Court of Midnight - Lucinda Dark Page 0,59

ass scraped the shelf he'd set me on and my head grew faint from the movement and steam. I held onto him for dear life, and I could feel it when he grew close to his own release—knew it was upon him when he reached between us and stroked that bundle of nerves once more. I started shaking before it even came, but the second he pinched me, I lost it.

I opened my mouth on a silent scream that was swallowed by him as his lips descended and he shoved himself forward into my pussy one last time, holding me tight as he came apart under my hands and lips.

This, I realized, was everything. This was what I was fighting for.

Roan pulled his mouth away and dropped so that his forehead was pressed against mine. "You fucking wreck me, Little Bird," he admitted through panting breaths.

I stroked my fingers up and down along his spine as I turned my head and pressed my cheek to his chest. "The feeling," I admitted into the quiet of the bathing chamber, "is entirely mutual."

Chapter Twenty-One

Cress

I stared at the closed throne room doors and counted down the number of seconds that ticked by. I'd lost count ten times, and each time I restarted, I always hesitated—hoping the doors would open and I'd be allowed entry. As it stood, however, the Princes had been locked inside with some of their top soldiers for a while now. Days, it felt like—but hours was probably more accurate.

Finally, after what felt like forever, my eleventh countdown was cut short as the doors were thrown open. I scrambled back and jerked to the side, out of the way, as Sorrell stormed into the corridor, a layer of ice trailing beneath his booted feet as he moved. The second he saw me, his eyes sparked and snow began to fall from the ends of his hair.

Instead of unleashing whatever fury he was so obviously feeling—a strange occurrence for sure since I was accustomed to seeing him act stoic and unreadable—he whipped around and pointed a finger back towards the entryway. I peeked around and saw that Orion and Roan stood there, both of their arms crossed and severe expressions on their face.

"I am not staying behind!" Sorrel shouted, the echo of his deep voice making one of the chandeliers within the throne room shudder in the background.

My eyes widened. Several soldiers stood around a table towards the center of the room, but each one of them was turned away.

"Calm yourself, Sorrell," Orion said as he and Roan stepped further into the corridor. The doors closed behind them, leaving the four of us in relative privacy, though I had a feeling Sorrell hadn't expected me to be out here, waiting for them. And now I was privy to whatever was going on and my presence only seemed to irritate him further.

"This is ridiculous," Sorrell hissed. "I'm perfectly capable of riding and fighting." A wave of cold air slapped me in the face and I shivered involuntarily. Roan noticed and moved closer, unhooking the cloak at his back and wrapping it around my shoulders.

"We're not questioning your ability to ride and fight," Roan said as he stroked a warm finger down my cheek before returning his attention to his throne brother.

"Then you'll be taking me with you," Sorrell commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. But an argument there still was because neither Roan nor Orion appeared to be caving in to him.

"You're wasting the precious little magic you do have by throwing a tantrum!" Roan turned and shouted back.

"When was the last time you replenished your magic supply?" Orion's voice was calmer but no less intense. His dark eyes fixated on Sorrell and refused to deviate.

"I have plenty," Sorrell replied.

"That wasn't an answer," Roan pointed out with a dark huff. "Just tell us the truth."

"I am the Prince of Frost and one of the rulers of this Court," Sorrell's voice lowered and ice began to form along the wall around us. I drew Roan's cloak even closer.

"Cut the Gods damned theatrics, Sorrell," Roan snapped, his voice lowering. "You're exhausted and it's starting to show. Orion isn't even shivering—" He paused and gestured to where Orion stood, completely unfazed by Sorrel's magic ice.

In the blink of an eye, the cold air receded. The frost that had been spreading over the door and floors and walls thawed, leaving behind nothing but the residual moisture. "We're doing this because we are concerned," Orion