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A breeze lifted the strands of her brown hair as she took one last look at the sky. She could have sworn the brightest star winked at her before returning to its usual lull of light. With a sigh, she followed the crowd into the castle, making the trek to the large ballroom where she’d find her family and a host of males offering her drinks and dances. She partied the night away without a care in the world, for she knew in her bones that in the next year, her wish would come true.
III
29
Béke Day Seven
The air was thick with the scent of amber. I whipped around, trying to gain my bearings amid the massive snow banks that surrounded me. Everything was white, save for tendrils of oily darkness slipping through the snow, sickening with its touch. Veins of black wound their way through the thick piles, melting them until I was knee-deep in water. And still, I could not find the source of the smell. My unbound chestnut hair lifted in a strong breeze that brought wispy shadows in on its wings. I flicked my fingers in an attempt to bring my magic to my palms, but nothing happened with the movement. My breath caught in my throat, panic clawing its way up as I felt utterly powerless.
Shit, shit, shit, I had to get out of here.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I pushed off the rocky ground beneath me, but my legs were encumbered by the soupy water surrounding them. My heart galloped faster and faster as I struggled to run, and my crazed movements only seemed to thicken the water around me. A splash at my back sprayedwater in every direction, and I whipped around, a hand clutching my chest as Kazimir appeared from nowhere.
“You are mine,” he growled, lunging for me, and I was helpless as his hand closed over my throat.
A gasp ripped through me as I bolted upright in bed, dragging Ruslan from sleep a moment later. Without hesitation, he cradled me against him, wrapping his arms around me protectively. “Shh, sprite, it was only a dream.”
A choked sob caught in my chest as he continued to soothe me with gentle, circular strokes on my bare skin, the warmth of his large frame enveloping me and chasing away the chill of powerlessness. “It washim,” I managed to choke out, and Ruslan only pulled me tighter.
“I’ll always keep you safe, sprite. I am only a thought away,” he promised.
Dragging in a serrated breath, I wiped my eyes and allowed his heat to relax me. “What time is it?”
He brushed his lips over my bare shoulder. “Time to eat breakfast.”
“Good, because I could use a cinnamon roll to banish my nightmare,” I said, eliciting a low rumble behind me. When I squirmed in his arms, he released me, and as I scooted out of bed, I was grateful that I had not drunk too much at the feast the previous night. “I’m going to shower before we go.”
Ruslan was out of bed a moment later, throwing back the curtains hiding Radence from us, and the pinkish purple of dawn over the Agrenak Mountains was revealed. He tossed a little of his magic into the fire, bringing it to life, and I knew it was because he wanted to ensure I was warm enough. With happiness bubbling in my heart and banishing the lingering bits of fear, I strode into the bathroom and turned on the taps for the shower.
When I returned to our bedroom, Ruslan was reading, one arm holding his book and the other thrown casually behind his head, his muscles flexing in the morning light. I paused for a moment to admire him, still in disbelief over how incredible he was to me. To others, he might be the ruthless king, but to me, he was soft and sweet, and the love I felt down our bond was deeper than any ocean and just as endless.
“Ready to go?” I asked, drawing his attention away.
With a smirk, he set his book aside and rose from the bed, revealing every naked inch of his body. “I will be in a moment.” I gulped at his erection, my thighs dampening from the sight of it. “My eyes are up here, mate.”
Jerking my gaze to his face, I blushed, then sashayed my hips as I walked toward the dresser filled with my clothes, dropping the towel away from my body as I did so. The growl that came unbidden was entirely too satisfying.
“If we didn’t need to focus on winning the Day and Crystal Realms to our side, I’d fuck you against this until you went hoarse from screaming my name.”
“Maybe later,” I purred, pushing my ass out as I bent to pull undergarments from the bottom drawer. When I straightened and glanced over my shoulder, his expression was dark and playful, and he looked like he wanted to devour me.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
We werethe first to arrive in the dining hall, and once I’d realized that, I bolted straight toward the steaming pile of sweets, taking all the best pastries for myself. A sigh brushed across the back of my neck, and I whipped my head around to find Ruslan holding two plates filled with meat and cheese. Ismiled at him, batting my lashes innocently. “Is one of those for me?”
“Since you will only eat these if I get them for you, yes,” he teased, nudging me along with his leg. We settled at our usual table just as the other monarchs began to arrive, their entourages trickling in behind them.
Queen Viktoria and Queen Immonen sat across from me, and we fell into easy conversation, while Ruslan spoke with their husbands. An idea dawned on me as we chatted, and I knew Ruslan would approve. “Would you two care to join me today as I select my wedding gown? High Ladies Liliana and Domi will be in attendance as well.”
Queen Viktoria’s expression was open and bright, almost motherly, and it warmed me from the inside out. “It would be my honor. I still remember my wedding as if it were yesterday.”
“I’ve never been to one, so I have no idea what to expect,” I admitted, ducking my head for a moment. Then with a sigh, I continued, “I could use all the help I can get. Thankfully, Ruslan has taken care of most of the planning for me.”
His regard fell over me as I uttered his name, and he gave my leg a light squeeze beneath the table.“You are brilliant in your own right.”
“I’d be delighted as well. While the Night and Day Fae may have the best cloth weavers, the Crystal Fae have the best fashion sense,” Queen Immonen boasted, tossing her platinum hair over her shoulder.
The smile spreading across my face was interrupted by a string tugging in my low belly, leaving me with a sense of rising nausea. My attention snapped to the Night Fae who sauntered into the room.
