A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows #2)(43)

“Your people really love you.”

He looked back at me, and an odd look passed over his face. “I’m not too sure of that, but I try to always treat them with respect and honor.”

I cocked my head and studied him. “You’re so different.”

“What do you mean?” He chuckled and his hand tightened against mine.

“Prince Evren.” I waved my other hand toward him just as he said a soft hello to an older woman as we passed. “And the Evren that I know. They are two completely different people.”

Evren stopped and tugged my hand forward until I had no choice but to slam into his chest.

“What are you…”

He lifted his other hand and ran his thumb just below my bottom lip. “I can’t see this color on your lips and not imagine what they would look like wrapped around my cock.”

“Evren!” I hissed his name and looked around to make sure no one else could hear him.

“The prince you see with his kingdom and the one you know are the same.” His thumb moved softly against my skin, and my mouth fell open as I watched him. “You can’t fathom the amount of control it takes for me to stand here and wish people a Happy Twin Blood Moon when all I really want to do is rip this fucking dress from your skin and worship every damn inch of you.”

I gasped and started to pull away, but his fist hooked under my chin.

“You cannot comprehend the agony I feel to watch my mate and not have a clue as to what’s going through that beautiful head of yours.”

“You.” The word passed my lips before I could stop them.

“Princess,” he growled just as Thalia and Sorin joined us.

“They’ve got a game of silvers going on at The Olde Vine. Come on. Adara and I against you two.” Thalia rubbed her hands together, and I pulled my face away from Evren’s grip.

“I don’t know what silvers is.”

“Even better.” Sorin laughed. “That means that Evren and I are definitely going to win.”

I lifted my dress in my hand and followed them toward the small pub. Evren smiled as he motioned me forward, and I could hardly control the flutter in my stomach.

The Olde Vine looked so different from the last time we were here. Candles were scattered over the bar and throughout the tables. Little flowers hung from the ceiling and scattered across the floor.

“Here you go.” Evren pulled a silver coin from his pocket and held it out to me.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” I flipped it over in my fingers.

Evren moved around me and pressed his chest to my back. “That glass right there.” He pointed to the mug in the middle of the table. “You have to bounce your silver at least once before you hit it into the mug.”

“If I get it in the mug, I win?”

“If you get it in, you get a point.” He chuckled softly.

“And if I miss?'“

“If you miss… you owe me a kiss,” he whispered against my shoulder.

“That isn’t true.”

“I don’t make the rules, princess.” He moved around me and stood at my side. “I just follow them.”

“Sorin is on your team too. I could simply kiss him for every time I miss.”

There was a flash in Evren’s eyes, and his teeth clenched together as a low growl escaped. “If you’d like to see me kill my best friend and captain, sure.” His hand trailed over mine, his fingers casually touching my own. “But I think Sorin has his hands full with Thalia.”

I looked across the table, and he was right. The two of them were arguing about something, and I couldn’t stop my small snort of laughter.

“Where’s Jorah?”

“You just looking for anyone else to kiss besides me?” He grinned, but it didn’t fully meet his eyes.

“That’s not what I meant.” I had been so relieved that Evren was home, so confused, that I hadn’t even thought of anything else. Anyone else.

Evren nodded once as if he understood. “He and a few of my men are closely watching the border. He should be back in a couple days.”

“So how does this friendship work exactly.” I waved my hand toward Sorin as I slid the piece of silver from one hand to the other.

“Sorin has been my best friend since we were children.” Evren nodded in his direction. “He is the captain of my army and my most trusted. He would give his life for me, and I would do the same.”

“And Jorah?”

“Jorah came into my life a lot later than Sorin, but he has stood at my side since I met him. The three of us have been inseparable for many years.”

“Why did you take Jorah with you to the fae kingdom instead of Sorin?”

“Because I needed him here.” His gaze slid to Sorin where he was tucking one of Thalia’s curls behind her ear. She quickly swatted his hand away. “I knew that if something happened to me, if I didn’t return, that Sorin’s hands were the ones I would want my kingdom to fall into.”

“But your mother?”

“My mother rules because she was born to do so. Not because of her want. Our kingdom loves her, but she would rather live in a small home in the hills and never have to be in the palace again.”

My heart raced at his words because they were the last thing I expected. I thought Queen Veda to be ruthless and cunning. But what he was saying was the opposite.