A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows #2)(64)
Thalia pushed through the door of the library, and I wondered if she would seek out Sorin. Despite the words she said, I knew that she found some sort of solace in him, and I couldn’t imagine a time that she would need it more.
“We should get some rest as well.” Evren moved toward me and didn’t stop until he rounded the table and pressed himself between my knees. His hands cupped my cheeks as I looked up at him, and he searched my face as his breath rushed out of him.
“Are you okay?” I swallowed and sat the book I still held to my side.
“It would be foolish for me not to be fearful, princess. My brother is coming, and I know without a doubt that you’re the thing he wants.”
“But you won’t let him have me.” There was no question to my words.
“No, princess. You are mine.”
CHAPTER 19
Evren held my hand in his, and he held me as close to him as I could get until we finally reached the door to his room. The loud click of it closing behind us echoed throughout his room and in my chest.
My hand trembled in his, and I couldn’t get the restlessness to leave my body no matter how badly I begged it to. Tomorrow was coming, and I wasn’t ready to face it.
Not yet.
But I had no choice.
A black gown hung near Evren’s bed, and he nodded toward it as he led me farther in the room.
“That’s for tomorrow.” His voice was gruff and filled with his own emotion. “When Gavril arrives, you will be the last to enter the throne room. You will be presented as my betrothed before him.”
“Okay.” I nodded even as my chest tightened.
“But I don’t want you to go anywhere near him. Once you enter, you come straight to me.” He practically growled the words. “I want you at my side the entire time.”
“Okay.” My lips trembled and my breath shook in my chest.
He turned back toward me, his eyes assessing and dark. “I won’t let him touch you, Adara. He will not take you from me.”
I nodded even as I felt fear eat at my chest. I didn’t want to be in the same kingdom as Gavril, let alone the same room. I trusted Evren, but my mistrust of his brother was stronger.
“Princess.” Evren pulled his hand from mine and pressed it against my chin. He lifted until I was forced to look at him. “You are my mate, and I will not allow him any more of you than he’s already taken.”
“What if he gives you no choice?” I searched his dark gaze even as his eyes narrowed.
“There is no way for him to force my hand where I won’t pick you. You are my choice, Adara. In any question, under any circumstance, I will choose you.”
I gasped as I tried to pull in a breath, and Evren’s hand snaked around to the back of my neck. His fingers tangled in my hair and gripped almost to the point of pain.
“You are mine, Adara, and I am yours. No one has the power to change that. Not even us.” His lips pressed against mine, and he kissed me slowly. He kissed me as if he was trying to memorize every inch of my lips, every dip and curve.
He backed us up until the backs of my thighs hit his bed, and he slowly lowered me and pressed his knee between my legs.
“I thought we needed rest.” I smiled against his lips and pressed my thighs into his hips.
“We do.” He nodded and ran his mouth along my jaw. He took his time kissing the sensitive skin along my neck until his teeth nipped at my earlobe. “But gods, I need you more.”
He stood, taking a step back from me, and started slowly unbuttoning his dark shirt. “I have been able to think of little else since you climbed out of my bed this morning.”
He pulled his shirt from his trousers, and I sat up and slowly pulled my own boot from my foot. I let it slide to the floor in a loud thump, and my heart rate skyrocketed with every second that passed between us.
I pushed off my other boot before moving my trembling fingers to my shirt. Evren stood before me, bare from the waist up, and he slowly undid his trousers before lowering them down his hips.
I could hardly catch my breath as I watched him kick his trousers behind him or as I pulled my own shirt over my head.
“You are so perfect.” His hand gripped my calf, and his fingers crept up it until he reached the back of my knee. He jerked it forward, knocking me back onto my back, and his hand continued it’s path up my leg. He pressed both of my legs between his thighs, holding them in place, and he moved up my thigh at a painfully slow pace. My chest rose and fell harshly as I tried to anticipate his next move.
He was so beautiful standing in front of me. He was completely bare, not a single part of him hidden, and it hit me more than ever that this man who was half fae and half vampyre, every part of him was meant for me. He was my mate, and there wasn’t a single part of me that doubted that truth.
His hand grazed over my sex, barely applying any pressure, but I jumped under his touch and tried to clamp my legs together. A smirk marred his face as he finally reached the top of my trousers and slowly unlaced them.
His hands moved to my hips, and he tugged the leather down my hips and below my ass as he stared down at me. “So beautiful.”
He leaned forward and his breath rushed out against my sex. I pressed my hand to my mouth and bit down on my palm as I tried to force myself not to beg him for more.