She grinned, her heart beating a chaotic rhythm as her chest rose and fell rapidly. “I told you I could keep quiet.”

Even their hushed voices seemed too loud in the now-silent room, and he twitched inside of her, feeling his release start to drip out. And just like that, he already wanted to carry her to the closest chair and bend her over to do it again.

But he sighed, knowing they needed to leave if she had any chance of being ready on time, yet still wishing he could keep her all to himself all the same. Pulling out, he slowly lowered her down his body, maintaining her weight until both feet touched the floor.

Her nose crinkled as she situated her dress back down—sans underclothes to his immense satisfaction—and he couldn’t fight his smirk, knowing his release would be seeping out of her with each step she took back to their room.

He tucked himself into his trousers, not bothering to tuck in his tunic. She wouldn’t have time for a bath before dinner with the king, which meant she would absolutely reek of him throughout the entire meal. His chest rumbled at the thought, knowing he would be right there beside her relishing in it.

Because father or not, King or not, if she really thought he’d let her meet with Vesstan alone, she’d lost her gods damn mind.

He didn’t give a shit why Queen Vaneara hadn’t wanted her husband to know about their bond, in the end, it didn’t matter. King Vesstan would’ve been told by now, and whether her father liked it or not, Veralie Arenaris was his.

* * *

After walking past more than one glaring scribe, who’d all conveniently come out of hiding to stand near the main desk, they’d finally left the library and were making their way back toward their room. His star walked silently beside him, but she was anything but calm.

The post-orgasm bliss that had filled her before was gone, and he could feel her nerves clashing with the unsteady beat of her heart.

“I can feel how hard you’re thinking even from way down there, Veralie. Talk to me.”

Her lips tipped up, but there was no humor behind the tired expression. “What do you think he wants to discuss tonight? King Vesstan, I mean. He said so little the first time, I guess I’m not sure what to expect now. I’m assuming Taeral would’ve told him about us by now.”

He tipped his head down, watching as she worried her lip, pulling at the torn skin from the damage their canines had caused earlier.

Each time she sparred Virnorin or when she pushed back at him, refusing to yield, she seemed so fierce and strong. And then there were times like now, when he remembered just how sheltered she’d been. How new she was to simply living.

He inhaled slowly, letting the sadness and fury flow out of him. He’d never be over it, but right now she needed him to be her constant. His heightened emotions would only worsen her own.