Page 100 of Sweetling
I’m afraid so.
The unicorn huffed.The hay in the stables makes me itch.
“We will see this issue of your cousins resolved, sweetling. This I promise you. But we cannot be away from Scarborough formuch longer.” Between the days already spent in Dundúran and being parted from Molly for much of it, the magic gathering inside him had begun to burgeon. If it was left to swell too much, he couldn’t account for how volatile it could become when mixed with his temper.
Although Brom Dunne deserved whatever retribution Molly would allow, Allarion couldn’t say the same of their neighbors.
Molly worried her lip between her teeth. “All right. I’ll see what the mayor says tomorrow.”
Another knot loosened inside him when she didn’t insist she stay behind in Dundúran. He was still resolved to give her her choice, but he couldn’t promise he’d abide by that resolve, when it came time to leave. The thought of returning to Scarborough without her stung like burrs against the skin, rubbing him raw.
Molly laid her head back on Allarion’s shoulder to peer up at him. He didn’t know how much she could see of him in the intermittent light of illuminated windows and lampposts, but he devoured the sight of her gentle face, lips curving into a small grin.
“I’m almost afraid to ask, but how was your day? What did the princess say?”
Allarion sighed, wishing he had better news to share. Molly listened carefully as he relayed what the princess said and the king’s letter. As he spoke, a frown gathered at her brow, deepening with each revelation.
By the time they made the castle wall, she was outright scowling.
“I don’t like it at all,” she grumbled.
“Neither do I. But kings have a way of making demands and expecting them to be heeded.”
Molly chewed her lip again as they crossed the courtyard, so Allarion laid his fingers on her throat, tipping her head back so he could take those poor abused lips for his own.
“Let me,” he murmured into her mouth.
He tasted her laugh, and one of her hands reached back to grip his hair.
Ugh.Bellarand came to a stop and gave them a jostle.Take it inside, I’m tired.
Allarion dismounted before he could be thrown off, helping Molly down just as the unicorn turned for the stables.
“Thanks for the ride!” she called after him, getting only a flick of his tail in response.
“He doesn’t like the hay,” Allarion explained.
“He’s a big baby is what he is.”
I heard that.
“Then clop faster!”
An indignant huff echoed from the shadows.
Allarion took Molly’s hand to tuck into his elbow. He was ready to lay down with his mate—hopefully after spending an hour worshipping her pretty pink cunt. Two nights and already Allarion knew he couldn’t survive without them; he needed to have her on his tongue and he needed to hold her as she slept.
A growing desire to have her hold him as he slept had taken root in his mind, too.
Tiredness nipped at the edges of his mind, and it’d likely be wise to take a long sleep tomorrow, but there was simply too much that had to be done. And, he wouldn’t leave Molly unguarded for so long.
He turned toward the castle steps but stopped when Molly tugged on his arm.
He found her expression once again troubled, those lovely brown eyes dark under her frown.
“I don’t like being a vulnerability for you.”
“Oh, sweetling, no.” Gathering her close, he tucked her under his cloak to guard against the night chill and banded his arms around her. Pressing a kiss into the crown of her head, he said, “You are my greatest strength. Any who would think otherwise, or underestimate you, are fools—and you are no fool.”
