Queen of Myth and Monsters (Adrian X Isolde, #2)(50)

“Sparrow, I love this.”

“Then tell me how it feels to be inside me.”

“Warm.” He paused, lost in his own pleasure. “Wet.”

I laughed. “You are not very creative.”

“Hmm,” he said and let his hands fall to my hips. I was not certain if he was agreeing or if he could not form words. “You wouldn’t be either if you were about to explode.”

We grew quiet except for our ragged breaths, and I focused on the warmth spreading throughout my body, radiating from where we were joined. I widened my knees and Adrian’s hand slipped under my skirt, using this thumb to slide over my clit. My muscles tensed and I held my breath, trying to prolong this feeling and let it build until I was light-headed and unable to contain it. I let my head fall back, my orgasm tearing through me as I came. I was left feeling drained, my body shaking as I collapsed against Adrian. He held me tight, one hand gripping my neck, the other on my ass as he thrust into me a few more times, groaning as he came.

We lay there for some time, uncaring that it was cold or that the ground was hard. I stared at the field where the sun still shone, turning tall blades of grass into golden wheat.

“I forgot how blue the sky was,” I said. “I did not think that would ever happen.”

Adrian’s hands stilled, ceasing to run through my hair. “I am sorry.”

I lifted my head and stared at him so he could see my expression as I answered. “I am not.”

We rose to our feet and I walked to the edge of the tree line, right where the red sky faded into blue. Adrian came close, his chest flush with my back. One hand went around my waist and the fingers of his other laced through mine.

“What happens if you stay in the sunlight?” I asked.

“I burn,” he said, and he lifted our entwined hands into the sunlight. I watched them, his pale skin contrasting brightly with my own. It took a few minutes, but soon blisters appeared on his skin, and those quickly burst, turning into red sores, and sizzled. My hand shook as he held it, and I jerked it from the light.

“Stop!”

I turned toward him, examining his arm, but it was already healed.

His laugh was breathless as he guided my eyes to his, tilting my head with his fingers.

“Do you worry for me, my sweet?” he asked.

“What a ridiculous question,” I said.

This time his laugh was deeper, and he bent to kiss me gently before we returned to Shadow on the other side of the tree line. When we emerged, we found his black stallion quite a distance away, and when Adrian called to him, he snorted, pawing at the ground with his hoof.

“What is he doing?” I asked, glancing at Adrian.

His expression told me everything I needed to know—something was wrong. There was a part of me that did not want to know what Shadow had found. I wanted to live in the blissful moment we had created a little while longer, but we found ourselves moving toward the horse, who seemed even more unsettled the closer we came.

Then I noticed the acrid and unmistakable smell of death and my dread grew. Had we found what remained of Dracul’s men?

Adrian reached for the reins, attempting to calm Shadow, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw what lay at his feet. There was a ring where the grass was flattened beneath the mangled corpse of an owl.

Its feathers had once been white, but now they were flecked with blood, most of it dripping from its wide, round eyes.

I took a step back.

“What is that?” I asked.

I looked at Adrian. His eyes had gone dark, and his jaw popped as he clenched his teeth.

After a moment, he answered. “The correct question is who,” he said, and then met my gaze. “Her name was Ivka.”





Fifteen





Isolde

Adrian removed his cloak and gathered Ivka’s remains. We did not speak on our return to the Red Palace, and anxiety tumbled around in my chest. I felt guilty that I was so afraid of carrying an owl home even though she was one of our own, but it was like bringing death to our kingdom, and I agonized over the consequences.

I had not considered asking Adrian what kind of shifter he had sent to scout my homeland, but if I had known, I would have refused to send her, too afraid of what might become of her—or even my people—on the mission.

I hung my head, heavy with guilt. No matter what kind of animal, Ivka was still one of Adrian’s soldiers. She was one of our people, and I knew that not even my fear of owls explained why she had died.

Adrian was quiet when we arrived, and he waited for me to dismount before he spoke.

“I must take Ivka to her brother,” he said.

I swallowed hard, nodding. “Of course. When will you return?”

“Sundown, likely,” he said. “Before the festivities begin.”

We stared at one another for a moment.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I did not mean for this to happen.”

“I know,” he replied quietly. “I do not blame you. It was my choice to send her.”

But it was my insistence that had pushed him.

Adrian mounted his horse again, and as he took up his reins, he said, “This is not a night to venture beyond the gates. Stay within the castle walls.”

Then he left, spurring Shadow down the hillside, disappearing from view, and I closed my eyes and spoke words into the air that I hoped were more of a spell than a prayer that he would be safe.