allowed a woman where you are now, Sybilla. You have liberties that no other has ever been granted. Do not push for more too quickly, do not push me at all. I am not a man who can be pushed, who can be wooed by your wiles.”
Quickly, he lifts his head, but does not release my hair. His lips turn up as he pulls me closer to him. Flicking my eyes down, I realize that he’s hard. Licking my lips, I hate that I want him in my mouth, that I crave to have him inside of me, no matter how.
Lifting my gaze to his, just inches from his hard length, I speak. “I will not be part of a loveless marriage, Elias. I will, however, give us time to fall in love. I know that you are capable, my king. You just need to trust me and I’ll be patient, I’ll show you the beauty of giving yourself to another person.”
Something crosses his features, but he quickly shakes it off. I don’t wait for him to say anything else, this conversation is finished for now. Leaning forward, I open my mouth and take him inside of me. I can taste myself on him, I can taste us, and it causes my belly to dip with need.
I moan around his length, closing my eyes and enjoying every moment of being alone with him. Soon enough he’ll return to whatever it is that kings of this world do, but right now he is only mine and, in this moment, I hold all of his attention, I bathe in it, welcoming every second of the painful pleasure.
Chapter Twenty-Two
ELIAS
Sybilla glances at me from above her goblet. We’re sitting in the dining room, Merek along with the rest of the men join us. We’re talking, creating a schedule for the upcoming months. Since it is summer, we’ll be leaving this main castle and riding closer to the territory that we will seize and conquer this year.
“Will Queen Sybilla be joining us?” Rowan asks.
Glancing to Sybilla, her eyes wide, I look back to my men. “Only for a portion of the trip,” I explain. “She’ll be at the Beallenau Castle with the witches, her girls, and a full guard.”
“The what?” she asks, interrupting us.
If Sybilla knew her role, her duties or her standing she would know that to interrupt a man, especially her King, is simply not done. However, concessions are made for my Queen, as she does not know the customs here.
Turning to her, I decide instead of chastising her for speaking out of turn, I will explain the situation to her.
“Beallenau is on the furthest border of my country’s holdings. The land we are going to conquer previously belonged to Bunafi, but my father gave it to the neighboring country of Llyne. It is not theirs to have, my father handed it over because he was drunk on his paramour and that was her home country.”
Sybilla opens her mouth and I dip my chin, allowing her to speak. “So, he gave parts of your country to Llyne, because his mistress manipulated him?”
Nodding, I arch a brow. “Some say he was bewitched. I know that wasn’t the case as my father would do anything to keep what he regarded as his prize. She was indeed his prize, though he was blinded by what was between her legs so much so, that he did not care that he was hurting his people, his kingdom or his future heir’s.”
“Which is why I’ve heard murmurs of him being a traitor and you being nothing like him,” she breathes.
My brows shoot up, as I’m surprised anyone has said I am nothing like the man. Though the sentiment is true, I have always thought that people assumed me to be like him, and would continue to do so until I could prove otherwise.
“We’re going to take it back, plus perhaps a bit more,” I say with a shrug.
Her lips twitch and I wonder if she understands the gravity of it, I doubt that she does. Right now, her eyes are sparkling with excitement. She is yearning for an adventure, though I doubt she realizes that war is anything but an exciting adventure, it is more like a hell on earth.
Turning to Merek, I clear my throat. “Ready the men, we leave in a fortnight.”
Merek dips his chin, his eyes focusing on mine for a moment, then shifting to Sybilla. “You will be safe, Queen. Your warriors will keep you