Page 33 of The Demon King's Unruly Mate

Below us, a handful of Emil’s former supporters mingled with those who had remained ignorant to his short-lived coup. He’d been careful with his murder and blame, approaching only those he thought would support his claim to the throne. Now they drank and laughed with those who truly had been unaware of the coming bloodshed, as if their hands were just as clean.

In the aftermath, every clan had scrambled to prove their loyalty to the crown. My network of spies had been busy these past weeks, carefully unraveling who knew what and when. I knew the convenient alibis wouldn’t hold forever. Someone would slip. Until then, I kept them close where I could see exactly which proclamations of devotion were genuine and which were born from fear of sharing Emil’s fate.

Griffin stood at attention near the doors, his shoulder now healed from the fight in the throne room. He caught my eye andnodded slightly at my raised brow. The signal that all was secure, that we could slip away without concern.

“Now,” I said, turning to Kaz. “We can sneak away now.”

Relief washed across his face. “Thank fuck. Let’s get out of here.”

I caught Kaz’s hand and pulled him into the shadows. Red smoke curled around us as I teleported us directly to the royal family’s reception chambers.

These rooms weren’t ours, not really. They belonged to the crown, to ceremony, to the ghosts of rulers past. Tomorrow we’d return to our true home in Silvermist Falls, but our duties tonight demanded we maintain the illusion of palace life a few hours longer.

Still, the room felt blissfully cool and quiet after the heat and noise of the ballroom. I exhaled slowly, feeling tension drain from my shoulders.

“Freedom,” Kaz murmured, his hands finding my waist.

“For now,” I hummed, toying with a button on his jacket. “We still need to complete the midnight toast. Three nights of celebration, three toasts to seal our reign. Rava threatened to hunt us down if we try to skip it.”

“Rava can go fuck herself.”

I laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls. “Such sentiment from a king.”

“Would you prefer I be more formal, Your Majesty?” His low growl sent heat pooling low in my belly. “A decree, perhaps? Interruptions will result in heads meeting spikes?”

“You know,” I said slowly, pretending to consider the idea. “I think I might be starting to like you, princeling.”

“Is that your way of saying you don’t hate me after all?” he teased. The tip of his tail trailed up my calf to the back of my knee. “High praise indeed, princess.”

“Queen,” I corrected, leaning up to nip at his lower lip. “Your queen.”

“My queen,” he agreed simply. Then his voice dropped to a sinful drawl. “Have I told you how exquisite you look in that dress?”

The gown had been specially made for the coronation. Deep teal silk that clung to my curves before flaring at the knees. The neckline dipped low, exposing more skin than was strictly proper for a queen, but I’d insisted. I knew the effect it would have on my mate.

“You mentioned it,” I said, my breath catching as his fingers traced the edge of the bodice. “I believe your exact words were ‘I can’t wait to tear that off you.’“

His low laugh did wicked things to my insides. “Did I say that? How unrefined.”

“Positively barbaric,” I agreed, arching into him as his lips traced my jaw. “Whatever would the court think of their king?”

“I don’t give a fuck what they think.” His teeth scraped along my collarbone, making me shiver. “I only care what my queen thinks. Perhaps she requires proper homage?”

I threaded my hands in his hair, already losing myself in the heat of his mouth on my skin. Two months with him, and he’d already learned exactly what drove me wild. Each touch, each kiss, another tie binding up together, and I couldn’t get enough. “I would never refuse a loyal subject’s devotion.”

His lips claimed mine in a kiss that stole my breath. There was hunger and possession and fire, so much fire. Everything about this male consumed me. He drew me closer, the heat of his body seeping through our clothing to warm me to my core.

Red smoke curled around us when we finally broke apart, and I realized Kaz had teleported us. Not to the old throne room with its dark memories and single seat of power. No, we stood inthe newly renovated chamber, moonlight streaming through tall windows to illuminate twin thrones on their raised dais.

A room we technically shouldn’t be in until we took our seats tomorrow.

Kaz planted his hands on my shoulders and gave me a gentle shove. I staggered back, falling into the throne behind me. My heart pounded as I gazed up at him. He stalked forward, his eyes never leaving mine as he sank to his knees before me.

Strong hands wrapped around my calves as his lips curved into a wolfish grin. “Let me worship every inch of you, Your Majesty.”

The words sent a surge of arousal through me. Heat built low in my belly as his fingers traced circles on my legs. I parted my thighs slightly, granting him access. “As my king desires.”

He pushed the skirt of my dress up slowly, inching it higher along my thighs until he revealed the bare flesh beneath. I watched his gaze trail hungrily over me, his pupils blown wide with desire. I shivered as his fingers hooked into the waistband of my panties, drawing them down my legs with deliberate slowness.

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