Page 51 of The Beast King's Bride

“Where there is pain, there is a wound,” he whispers, still holding my hand, frowning down at it. “Do not hide any injury from me. I cannot let anything happen to you. You are too precious to us.”

I jerk away as if he’s slapped me—because, silly me, I’d forgotten. There is a reason he protected me. That damned riddle. He thinks that I can save his kingdom. That’s all.

“What’s wrong?” He doesn’t let go of my hand but now he’s gazing up at me with the same frown. “You paled.”

“I’m just a cog in a clockwork mechanism for you. A kindle to your fire.”

“No, Ash… It’s not like that.”

“I don’t believe you.” I step back, cradling my hand.

“No, why would you?” He huffs. “I don’t understand it myself. Yes, I brought you here to help us but I…”

I find I’m holding my breath. “You what?”

“I don’t want you hurt. No matter the role you have to play.”

Oh, for all the Gods’ sake. What did I expect, really? I don’t even know myself.

“I don’t believe you care,” I whisper.

But he snarls and hauls me to him, onto his lap, where I fall in an undignified heap with a yelp. He bares his teeth at me and I shiver. “Little human. Talking back to me as if we are on the same level, you and I, as if I could not just take what I wanted from you and leave you broken.”

“Talen—”

“Isn’t this what you think of me? Of us? That we are like beasts, raping women in the forests because that helps explain your illegitimate children? Attacking men with disease because that helps explain your lack of knowledge of basic hygiene?” He’s grinning, those sharp canines glinting, blue eyes burning, a youthful god from down below, unbearably beautiful and savage. “A beast. That’s what I am. But you like beasts, don’t you? You like animals. Well, here I am.”

I should be fighting tooth and nail to get off his lap, to get away from him, because he does look kind of beastly right now, the way he’s gazing at my face, my neck—and lower—as if he wants to take a bite out of me. The problem is that the thought makes me breathe faster, fans the fire he always lights up inside of me. I want him to bite me, to maul me, to hold me so that I can’t escape.

I find myself reaching up to touch his face and then he’s growling deep in his chest and pulling me against his chest, his mouth crashing on mine. At last, he’s kissing me and I didn’t know I wanted it so much until this moment.

I clutch at his face, his shirt, shift to straddle his lap so that I can angle my head and taste him better. His taste, oh, good Gods below… Sweet dark caramel and salty tears and electrifying spice. All of this morning’s fear and anger pours out of me and into that kiss, and he groans, clutching me in his turn, locking an arm around my back, pressing our bodies so close together not even a down feather or rose petal could fit between us.

His lips, his tongue does things to me I’ve never felt before, every lick, every nip building up the need, building up the fire. He’s so strong, and the feel of his arm around me, that contained power in the solid wall of his chest, sends thrills through me. His savage strength is making me drunk, the sheer urgency in his kissing making my head spin. He’s hard between my legs, where I’m straddling him, and where I curl my hand over his neck, I feel his pulse racing.

This is real. Lips and teeth clashing, tongues warring, hands exploring over the barrier of clothing, breaths rasping. We’re moving together, flowing together like water, not breathing, not living, locked in this kiss that may never end.

“Majesty,” a voice says, then steps retreat.

I pull back, breathing hard. My hair is clinging to my neck, my gown is half off my shoulders where he’s been pulling at it. His lips are reddened, his eyes bright when he turns to glare at the door and the interruption. He looks like he’s about to resume right where we left off, like he’s about to tear my gown in half and take me right there, on the chair in front of the fire—and maybe I’d let him if he didn’t hesitate for one precious moment.

That had been Jassin’s voice. He saw us. Saw us kissing, and it lands me back to reality with a heavy thump.

What am I doing? I’ve barely been here a couple of days and I’ve already lost my head, drunk on the Fae king’s raw magnetism. I know better than this. I’ve heard all the stories, all the terrible tales.

“I should go,” I whisper, awkwardly climbing off his lap. He holds onto me for a moment too long, long enough for me to think he won’t let go, and I’m torn between wanting it and fearing it.

He sighs, releasing me. “You don’t trust me.”

I stagger to my feet, pulling up my sleeves. “Why should I trust you?”

Because he protected you this morning, a voice whispers in my head, because he released you just now. Because no matter what he says, he’s not a beast.

He abducted me.

The voice falls silent.

He’s looking down at his hands. They’re curled into fists on his black-clad thighs. “Jassin, accompany Princess Elayne to her room.”

“That’s another thing,” I say as Jassin walks inside and bows. “Why did you lock me up in an empty wing of the palace all on my own?”

“My own rooms are there, next to yours.”

I stare at him, though he’s still gazing down at his fisted hands, at a loss for words. All this time his rooms had been beside mine?

“Remember to lock your door,” he says. “Good night.”

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