Page 47 of Wings of Snow

She nibbled on her lip. “So figuring outhowthe king created the veil and removing it is of utmost importance.”

“There’s more.”

Her eyebrows arched. “More? Do I need to round up some leminai?”

I tried to smirk but fell short. “My father has demanded that I find you and return you to the court within the month. He wants you present at my wedding to Georgyanna, and he still wants you married off to Lord Woodsbury.”

Her breathing picked up as anger strummed along the bond. “He doesn’t want me dead for defying his command?”

“No, he feels you’re too valuable to dispose of.”

“I won’t marry that pedophile.” Her jaw ground together, and that stubborn streak I admired in her so much made an appearance.

“No, you won’t, because you’ll be marrying me.”

Amusement sparkled in her eyes. “I will be?”

“If you’ll have me.” A smile curved my lips. “If we return to the court married, there’s little my father can do about it other than torture my mother in punishment, something he’s already threatened if you don’t come back.”

“But, Norivun...” An ache formed in her tone. “Queen Lissandra should not bear the brunt of our misdeeds.”

I worked my jaw, warring emotions oscillating inside me. “No, but she would sooner have me marry you and deal with my father’s wrath than allow either of us a lifetime of misery.”

She picked at her fingernails again, her movements growing more agitated. “I couldn’t bear to see her hurt.”

“Me neither.”

“Which means we need to expose your father for who he really is. If everyone knows what he’s done and what he continually does to your mother, maybe it will stop.”

“Even if the continent knew, he’s still the king. He would still rule even if he was hated.”

“Unless he was overthrown.”

She said it so casually, and a wide smile streaked across my face. “Did you really just speak of overthrowing the king that easily?”

“I did. Before, I simply wanted our arranged marriages stopped, but now...” She shook her head. “If he’s done what he has, he can’t be king. He no longer deserves that title, and who else could overthrow him but you?”

“I do love when you speak of violence.”

She laughed. “I wondered when I’d see your dark side again.”

“It’s always there, my love, just waiting to come out.”

She snorted and rearranged how she was sitting on the bed. “So we need to stop theoremfrom being suppressed, that’s of utmost importance, and then we need to find a way to expose your father all while keeping your mother safe from his hands.”

“Proving his involvement is more necessary than exposure. Unless we have proof, the council won’t believe us, and we would need the council on our side. It’s the only way to peacefully remove him from power. If the council votes unanimously to have my father dethroned, Solis law demands his abdication.”

“So we’ll find proof of what he’s done.”

“We still need to get married, and you’re forgetting one other thing that’s equally important—releasing you from Drachu’s hold.” Anger rumbled in my gut at just the thought of my mate’s tie to the Lochen king.

Ilara frowned, then leaned forward to grab another piece of bread. I pulled her closer, needing to feel her lips on mine.

She fell into me, squealing, but I used the opportunity to kiss her thoroughly. A grumble of pride raced through me when her toes curled against my calves, and my pride only increased when arousal entered her scent just as fast.

When she inched back, she licked her plump lips and eyed me playfully. Damn, that look made me harden instantly.

I pulled her in for another kiss, and the fairy lights flashed on her irises. For the briefest moment, I halted, then I forced myself to lean back. “Are your eyes a different color?”

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