Page 113 of Poisoned Kingdom
‘So, what was this?’ I asked quietly, confused.
‘A promise, a sample of my prowess and a small payment for all those nights I couldn’t sleep, wondering how you’d taste. Now, when you go to bed, you can touch yourself while thinking of me,’ he said with a mischievous grin. He playfully nipped my neck before straightening my chemise. ‘Also, you needed a distraction. You were too tense, and I can’t think of a better way to release the tension.’
‘Oh, you’re a bloody menace.’ I laughed, smacking Rey’s shoulder and pushing him onto his back before straddling his hips. ‘I’ll show you prowess,’ I said right before the door creaked open.
‘Irsha told me you’re awake, so I came with—Lada’s tit, Roksana! Why are you riding the king?’ The words preceded the draft from the corridor. ‘I thought you hated him!’
Tova stood in the doorframe, his eyes as big as saucers, holding a steaming mug in his transformed hand, and I realised two things. First, I was indeed riding the king, straddling his hips like a bloody stallion. Second, as Tova’s voice trailed down the corridor, there was more than one person who now knew my little secret.
‘Master Orenson, you have an ill-begotten sense of timing, so please give me one good reason not to send you back to Mlot,’ Rey said, grinning like a fool as I scrambled off him, muttering quiet, colourful curses.
‘I told you she likes apple pie—it seems to have taken you places. Besides, if you want to stay in my drah’sa’s good graces, you won’t lay a hand on me,’ Tova said with a shrug, coming closer.
I gasped, looking at Reynard, but instead of anger, a mischievous smile lifted the corners of his lips as his finger dived into the warm centre of the pie.
‘Bold words, Master Orenson.’ Rey smirked, licking the sweet, warm filling with the same gusto he’d used on me a moment ago. ‘I’ll forgive you this time, as itdidgive me the chance to bring this radiant smile back to her face.’ His gaze challenged Tova to comment on his wordless statement. Tova’s mouth gaped open, and I groaned when he understood the meaning behind it.
Someone please get me a shovel so I can bury myself and my embarrassment,I thought before taking control of the situation.
‘Get out, you dreadful duo. I need to dress.’
Chapter 40
Roksana
‘You can’t just barge in here. I don’t care who you are!’ Raised voices woke me from my sleep, so I sat up, stifling a yawn, trying to work out what was happening.
We returned to Truso last night after a journey that had technically lasted two days—but felt like a lifetime, thanks to the men around me. This morning, all I wanted was to stay in bed and let my aching muscles recover. But apparently, the world wasn’t going to allow that.
I sighed and rubbed my eyes. That trip was destined to haunt my nightmares. I couldn’t even blame Reynard—especially not with how Tova and Irsha had taken turns testing his patience, behaving like two overprotective brothers offended at catchinghim deflowering their innocent sibling. My being exhausted didn’t help. So when Rey lifted me into his saddle, insisting on looking after me, a huge argument broke out. It only ended when he’d banished them to the rear, where they spent the rest of the ride choking on road dust and horse farts.
The journey had taken even longer thanks to Reynard’s relentless need to dote on me. How he managed it, I’ll never understand—but there was the bouquet of winter berries, the skittish rabbit he produced from gods know where, and even a cinnamon bun from a village baker where we’d stopped for the night who swore the king had saved his cousin’s life during the war. Eventually, I released the rabbit back into the wild and gently pointed out that even the soldiers had started whispering about his reluctance to return home.
I pressed a pillow to my mouth and groaned, knowing I had myself to blame. I’d kept him at arm’s length for so long, only to succumb to his touch in a moment of weakness. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. The only question now was what would happen next. Rey seemed to share my feelings, which explained the many delays. We should have discussed the future on our way back, but every time I tried, his little kisses, the nips that left faint marks on my skin, left me without a care in the world.
The thought of those moments led, inevitably, to the memory of our encounter, and with it came the pulsing desire between my legs. I squeezed my thighs together, pressing the pillow to my belly.
You can’t want the king, Sana. This isn’t some fairytale where the blushing orphan becomes his queen, especially not if this queen plans to train in magic and become the next poison chapter master.
The realist in me knew that it couldn’t be—we lived in two different worlds. Rey had to choose a queen that the court wouldaccept. But my heart always guided my knife, and it seemed it had already made its choice.
Can I truly enjoy these stolen moments only to face heartache when it all ends? Or should I cut ties now, when it wouldn’t hurt so much?Another sigh slipped out.Gods, it’s already going to tear my heart out. Would losing him now or later be any different?
The commotion outside intensified. I got up to help Tova deal with our uninvited visitor when the door crashed into the wall and a silhouette appeared, framed by the light from the corridor.
‘Take her,’ he said, snapping his fingers, lighting up all the fae lights in my room.
‘I don’t bloody think so,’ I said. I reached under the pillow, but as I gripped the handle of the dagger, his fingers danced in the air, and with the simple sigil, a strand of aether flew from his hand, wrapping itself around mine.
‘Roksana Regnav, by order of the Court of Aether, you are under arrest. Surrender willingly and you shall be treated with all due respect. Resist, and you’ll be dragged through the city, bound and gagged,’ he said with a grim expression.
My eyes finally adjusted to the light, and I recognised the uniform.A battle mage enforcer.That could only mean the incident in Ostrava had come to light, and I had no choice but to face the consequences.
‘Right, of course,’ I muttered, standing up and pulling the covers around my body. ‘Would you give me a moment, please?’
‘Get the fuck out of our house! Sana, stay where you are. I’m sending a message to the king.’ A tousled head appeared behind the mage, and the flash of light from his axe was enough to frighten me.
‘Tova, no. I have to go. But please make sure Riordan and Ciesko know.’
