Page 76 of Rebellious Royals

"Oh, we couldn't be separated that easily," I assured him.

"No, listen," he begged. "I'm saying I want our court to be one court. I want to fight for your queen. Maybe one day, you'll stand with my king."

I stole another kiss from him. "I hope so."

"And maybe stand with me?" he asked. "Because I'm scared of what's going to happen when someone realizes what I am."

"Like Pascal?" I asked. "Hawke, he knows and doesn't care."

"But he's from Earth."

"And we're on Earth," I reminded him. "We came here so things could change, and now we're the ones with the power to make those changes."

"What if we don't make good ones?" he asked.

I tilted his face up a bit so I could see him. "Then we try again. And if that fails, then again and again until we learn and get it right. We have long lives ahead of us, and I will be by your side, Hawke."

His hands moved to my back, softly sliding lower. "I dunno, I kinda like you here more."

I shifted my hips a bit, teasing him. "Yeah? I think I know somewhere you like me even better."

His eyes closed and I pushed him back. Lying beneath me, the light of my fae plants made every crease in his muscles stand out perfectly. My jevadu was a warrior. He was brave, brilliant, and unstoppable. I trailed my fingers over his chest, feeling the dips that made those shadows, and realized I'd even kill for him.

"For once," I said as I shifted my hips, "you need to be a little greedy, my love." And then I proceeded to show him why.

Chapter Twenty-Three

HAWKE

Iwoke mostly on my back, angled slightly by the pillow under my shoulder, with Wilder's head on my chest. His arm was around my waist, the weight of it a wonderful sensation. For a moment, I let my eyes close and almost went back to sleep - then realized Wilder hadn't moved, sohehadn't woken me up.

I had no clue what time it was, but somewhere between one in the morning and six. The sun hadn't come up over the atrium. The small window in Wilder's room made that clear. It was completely black in here, just the way I liked it.

But his plants should be glowing.

I opened my eyes again and inhaled slowly. The scent of fresh grass and wildflowers was faint, but I could still pick it out. That was Summer magic, and no one in our suite had it. Carefully, I cracked my eyes again, trying to subtly scan the room.

Darkness.

Maybe someone in the hall had been enchanting themselves to do well on a test today? No, it was the weekend. Granted, it could be some weak attempt to circumvent the curfew magic. Someone always tried, thinking they'd figure out a way to hide from Ms. Rhodes' power. Fools.

So I let my eyes close and sank back into sleep. My power reserves were completely full for the first time in far too long. Wilder was warm against me, and his leg was wrapped over mine as if holding me in place even though I couldn't sneak away. If I tried to crawl over him to head back to my side of the suite, he'd know. He didn't sleepthatdeeply.

I turned my head toward him a bit more so I could smell his Winter sharpness, and began to drift off again. Damn, but I loved this guy. He was nothing like I'd expected from fae nobility, and yet everything. He was such an amazing enigma that I couldn't get enough of him. Even better, he never made me feel bad for what I was.

He just accepted me. All of me - and loved me for it.

Sleep came easily. I was almost there when the air began to chill. I could feel the difference in my nostrils as I breathed, but before my brain could even process it - the plants lit up.

"You - " a guy growled as he grabbed Wilder and pulled.

My eyes flew open, landing on a crystal blade. The fae light reflected and refracted off the edge, adding tiny rainbows across the darkened walls, but the weapon was moving. Wilder rolled into me as he jerked away from the threat. I saw the guy holding the blade - and the two behind him.

"Shit, he's not alone!" someone hissed.

"Kill them!" the other demanded, fog puffing from his mouth proving the room was too cold.

But I was already moving. "You cannot have him!" I snarled as I reached for my power and just pulled.

---