"Yes, Your Majesty," he said with a nod.

  Fourteen

  After being returned to my room, Poppy brought up a dinner of roasted lamb. Once she put my meal on the table and offered me a greeting, she left. I sat at the table by the window overlooking the forest, pushing around the peas that sat on my plate.

  I found myself totally overwhelmed by what happened. Why had I been so drawn to leave the library? I knew better than to do that. Normally, I was so cautious. How did Ezra find me in that final moment? How did the fates weave this tale, and how would they continue to?

  My body heated at the thought of Ezra, shirtless. I hated I loved the way he looked. When he was so close, I craved his touch and wished he had closed the gap between our lips.

  What I hated even more was Gil interrupting us.

  Thoughts continued to race through my mind. Did Ezra truly feel that way? Did he have feelings for me, or was it just the heat of the moment fueled by the romance he was reading?

  My dinner had gone cold while I was busy running through all the thoughts trapped in my head. I pushed it away, folded my arms down on the desk, laid my head down, and stared out at the soft purple glow in the distance. A firm knock pulled me out of my daydream, and I sat straight up.

  "Who is it?" I called out.

  "It is I." His deep, smooth voice was like music to my ears.

  I jumped from my seat, calling for him to come in. The door swung open, and Ezra stepped in. He looked down at me, took a deep breath, and shut the door behind him. We stayed locked in each other's gazes for a silent moment.

  My heart pounded in my chest, and I twiddled with my thumbs as I anxiously awaited for him to speak.

  "I apologize for how I reacted earlier. I was so angry with you. You disobeyed the rules and endangered yourself." He took a step closer to me. "I should not have spoken to you the way I did. I understand you think the rules are to keep you trapped. I promise on the heart of my kingdom they are in place to keep you safe." He spoke in a firm, yet gentle tone.

  "I am sorry for wandering off. It will never happen again," I whimpered, looking down and away from him.

  "Very good. Good night, Amara."

  My head snapped up. "Wait!"

  Ezra had been reaching for the door, but quickly turned toward me, hope gleaming in his eyes. "Yes?"

  "You never answered my question."

  "What question?" A smirk formed on his lips.

  "What were the other reasons?"

  Ezra closed the gap between us. My heart pounded and heat rose to my cheeks as he gently lifted my chin, his thumb gently brushing my bottom lip. "If something had happened to you," desire burned in his eyes, "I couldn't do this." He softly pressed his lips to mine. His arm wrapped around my waist to hold me close, and his spicy citrus scent filled my nose.

  I was glad he did because, without his support, I would have fallen to the floor when my knees buckled as I got on my tippy toes to press into the kiss.

  After a moment, he pulled his lips away. A hollowness took over the space where the heat of his touch had been.

  "Sunshine, your kisses taste like sweet nectar from the gods. Will you allow me another taste?"

  I slammed my lips back into his as my response. The passion grew between us as I wrapped my arms around his neck as we kissed. His tongue slipped into my mouth and danced with mine as he held me closer. Heat flooded me, and I released a curse as he released me and pulled away. His shadows flared around him.

  "Good night, sunshine. I will see you tomorrow." With that final word, he stepped back and vanished into his shadows.

  Fifteen

  "Amara." Poppy's voice jolted me awake. I felt her hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me.

  "I'm up," I yawned. "I'm up." I sat up and stretched my arms above my head. Looking out the window, I saw the moon still hung in the sky among a sea of stars. I looked over to Poppy, confused. "What time is it?"

  "Early. Get up. I have to get you ready. The king requests your immediate company!"

  My eyes widened in shock. "Why now? Can't it wait a few hours until dawn?"

  "No! Now, get up!" She let out a huff, as did I.

  I got out of bed and allowed Poppy to get me ready. She styled my blonde bob into soft curls and placed me in a light purple knee-length dress. Once I was ready, we quickly made our way to the library. Ezra was already waiting.

  "Good morning, Amara," he said with a smile. His voice was way too chipper for this hour. "Since you are so set on exploring, you and I will be taking a little trip today. We must make haste, as we are already late. Come along." Ezra quickly turned on his heels and walked away. Waving goodbye to Poppy, I followed him.

  "Are you going to tell me where we are going?" I quickened my pace to keep up with his stride.

