A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows #3)(59)

I looked up at her, her hair still a bit rumbled from sleep, and wrapped my hand around the back of her neck until she was forced to meet my lips. I kissed her gently, but just the taste of her caused a frenzy of want to race through my body.

If I didn’t stop, I would end up taking her right here in front of everyone. My heart hammered in my chest, and I knew that fact shouldn’t have turned me on, but the urge to claim her, to make sure everyone knew she belonged to me, was overwhelming.

She was my wife, and I was a possessive bastard.

I broke the kiss gently, but I didn’t remove my hand from the back of her neck. “You looked exhausted when I left you, and I wanted you to get your rest.”

“I still could have gotten up with you.” She peered into my eyes.

I pulled her closer to me until my mouth pressed against her ear. “Then maybe I didn’t fuck you thoroughly enough last night.” I nipped at her ear, and she squirmed in my hold. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

Her breath rushed out of her mouth, and I finally let her go to face those that still sat around us.

“We should be ready for anything from my brother and my father.” I let my hand run down Adara’s arm and tugged on her until she took a seat on the arm of my chair.

Adara’s face tightened in concern, and I wrapped my hand around her thigh.

King Drystan leaned forward in his seat and pressed his elbows against the table. “Do they know yet of your marriage to the Starblessed?”

Adara tensed again, but I slowly dragged my hand along her leg to calm her, to make sure she knew that she was my utmost concern.

She always would be.

“No.” I shook my head as I looked at him. “And that’s how we’d like to keep it. We’ll need to use any advantage we can have on him.”

My brother didn’t need to know she and I had already wed. It didn’t matter that we had strengthened the bond between us or that he couldn’t fill the prophecy without her.

That knowledge would only drive him crazy, make him more reckless, and we needed to be careful with every move we made going forward.

“His kingdom is already suffering at his hand, and it will continue to suffer until we stop him.” I adjusted in my seat but kept my hand on her. “He will use any man, woman, or child in his fight to get her back, and we don’t need to make him any crueler than he already is. We have no idea if he’s killed his mate or if he still has her.”

“Our soldiers are ready,” Sorin commented in a stern voice that spoke of how seriously he took this.

“As are mine.” King Drystan nodded. “We’ve set up a perimeter around the edge of your kingdom, but we should be prepared if he uses his magic to bring his soldiers in.”

“Ours will remain tighter around the palace.” Sorin nodded. “We don’t know the extent of his power, but Adara must be protected at all costs against him and his death magic.”

“Can you fight it?” King Drystan looked at me, and I knew what he was asking. He wanted to know if I was strong enough to take on my brother or if I was setting us up for a losing fight. I gave him the only truth I had.

“Not on my own.” I lifted Adara’s hand in mine and pressed my lips to her knuckles. “But together, my mate and I can. The nymph in the Onyx Forest told of Adara being the one to defeat him.”

Adara’s back straightened as the king searched over her carefully.

“Good.” King Drystan nodded as he shifted and stood from his seat. His brothers moved with him. “My men and I need to get some rest after our long travels. If you’ll excuse me.”

“I can prepare you all a room.” I started to stand, but he waved me away.

“We’ll sleep in the tents with my men.” His hand rested on his sword on his side. “They traveled the same distance that I did. Your Majesty.” He bowed toward my mother, and she bowed her own head slightly from where she sat quietly at my side.

My respect grew for the man as he left the room.

As soon as he left, Sorin turned to me. “Our defenses are up around the palace grounds. No one will arrive in our kingdom unnoticed.”

I nodded and looked to Jorah. “The scouts?”

“No sign of any movement.” He shook his head. “The forest edge has been quiet, too quiet, but they are still on the hunt.”

“Good.” I nodded and looked to my mother. “How many have evacuated?”

Fury and despair flashed in her eyes. She shook her head as she spoke. “Almost none.” I could feel the heaviness of the situation pressing down on her. Despite her imperfections, my mother was a beloved queen and our people adored her.

“Our kingdom has decided they will fight at our side.” Her gaze slid from me to Adara. “They will fight to keep their princess safe.”

Her words sat heavy in my chest, the realization that these people loved my wife as much as I did, and I couldn’t imagine the moment when she would become their queen.

“The children?” Adara asked, and my hand tightened around her.

“Most have been moved into the west wing of the palace. We have set up rooms, and the kitchen is preparing plenty of food. Some women have come too, but they are all prepared to protect our children and our palace.”

I thought about the sweet faces of those children from the night before. How they danced and laughed with Adara as they had celebrated our union. For them to be facing this now, so young, it hardened something inside me.