A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows #3)(40)

As they would mine. I couldn’t stop the way guilt flooded me. Guilt that I hadn’t been here to help protect them, that I was the reason Gavril had come here in the first place.

“I’m sorry, Evren.”

He pulled me into him and pressed his lips gently against mine. “There is nothing for you to be sorry for. We were unprepared for his power and his cruelty, but we won’t make that mistake again.”

“Do you think the old fae will come?”

“I’m unsure.” He pushed my hair over my shoulder. “But our people will fight to their very last breath if that’s what it takes.”

“As will I.”

Evren’s gaze darkened as he watched me. “I want to protect you at all costs, but I won’t stop you. But you must promise me that you will cling to your power. Never give it up again. You will never sacrifice any part of yourself again to protect me.”

I nodded even though it was a lie. I would give up everything to protect him. Even if I had to relive every bit of hell with Gavril, but I knew that Evren and I were stronger together.

If we were to defeat him, we would need to stand together to do so.

“Promise me, Adara.” There was a low growl in his voice.

“I promise.”

He pulled me closer to him until his lips pressed against mine. “I won’t lose you again, princess. I’m not strong enough to do so.”

“You won’t lose me.”

He searched my face, committing every inch of me to memory before his lips met mine again. He pulled me from his lap and stood before reaching down and helping me to my feet. “Come on. I need you to myself for a bit longer before Thalia really does try to steal you away.”





CHAPTER 15





EVREN





T here was a soft knock at the door, and I groaned as I buried my face into Adara’s back.

She was so warm and soft in front of me, and I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to lose the safety I felt just having her in my arms.

But that insistent knocking started again.

I ran my nose along the length of her neck, and the way she arched back into me combined with the soft moan that left her mouth was enough to kill me.

And what a wonderful death it would be.

I pressed my hardening cock against the edge of her bare bottom, and her hands dug into the pillow in front of her. The smell of her in my bed was intoxicating, everything about her was, and my chest felt lighter than it had in a long time.

I ran my lips along her shoulder, the skin smooth beneath my lips, before scraping my teeth over that same sensitive spot.

The craving to taste her again was overwhelming, and it had nothing to do with the power she possessed.

“Evren,” she whispered my name, arching into me further, and my hand snaked up her stomach until I cupped her breast into my hand.

“Yes, princess,” I purred against her skin, and she laughed softly.

“You really should get the door.” As soon as she said the words, another knock sounded against the wood.

“Damn it,” I growled before pulling away from her and grabbing my trousers from the floor. “I’m coming,” I called out before shoving my legs into the pants and pulling them up my hips.

I looked back down at her as she stretched out before me, completely bare and begging for my touch, and she smiled.

“The door, prince.” She nodded toward it with a smirk, and I turned away from her as I ran my hand down my face.

I didn’t want to let anyone in. I didn’t want to face any part of the world outside of this room.

It was her and me, and that was all I needed. It was everything.

I was at the door within seconds, but my hand didn’t move to open it. I took another moment to try to pull myself together and adjusted myself in my trousers.

I cracked open the door, expecting to see Mina, but it was my best friend who leaned against the frame with a wicked smirk on his face. He twirled a dagger in his hand as he grinned at me, and I felt the need to pull it from his hand and kill the smug bastard.

“What do you want?” My voice was gruff and showed my annoyance at being interrupted with Adara, and Sorin only smiled.

“Apologies for disturbing you, my prince.” Sorin bowed his head, and the urge to smack him was overwhelming. “Your presence has been requested in the library.”

“I’m a little busy with my mate right now.” I glanced back over my shoulder to see Adara sitting up in my bed, the covers pulled around her body, but it was clear to anyone who saw her that she was naked beneath.

I narrowed the door even more.

“She’s needed too. Get dressed. We’ll meet you there.” He pushed off the wall and tucked the dagger back into his side.

“We’ll meet you there shortly.” I pushed the door closed with a click, and I heard his snicker of laughter on the other side.

“Don’t make me come back after you all. I’ll break down the door if I have to.”

I rolled my eyes and turned back to Adara. She was grinning, the look on her face genuine happiness, and my chest ached with the need to never allow that look to fall.

She had moved to the edge of the bed, and I rushed to her side as she tried to reach for her dress. I knocked it out of the way before she could grab it, and watched as it fell to the floor.