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“Just fuck me already,” I beg, a writhing mess beneath him. “You can do everything else later.”
He smiles deviously as he removes his fingers from my sex. Taking each one into his mouth, sucking deeply. “Are my thoughts bothering you, Cassandra?”
“On the contrary.” I thrust my hips up and push him onto his back, straddling his hips. “But one’s mind can be deceiving. I wonder if your prowess is really what you think it is,” I taunt.
I don’t know when he lost his boxers, but I suddenly find myself speared with his hard flesh, filled to the brim. Niko puts his hands on my hips to hold me steady as he thrusts up into me over and over, never missing a beat.
“I take it back,” I mewl as I cup my breasts. “Your mind definitely wasn’t exaggerating your capabilities.”
Chapter Fourteen
Niko
Long after we fucked each other senseless, I lay beside Cassandra as she sleeps. I watch her and listen to every breath she takes, making sure my mind hasn’t conjured her from a dream. She is perfect for me. Beautiful, outspoken, a goddess in bed, and her heart is pure. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better woman if I tried.
The thing that bothers me is the part of the prophecy I didn’t tell Cassandra. I am sure she wouldn’t want to be my Consort or help me save my realm if she knew the truth. If we merge, Cassandra will become immortal. Her life will not end as it should after a certain number of years, she will not pass when I do. She will remain here long after everyone she knows and loves has moved on to the afterlife.
In my heart, I know I should tell her the truth. She should be allowed to make her own choices, but I can’t take the chance. I must think about my realm and my people and not the woman who is quickly stealing my heart.
Instead of staying in bed with her like I want to, my guilt has me rising to shower and seek out my mother. I need advice. I need the guidance of the only person I know who has always been brutally honest with me.
I find her in her rose garden feeding the doves my father got for her on their last anniversary.
“Hello, Niko,” she says without looking in my direction.
“How do you do that?” I ask as I take a seat beside her. Ever since I was a child, my mother has always known where I was without having to seek me out.
“When you have children, you will understand,” she says and smiles softly. “It’s a strange bond that I have tried many times to put into words. There just isn’t any way I could describe it.”
Nodding, I sit beside her in silence as she continues her dove-feeding ritual. She offers me some of the seeds and I join her. The act is calming, and I understand why she does this daily.
“You found me for a reason,” she says as she puts the container of seeds away. The doves coo around her in happiness.
“I need advice,” I say not daring to look at her.
“It must be serious if you came to me.” My mother laughs. “You hate my opinions. My honesty makes you uncomfortable.”
“Which is exactly why I had to ask you,” I reply leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees.
“Out with it then. I don’t have all day, there is still a ton of work to be done for the ceremony tomorrow.”
A humorless chuckle leaves me. This is my mother. She loves me to death, will do everything to defend me and make me happy, and always has. But direct to a fault. Something I find both frustrating and refreshing depending on the situation.
I tell her everything. The prophecy, the consequences, the fact I may be falling for Cassandra. When I’m done, I wait in silence as she digests this information. This isn’t the time to push. I want her to tell me I am making the right decision in keeping this from Cassandra, but I know in my heart that I’m fucking up. Cassandra will never forgive me if she has to learn this on her own.
“What do you want me to say, Nikolas?” My mother frowns as she turns to me. “You are here, telling me this because you know what the right thing is. I don’t have to tell you.”
****
Cassandra
Making my way through the palace, I head to Amara’s private quarters for the final fitting of my dress before the ceremony tomorrow. I still have to get used to all the opulence surrounding me as I make my way down the halls. Brilliant white walls with golden accents and dark-blue curtains. Floors of white marble with streaks of gold through them. Everything screams luxury.
Gilded golden frames hold portraits of the previous royal families as far back as their histories go. Well, my history too. I will have to get Amara to teach me about all of this. There is still so much I need to learn.
Someone grabs me from behind and pulls me into a crevice in the wall while covering my mouth. I struggle and try to pull away, but I don’t have the strength my attacker does and only get dragged further down into darkness. Amara mentioned secret tunnels throughout the palace and said she would show me after the ceremony. Seems I’m already getting the tour of one.
Trying again to struggle free from the person dragging me along, I manage to scratch their face and their grip falters. But only for a moment before I have my head slammed against the rough brick wall. The darkness creeps in and I feel myself sway but I can’t give in now. I need to fight for my survival. I thought I was safe in the palace but that clearly isn’t the case.
