Page 67 of Tides of Shadows

“Before I met you, I had everything I ever wanted. I was living a great life. And then you destroyed it.”

“I destroyed your life?”

“Yes,” he said. “Because nothing else tastes the same. Nothing and no one can satisfy me. My thoughts cannot escape you.”

I stood breathless.

“Liar,” I said hoarsely. “I’m just another noble girl. Another vote.”

“Vote?” he repeated, disbelief sharpening his tone. “That’s what you think you are to me?”

He stepped closer, his fists clenched. I could see muscles of his forearms standing out as he fought for control.

“I don’t want your vote. I don’t want your power.” he said with full anger. “I want everything you are.”

His confession spilled, raw and ragged. “When I slammed you against that wall I thought I had killed you. I roared for healers until my throat bled.

“I see your green eyes when I close mine.

I wake up reaching for the fire of your hair.

“Tonight, seeing you walking down those stairs, my knees trembled. I wanted MY hands on your body. I want MY name on your lips.” His voice fell to a whisper fierce as prayer. “In my mind you are MINE, Nerissa. Only mine.”

Silence crashed between us, thick as velvet.

“Then take me,” I said before fear could silence me.

He needed no more. He seized me hard, sudden, inevitable. One arm locking my waist, the other cradling my neck. His eyes melted from silver to molten starlight. “Nerissa,” he breathed, half plea, half command.

His lips claimed mine, gentle then hungry. I rose on my feet, thigh sliding along his hip. His hand followed the bare skin beneath my slit dress, gripping, guiding. The wind was raging around us. I knew he was losing control. I felt him hardening against my body. Heat branded me where we pressed together. I knew he was the answer to everything I needed. For so long, I’d lie to myself thinking I felt nothing for him. Everything around us vanished—the garden, the music, the fear—only us mattered.

Then we heard screams from the Inner Court.

He groaned against my lips, unwilling to release me. I clung harder not letting him go, this aroused him even more. Then a voice carried clear:

“Lord Cavareth!”

“Fuck.” He rested his brow against mine, breath ragged. His arms stayed locked around me. But the voice from the lane grew nearer.

“Lord Cavareth, your presence is requested!”

Aidenar rolled his eyes and whispered, “If it’s my mother’s speech or Mermont’s toast I will slaughter them all.”

The servant who burst upon us was pale and shaking. One look at him told us this was something serious. Aidenar’s body chilled in an instant.

“Forgive the interruption, my Lord,” the servant stammered, flustered upon seeing us, “the Lord must come.”

“I hope it’s important,” Aidenar said, but we knew from the servant’s pale face that something was desperately wrong.

Aidenar nodded, then looked at me so fiercely with his eyes, I felt as if I might dissolve in them. We hurried back to the palace.

We entered the Inner Court and committed a mistake. My presence at his side drew some eyes. The rest of the company stared terrified, toward the tables and what lay there.

A man was laying on the ground. I recognized his golden hair. Oh no.

Cedric.

His body convulsed, foam flecked his mouth, thick and red.