A Grain of Starlight
DAPHNE
Tears nearly blind me, my vision blurring as I attempt to keep myself as practical as possible. Falling to my knees in anguish the way that I want to will only serve to incapacitate me. Tears will only incite my heartache, making me weak and desperate. Immobile.
“And now you plan to go to her,” I whisper softly. “Alone.”
Ash studies me, his gaze narrowing sharply, cautiously. “Not alone,” he replies smoothly, his gaze flickering over me from head to toe as if alerted by something new and unexpected in my posture.
My eyebrows arch upward and I swallow what feels like a terribly ill timed chuckle. “Not alone. But without me at your side,” I quip tartly, my eyes falling over his beautiful form while I imagine some faceless, wanton, faerie with her hands all over him.
“That’s right. Without you at my side,” Ash says flatly, his gaze still wary as he peruses me from across the room. “As I’ve already told you repeatedly. It is not yet safe for you, Daphne. So you will remain here.”
Irrational jealousy fills me to the brim and I can’t help the weakness that I spew from my lips. “So that you might be free to charm her as you did once before? Is that it? By any means necessary?”
I’m expecting a swift denial once my insecurities have been voiced. Or perhaps a bit of placation, or a shake of the head. None of those things happen. Instead, what I see puts an ache in my chest.
Ash’s eyes harden, going from sparkling silver to muted gray. He swallows thickly and I watch as his throat bobs with discomfort. “What are you afraid of, Daphne? That I might have to feign enjoyment of her company? That I might have to fuck her? Or are you afraid for your sister’s life?” His eyes flash with a ring of scarlet fire as his anger blazes and he spits, “Because I can guarantee you this. The very moment that bitch figures out she has the wrong girl, your sister’s life is forfeit and hers will be the very next head that is dropped beyond the gate, yet somehow I doubt this time she will go through the trouble of giftwrapping it!”
I’m absolutely speechless as I digest his words. He’s literally warning me that he may very well have to seduce this queen in order to see my sister freed.
Falling completely silent, I drop back onto the bed, blinking rapidly as I fight the moisture that has gathered in my eyes.
Staring at the ground near his feet, I think about everything he’s said and done since we returned from the House of the Five Rivers. He knows the curse is broken now, he says I am his betrothed, he must be aware that I am no mortal as he once believed. I am Fae. He knows I am Fae.
What if… he only ever meant for me to break his curse? Why else would he believe it acceptable to whore himself to that wicked queen? Why would he even consider such a thing if he truly cares for me?
...Yours, is the most coveted of power…
Perhaps he only seeks to gain my power… So he’s keeping me out of sight. Planning to lock me in the dungeon.
But we’re going to have a child together.
And… I love him…
“Daphne,” his voice comes to me as if from far away and don’t acknowledge him as my thoughts begin to spiral out of control. “Daphne, what are you thinking about?”
Shaking my head, I slam my eyes shut and focus on deep steadying breaths. The way Petra taught me to do whenever I began to feel overwhelmed. I’m barely conscious of Ash seeping closer, although I can feel his energy like the warmth of the sun.
“Daphne I-”
“No!” I suddenly snap, my eyes popping open to see him kneeling in front of me, a worried expression painted across his dazzling features. His eyes are silver again, and swirling with an odd darkness as he studies me. I glare at him. “No, Ash. I promise you, if you touch that witch-” he rolls his eyes and begins to stand but I lash out, snatching his hand in mine and dragging him back down to my level “-or if you allow that witch to touch you, I vow to you here and now that you will never touch me again.” As I speak these words I feel something in my flesh warm. A burn begins at the base of my spine, like fire trailing up my back to my neck, but it isn’t painful this time. No, not at all. This time it is energizing, this time strengthens me.
Ash’s irritated gaze changes, his eyes heating crimson as his attention falls on my lips. “Careful love,” Ash whispers, squeezing my hand in his, “that almost sounded like an oath. An oath that was nearly sealed with magic. Look at our hands.”
“What?” I chirp, my gaze snapping downward to where his fingers have intertwined with mine.
Our hands are glowing, as if between our palms we have ensnared a grain of starlight. Like a scrap of the mortal sun resides within our grip.
“Oh… I… I….” I stammer, feeling strange when I release his hand and the luminescence halts. “I did that?”
“You did,” he replies, an odd sort of wonder in his voice.
With a frown, I meet his gaze and what I see there isn’t the angry Ash of moments ago, but the hungry, lustfilled prince that swept me off my feet in the Hadimere.
Suddenly Ash bolts forward, tumbling my body back onto the bed as he falls over me, crushing me into the bedding. His hands string through my hair and his lips crash down on mine, stealing my breath away as he groans into my mouth.
“You are so mine, Daphne,” he hisses. His girth is hardened steel once again as he splits my legs with a knee and grinds his sex against me. Pausing his kiss just long enough to stare down into my eyes, he says, “I won’t let her touch me, love. I swear it. I’ll figure out another way.” Then he shoves upward to drag his pants down beneath his hips and prod at my entrance. Watching my face as he glides his shaft up and down my folds, he snarls viciously, “Don’t you ever threaten to deny me again.”
Just as I’m about to agree, he slams himself so deep the only thing I can do is moan.