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I retreated toonto the bed the moment I entered Dorian had followed

"Do you think that display helped win us over with Ranelle or scared her off?"

I felt Dorian sit on the bed beside me "Hard to say At the very least, I don’t think it’ll turn her king against us We’re too terrifying and unstable"

I sold eyes "If only that reputation would spread to everyone else I heard a ruht join with Katrice Honestly, how anyone could call their kingdoht face is beyondhair fro my cheekbone "It’s quite lovely, actually Almost tropical I dom, but it’s not half bad"

I was so used to his jibes aboutabout theers ran down to my neck and were soon replaced by his lips "Honestly, I’m not worried about this Honeysuckle place It’s other potential allies worrying me Hey, stop" His lips hadto lift led away "I don’t have ti an eyebrow in surprise "You have sohed "I have a job back in Tucson Besides, I’m filthy"

Dorian was undeterred and returned to trying to get my shirt off "I’ll help bathe you"

I swatted his hand away but then pulled hiainst , but I didn’t have the energy Considering his fastidious nature, I was surprised he consented to resting his head on ed the shirt was

"No offense, but I’ll take hu water up to a tub"

"You can’t leave without talking to Ranelle," he pointed out "And you can’t see her like this"

I grimaced and ran ht I was still bad at this queen thing, but I knew enough about gentry custo’s help, I would need to look and sound good So

Dorian lifted his head and looked back down at ht’s battle "It’s always bad I’ forsuffered fro to dom’s at stake," he said "Their ho it pass would make the Thorn Land look weak - like prey It wouldto Katrice Your people don’t want that They have to fight"

"But why do yours fight?"

Dorian looked at me like that was a crazy question "Because I tell them to"

I left the conversation at that and called for a servant to fill the bathtub in the chamber adjacent totheue it was their duty to The ave me control over storht to the tub, rather thanmy servants haul it up one bucket at a ti that ically would both dry out the castle’s air even etation

The servants had their own entrance to the bath cha water, Dorian grinned and pulled me back to the bed "See?" he said "Noe have ti And as our clothes came off and I felt the heat of his lips, I had to admit to myself that I wasn’t averse to sex, not really This war really did put our lives constantly at risk, and he had worried aboutphysically, seeht And I took co with this ainst all reason I’d once feared and hated the gentry - and it had takentily taht up in bad, kinky sex, sex that was a game of power and control I both loved and felt dirty about Now, I sat on top of his around his hips as I drew hih of bliss escaped his lips, his eyes closing as I began to slowly move my body and ride him A moment later, his eyes opened and held mine with an expression of such affection and lust that a chill ran through me

It always amazed me that he found me so desirable I’d seen his past lovers - sexy, voluptuous woe reminiscent of classic Hollywood starlets My body’s build was lean and athletic from all the activity I did, h hardly porn star quality Yet, since we’d officially become a couple these last few months, he had never looked at another wory even at the most unro forward and rocking us so that as without a sound as a sweet ecstasy wracked nite I leaned forward, kissing hiers stroked my nipples

The door to the bath chamber suddenly opened, and I jerked my head up as a servant peered in "Your Majesty? The bath is ready" Her words were bland, and she disappeared as quickly as she’d co naked on top of Dorian hadn’t see deal to her - and probably, it wasn’t The gentry hadvery common It probably would have been weirder for her if she hadn’t found herat it uponI’d picked up, and Dorian knew it "No, no," he said, feelingmy breasts moved down tomy eyes from the door, I turnedHe rolledback now that I’d co as hard and fast as he could Mo in where he gripped , confident king lose his control between ering kiss and then slid over to lie beside hiain with that er and love He wouldn’t say it, but I knew he always secretly hoped that so pregnant I had explained to hientry had difficulty with conception,children Dorian clai one withhu Obviously, I wasn’t in favor of that idea - hence o of that dream for my sake, but there were days I suspected he wouldn’tsuch a conqueror As it was, our alliance already erous He loved doood position to conquer others, if we chose

It was difficult leaving him, but there was tooboth sex and battle off of h for one, but Dorian seelow He was less excited about my wardrobe choice As queen, I had a closet filled with elaborate dresses, dresses he loved seeing me in As a human shaman, I’d also made sure it was stocked with human clothes He looked at my jeans and tank top with dismay

"Ranelle would be more impressed with a dress," he said "Especially one that showed your lovely cleavage"

I rolledmyself up eapons: char with a satchel containing a gun, a wand, and a silver athame "You’d be more impressed with that And anyway, it’d be a waste now"

"Not true" He got up froainst the wall, cautious of the athaain"

I could see that he was, and honestly, I probably could have gone back to bed too Whether that was fro tasks, it was hard to say

"Later," I told hiarded s with you An hour A day"

I sain "Not hed at the face this earned et some clothes on before the woave me a mournful look "I’m afraid that’ll happen with or without clothes, ed to part, I headed off toward Ranelle’s rooic left me with only semi-wet hair by the ti a letter at her roo me, she leapt up and curtsied

"Your Majesty"

I motioned her down and took a nearby chair "No need I just wanted to have a quick chat before I returned to the human world" Her face twitched a little at this, but ae she probably found that The ease hich I juentry "I’ And that I haven’t been aroundyour visit"

"You’re at war, Your Majesty These things happen Besides, King Dorian has been quite hospitable in your absence"

I hid a smile Ranelle was hardly in a frenzy, but it was clear Dorian had charlad Were you writing your king?"

She nodded "I wanted to send hi later today"

Magic filled the Otherworld and the gentry, and there were those aical e-ossip to spread fast and et back to her homeland before she did I eyed it on the desk

"What will you tell him?"

She hesitated "May I be blunt, Your Majesty?"

"Of course," I said, s "I’m human Er, half hurievance and know King Da the explicit details of Leith raping ic as your situation iswell, it is your situation I don’t believe it’s one we should risk the lives of our people for - begging your pardon, Your Majesty" Delivering bad news obviously made her uneasy My father, honorifically referred to as Stor, had been known for his power and cruelty I wasn’t as ruthless, but I’d hadshows of power as well

"No offense taken," I assured her "Butif Iis in a precarious situation He’s growing old His poill eventually fade Your kingdom will be open for others to move in on"