bet, you flatter yourself.”
“The good money is on Felan or the King.”
Her eyes widened. “Who did you place your money on?”
He took a step closer, invading her personal space; another step and their bodies would be touching. Taryn didn’t step back; she tilted her chin a fraction to meet his gaze. Her lips were soft and full in the starlight. He wanted to close the distance and kiss her. “No one. I said you’d sleep with no one.”
And there had been much amusement at his expense. Right now he was hoping to lose every coin he’d bet. His body hummed; he was harder than a sword and couldn’t remember ever being this intoxicated with lust. He’d forgotten how powerful true desire could be. Too many times he’d made deals and alliances by giving in to a vague attraction. He wanted to step back, to draw breath, and yet he couldn’t. She held him captive by simply questioning his motives. No one questioned him besides the King.
She looked hurt by his assessment. “Do you think I’m cold or unattractive?”
“No, Lady Taryn. I think you have spent too long in the mortal world and that you do not play as casually as everyone else. Sex is currency here; it is traded like gems and silks, given as favors and forgotten just as fast. I don’t think you can do that. Not yet anyway. For that reason alone, there are some who would like to see you broken and corrupted.”
“But not you, because you have honor or something equally lame?” She raised one eyebrow as she mocked him. She was far braver than she realized she was, but instead of her comment raising anger, it only spiked his interest further. She may not trust him, but she wasn’t afraid of him either. Around him, she wasn’t playing games. He wasn’t used to anyone being this honest.
“Honor is such a human term. I am loyal to the King, but I am just as dangerous as any other fairy. I seek my own interests, my own pleasure.” His finger brushed her lips.
Don’t gamble what you can’t afford to lose. He couldn’t afford to lose his heart or his head over a woman. If he wanted sex, he could get it from a handful of different woman tonight. But he didn’t just want sex; he wanted something more—the thrill of the chase maybe. That’s what he’d call it. It had been a long time since he’d had to chase any woman.
A group of fairies ran past, laughing and shedding clothes as they went. No doubt they were looking for a quiet alcove to indulge. Taryn watched them pass, her lips parted and her eyes wide. The midsummer festival would no doubt shock her further.
Verden waited until they’d moved on; then he took her hand and whispered, “Come. Let’s cross the veil.”
They moved quickly through the forest that had once been lusher. As they moved deeper, it became wilder, the trees less constrained and less arranged for beauty’s sake. Gems still grew like mushrooms on the bark, vines still hung from the branches, and flowers hung closed, waiting for daylight—but he could feel the change as they moved away from the castle. Power still throbbed, but it was raw. Unlike the grinning danger of Court politics, this was real, wild, and special. Those that never left the castle missed out on the true beauty of Annwyn. The glory most fairies had forgotten when they’d crossed the veil and taken up residence between life and death.
Beside him Taryn drew in a breath and stopped. She glanced around as if lost. “How far are we going?”
“Not much further.” The place he’d wanted to take her was still a little farther on, perhaps too far for tonight. Another time, maybe. “There is a doorway close by.”
“You won’t leave me there?”
Verden placed his free hand over his heart. “I swear I will not leave you lost, and no harm will come to you while you are with me.”
She searched his face. “Okay.” Her tongue traced her lip. “Where are we?”
“Still in Annwyn, the wilder parts. There are farms farther on, but I don’t go
“The good money is on Felan or the King.”
Her eyes widened. “Who did you place your money on?”
He took a step closer, invading her personal space; another step and their bodies would be touching. Taryn didn’t step back; she tilted her chin a fraction to meet his gaze. Her lips were soft and full in the starlight. He wanted to close the distance and kiss her. “No one. I said you’d sleep with no one.”
And there had been much amusement at his expense. Right now he was hoping to lose every coin he’d bet. His body hummed; he was harder than a sword and couldn’t remember ever being this intoxicated with lust. He’d forgotten how powerful true desire could be. Too many times he’d made deals and alliances by giving in to a vague attraction. He wanted to step back, to draw breath, and yet he couldn’t. She held him captive by simply questioning his motives. No one questioned him besides the King.
She looked hurt by his assessment. “Do you think I’m cold or unattractive?”
“No, Lady Taryn. I think you have spent too long in the mortal world and that you do not play as casually as everyone else. Sex is currency here; it is traded like gems and silks, given as favors and forgotten just as fast. I don’t think you can do that. Not yet anyway. For that reason alone, there are some who would like to see you broken and corrupted.”
“But not you, because you have honor or something equally lame?” She raised one eyebrow as she mocked him. She was far braver than she realized she was, but instead of her comment raising anger, it only spiked his interest further. She may not trust him, but she wasn’t afraid of him either. Around him, she wasn’t playing games. He wasn’t used to anyone being this honest.
“Honor is such a human term. I am loyal to the King, but I am just as dangerous as any other fairy. I seek my own interests, my own pleasure.” His finger brushed her lips.
Don’t gamble what you can’t afford to lose. He couldn’t afford to lose his heart or his head over a woman. If he wanted sex, he could get it from a handful of different woman tonight. But he didn’t just want sex; he wanted something more—the thrill of the chase maybe. That’s what he’d call it. It had been a long time since he’d had to chase any woman.
A group of fairies ran past, laughing and shedding clothes as they went. No doubt they were looking for a quiet alcove to indulge. Taryn watched them pass, her lips parted and her eyes wide. The midsummer festival would no doubt shock her further.
Verden waited until they’d moved on; then he took her hand and whispered, “Come. Let’s cross the veil.”
They moved quickly through the forest that had once been lusher. As they moved deeper, it became wilder, the trees less constrained and less arranged for beauty’s sake. Gems still grew like mushrooms on the bark, vines still hung from the branches, and flowers hung closed, waiting for daylight—but he could feel the change as they moved away from the castle. Power still throbbed, but it was raw. Unlike the grinning danger of Court politics, this was real, wild, and special. Those that never left the castle missed out on the true beauty of Annwyn. The glory most fairies had forgotten when they’d crossed the veil and taken up residence between life and death.
Beside him Taryn drew in a breath and stopped. She glanced around as if lost. “How far are we going?”
“Not much further.” The place he’d wanted to take her was still a little farther on, perhaps too far for tonight. Another time, maybe. “There is a doorway close by.”
“You won’t leave me there?”
Verden placed his free hand over his heart. “I swear I will not leave you lost, and no harm will come to you while you are with me.”
She searched his face. “Okay.” Her tongue traced her lip. “Where are we?”
“Still in Annwyn, the wilder parts. There are farms farther on, but I don’t go
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