Page 60 of Kiss the Filthiest King

I jump back to my feet, ready for another round.

I don’t know when this perilous dance takes another tone, but all of a sudden, my back hits the wall, pinned by his strong hands, and I jump up, lifting my legs to his waist. I tug at his top, which is unfairly completely dry while I’m covered in sweat, and he pulls my shirt up, my breeches down, under my hips. He’s deep inside me with a single powerful thrust, filling me at an exquisite angle.

“Erm!” someone loudly interrupts. “Can this be wrapped up fast? We have a coronation to get ready for, people.”

I don’t think Ryther or I much care about the company. Caenan left somewhere around the third time I attempted to skewer my mate, but Loch’s arrival doesn’t stop Ryther from thrusting into me, or me from grinding against him, desperate for release. We both ignore my brother, concerned only with driving each other insane, climbing into one another’s skin, which, if you ask me, seems to be the most efficient way to go about this.

This world is insane. It’s dangerous, and archaic, and positively barbaric, but this? This, I wouldn’t exchange for anything. Not my old, safe, boring life, when I didn’t know what I was. Who I was.

This is where I belong.

27

IRON SIDE

Calreth

If there's one constant in life, it's that fate hasterribletiming.

My hunt can settle in various places on Earth. I took it to one of its locations in America, landing as close as I could to San Francisco, before setting off to find the witch.

So naturally, it was only to be expected that I'd seeheralong the way.

The same face that has haunted my dreams and nightmares for centuries, but on a new soul. And with very different hair.

I like it. I like her. The taste of her wild defiance. The way she holds herself.

I don’t have much time to watch her, but I can’t help myself.

Here you are.

I am fairly certain it's her this time, though I already made a humongous mistake when it comes to recognizing my mate.

She's a mortal, albeit a little fae-touched, by the curve of her ear and the taste of her smell.

And though it costs me everything to walk away, I make myself leave, forcing one step after the next.

I have a job to do.

* * *

She's easy to find—the witch—with the directions Darina provided. She's in their shared apartment when I come, and doesn't take nearly as much convincing as I would have thought.

"So, Darina is a freaking fairy queen. In another world," she repeats.

"Yes to both."

"And she needs my help finding a demon to get information on a couple of deities?"

"Again, I admire your skills of summarization." I'm a little drier than strictly friendly, but I'm impatient. Itching to get going. Do what I said I would for my brother and his mate. Then go get mine.

I settled the hunt too close, and already, she was intrigued by the woods. She isn't safe. If she goes a little too far, if she follows the willow trail…

I make myself refocus on the mortal. "Can you do it?"

She huffs. "It’s so far above my pay grade it’s not even funny. Like, communicating withhell? That's a white witch job. I'd need the might of the whole coven behind me, and let me tell you, the head of the coven—my mother—would never accept it.Ever."

I sigh. "Do you know anyone who has that power here? As in, in this world."

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