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Until she jumped

FOURTEEN

At least one of us can sleep After about half an hour, the sorceress had passed out—while he sat back against a wall of hieroglyphs, watching her

She see hinoring hi for the last several centuries

Because he didn’t rate To her, he mattered not at all

Positioned as she was, her ridiculous excuse for a skirt was riding up Any higher and he’d be able to see the cleft of her ass Recalling the feel of those shapely curves in his palh he hadn’t slept in weeks, he wouldn’t with Melanthe near, for fear of what he le one of his dreas to her

Soainst the sheets, the pillow, his fist—anything to ease the pressure his body continued to struggle with

Culrace for aanywhere outside his mate’s sex was taboo, a waste of a precious resource

Soon he wouldn’t have to worry about such things Once he wed her, he’d wake to find hihs

In mere days, they’d be back in the Skye Within his home, he’d take her to his bed—a Bed of Troth

Crafts it for him on the day of his birth, a practice that wasn’t unusual a thebed was considered hallowed By law, it was the one place he could claim her

Just that act would marry hiods’ favor—expecting

But now he had another urgent reason to return to his hohts had acted outside his specific orders not to hurt either sister, Thronos was going to rain down punish to his doom Years later, had they done the saeance The n of their species, his own father; Thronos could al her, their voithstanding

But to target Melanthe?

Itshe was correct: if he accepted Melanthe’s version of events, then his beliefs would be turned inside out

He would investigate thoroughly, keeping her under close guard For her safety And ours

Hoas he going to control her poithout that collar?

Thronos rolled his head on his neck to loosen the knotted h he should be exhausted, he ired Yes, he was alert to danger, feeling less than secure in this place, but it waswith an easing within him Even as constant desire for Melanthe racked hi more nonchalant about consequences He found himself less concerned about missteps and offendments

Which could prove ruinous with the tees because of her or this place? Both?

So ould happen to him after six more days here with Melanthe? Perhaps he should head out toh in sleep Without waking, she turned on her side to face hiaze frohs all the way up to the shadow beneath her skirt He shifted uncorew even harder

Conclusion: the decision to wed her is sound

He recalled that Feveris comment she’d made earlier Thronos had been startled by his reaction He’d ied for it

In Feveris, he would be incapable of denying her, unable to follow the Vrekener law ofThey’d have no urge to leave that place, content just to mateand mateandhis aching s—because Vrekener law left him no recourse for his condition

Not yet allowed to touch her body, or ever to pleasure his own

Despite this, he wondered ould happen if he woke her with another forbidden kiss

At the thought of her opening up to hian to throb for relief

Though inexperienced, he believed he could move her past any hesitations—because so many males had done so before him And more, she’d admitted to a year of celibacy For the duration of her imprisonment, he doubted she’d enjoyed any release whatsoever, just as he hadn’t

She’d likely melt for him

Plus, if he wasn’t mistaken, his mate was in season At his earlier ht her eyes had briefly softened Might his mate truly yearn for her own brood?

And thus his seed?

The idea of planting hi his seal put him into a lather Especially nohen she was fertile and needing He had to bite back a groan

Must get her to a Bed of Troth

He turned frorunted in pain; when had they become so sensitive? His vision briefly blurred, and he could swear he’d read words alyphs:

SACRIFICE THE PURE, WORSHIP THE MIGHTY, BEHOLD A TEMPLE UNEQUALED

He jerked back No, that wasn’t possible Though Thronos knew several languages, De the his vision play tricks on hi to rew di to her Her eyes darted behind her lids, her shoulders twitching Was she always this fitful a sleeper? His first is His second impulse was to take her into his arh he now believed she was innocent of the worst of the crimes at Castle Tornin, she was still a liar and a thief who’d bedded scores of hts, ere epitohtness

How could Thronos desire so detested? He’d be damned if he valued her when she didn’t value herself He knew one thing that would cool his need like an ice storhteen, closer to finding her than he’d been since the fall Acco of the Territories, Thronos had followed her sorcery to a ha loeen ht was centuries distant, he remembered each detail as if they’d been branded into hisfro had she been out? She tested her tonguealmost healed

Even as weary as she’d been, she was surprised she’d slept The siren call of gold still plagued her Not to mention that a Vrekener hovered nearby

He was presently li sleep, she cracked her lids like the sneaky sorceress that she was

His gaze was distant, eyes flickering silver What was he thinking about? Perhaps he had lowered so, delving—

In His blocks were down!