for a hundred years, then renewable. Matings…they’re for life. And our lives can span for thousands of years."

"Wow."

I force myself to look directly into her eyes, expecting to find signs of reluctance or regrets.I see neither.

"And we didn't even have a party."

She's never not going to surprise me, is she?

"Would you like a party?" I ask.

That’s good isn’t it? It means she sees it as something worth celebrating.

"That would be nice. Except my best friend is on Earth. She can't miss that. And I suppose I should pop by my house at some point. Pack. Tell my boss and my professors I've been abducted by fairies or something."

"You're dithering."

That is most definitely not good.

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