Page 56 of All the Pain of Promises
Rosalie Davenport. The human princess Solarius obsessed over after he tried to purge Narissa from his mind. The first female who only used him for a good time. He supposed he had chased after her because she reminded him so much of Narissa.Similar golden hair, same spitfire attitude, but whereas Narissa threw carefully crafted insults his direction with heat in her eyes, Rosalie tossed them with ice. Cold and unforgiving, that one. He’d given Rosalie his heart and she ripped it out, then pierced it with the spiky heel of her shoe before she walked away from him for good. She only wanted the thrill of fucking a fae, and like a fool he gave in, thinking he might be enough to change her mind. To keep her around.
He wasn’t.
She left him last Midsummer. He thought to propose, she acted as though he was wasting her time. Like she had somewhere better to be, anywhere else than in the same place as him.
Rosalie didn’t love him, she loved the idea of him.
But Narissa…perhaps there was a story between them that had yet to be told. Maybe she could love him again.
“There was nothing between Rosalie and myself.” The admission stung more than he cared to admit. But it was necessary. A truth he’d denied to himself for two full seasons. “She never wanted me.”
“ButIwanted you.” Narissa grabbed his shoulders in earnest and her mouth spoke the words against his lips. Her frosty green eyes warmed with the reflection of desire. “Istillwant you. If you’ll have me.”
A single tear rolled down her cheek, and he caught the pearl in one hand without tearing his gaze away from her face. He tucked it into his pocket as the carriage dropped from the sky, landing smoothly as it rolled to a stop against the smooth drive of House Celestine.
Still, Solarius did not look away from her.
He held his breath and dove into the depths of her eyes, ready to drown.
“I want you, Rissa love. I promise. I havealwayswanted you.” Then he captured her lips with his own, sealing that promise with a feverish kiss.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Narissa bit back a squeal as Solarius stepped from the carriage with her in his arms and carried her up to the front entrance of House Celestine.
The house itself was breathtaking, situated at the base of Moonfall Peaks, where it overlooked the starlit city of Celestine. Its deep purple walls were decorated with swirls of frost, it was surrounded by lush winter gardens on all sides, and incandescent light spilled from its numerous arched windows. Dizzying spires pierced the clear night sky, and sprawling balconies were illuminated with a silvery glow. The main door swung open, drenching them in warmth as he lifted her across the threshold and into the dazzling grand hall of the home.
Solarius’s long strides crossed the floor, his boots clicking softly against the smooth stone as he headed for one of the twin spiral staircases of glittering blue sandstone. Gilded sconces sparked with faerie fire and the papered walls mimicked the night sky with shimmering moonstone constellations. He crossed over the inlaid crest of House Celestine—an eight-pointed star flanked by two outward facing crescent moons—and stalked past the formal sitting area just off the grand hall, ignoring the tittering of voices coming from within the room.
“Sol!”
Narissa recognized Sarelle’s voice as she called out to her older brother. She peeked over his shoulder just in time to see Sarelle dart from the sitting room and follow them, with Caelian right behind her. “We weren’t expecting you…both.”
Curiosity sparkled in Sarelle’s sapphire gaze.
“Nope.” Solarius stilled, heaving a sigh of exasperation. He did not turn to face his sisters, but his grip on Narissa tightened.
“Are you staying?” Caelian asked, a flicker of hope in her voice.
Solarius ducked his head, dropping his chin to his chest, his windswept silver hair with its inky tips falling forward to hide his growing vexation.
“Yep,” he called back, his tone curt and dismissive.
It wasn’t at all like him to be so disparaging toward his sisters, or any of his siblings really, but Narissa imagined his brusque attitude had everything to do with the fact that the evidence of his arousal was straining against his pants.
Sarelle stepped forward, clasping her hands together, her round cheeks shiny with a smear of stardust. “Can we get you any?—”
Solarius whipped around, clutching Narissa to him. “I know it may not seem like it, darling sisters, but I am incredibly busy at the moment.”
Narissa dipped her head, smiling into his neck. Which proved to be a torturous mistake as the tempting scent of him addled her mind and intoxicated her senses. Tantalizing citrus. Warm, alluring spices. And that damning hint of bay rum. She inhaled deeply, lightly running her nose along the column of his throat, her lungs, her chest, the entirety of her soul filling with him.
A devastating rumble sounded deep in his chest, the reverberation of it echoing in her bones.
Solarius shook his head and started away from his sisters, taking the steps two at a time. He bounded up the winding staircase with exceptional speed as pulses of desire thrummed along the mating bond, a product of their racing heartbeats. Narissa thought for certain he would carry her straight to his bedchamber, but he surprised her by ducking into an alcove off the hall hidden away by a curtain of winterblooms. The pretty blue flowers and leaves of evergreen diminished the light, so slants of gold peeked in through the clusters of petals.
Like she was his most prized possession, Solarius carefully set Narissa down, but he left no space between them. Instead he backed her into the rough stone wall, planting one hand firmly above her head while the other remained in a tight fist by his side. His chest heaved. His jaw locked. And the silver of his eyes was molten, hot enough to send a spear of heat straight to her core.
Narissa splayed both her hands on the chilly wall behind her, clenching her legs together. “What are we?—”