  "No," he chuckled. Turning toward the wall, he twisted the sconce and the wall slipped open to reveal a hidden path. He ushered me into the secret passage, following close behind. Once we were both in, he closed the entrance. For a while, we walked side by side in a hall with no windows. It took me a while to realize this was not a man-made hallway, but a tunnel carved out of solid stone. I begged him for any information on where we were going, but he refused to give in.

  Finally, sunlight could be seen in the distance. As my eyes adjusted to the warm glow, it revealed we now stood on a mountainside cliff. The sun had just risen over the peaks. On the ground sat a red blanket with a basket sitting atop it.

  "I thought you would enjoy some fresh air," he said with a smile as warm as the sun.

  I walked closer to the edge of the cliff, and my jaw dropped as I took in the view. Nestled in a small gap below ran a creek. White stags with rainbow iridescent antlers drank. I had never seen such a beautiful creature in my entire life. I turned back to Ezra, who was standing next to the basket.

  "I baked fruit and cheese danishes. I did not know what kind of fruit you liked, so I made a few different kinds." He sat down next to the basket and laid out its contents.

  I sat next to him, looking over the options, and decided on the lemon. I took a bite, and the bright flavor filled my mouth. The pastry was so flakey and light, and the sugar crystals that were baked on top gave it a nice crunch.

  "This is divine," I said as I took another bite. "Thank you!"

  "You are so welcome." He grabbed an apple danish and took a bite. Once he swallowed, he spoke again. "Since we are now so close to the wedding, I wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?"

  I took another bite, thinking about that for a moment. "Honestly, I am alright. I am still very worried about my aunt. She must be worried sick about me, at this point she may presume me to be dead."

  "I took care of that," he said plainly.

  "What do you mean?" I lowered my pastry.

  "I visited her the day I took you and glamoured her memories. She thinks you are delivering herbs to the capital."

  "How did you know who she was to do that?" I raised my eyebrow. A pit grew in my stomach.

  "I followed your scent."

  "My scent? What do I smell like?"

  "Honey and lavender," he said without a single thought. "A scent that is sweet and calming. A scent of love and kindness. A scent of sunshine and home."

  Heat rose to my cheeks. I stared into Ezra's eyes, truly mesmerized, and too stunned to speak. He offered me a smile that did not reach those gorgeous ice-blue eyes.

  "Amara?" He questioned softly, snapping me out of my own head.

  "How do you feel about the wedding? Are you excited to send me back to the human realm?"

  This was it. This was my moment to get the answers I needed. Did he truly care for me, or was I just a new shiny toy to pass his time?

  He turned his head to look over the cliff and released a deep, slow breath. "I can't wait to not have a little human sneaking around my castle and taking up my time."

  My heart shattered.

  That afternoon, I found myself back in the library. I chose the book Ezra was reading while we were trapped in the office, squirming in my seat as the romance heated up. I heard light footsteps from behind one of the shelves.

  "Hello?"

  "It's me!" I heard Poppy's cheerful voice.

  I shut the book and sat it on my lap. "I am back in the reading nook!" I called out to her.

  Her footsteps quickened, and shortly she was by my side and sitting next to me.

  "Did you enjoy your breakfast while you watched the sunrise?" She gently bumped me with her shoulder.

  "It was lovely. I was happy to get some fresh air." I shrugged. My heart still ached from the rejection I received from Ezra. Part of me hoped he truly cared for me. What a silly little human I was to think that.

  "And you agreed to stay with us, right?" Her voice rose in pitch, and she quickly clapped her hands.

  My gaze snapped to her and raised my eyebrow. "What did you say?"

  "Didn't Ezra ask for you to stay with us after the wedding?" Her excited expression dropped, and concern took over.

  "No, he said he could not wait for me to return to the human realm."

  Anger took over Poppy's face. "He is such a coward!" She jumped up, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me to follow her. Yanked from my seat, I stumbled before I caught up to her pace.

  "Where are we going?"

  "To speak with the king!"

  Sixteen

  Poppy dragged me through the halls, pulling me into sections of the castle I had never seen. My heart pounded in my chest. I worried about what lurked within the shadows, but then I remembered shadows were his domain.

  "Poppy! Stop it! I am not allowed to be in this part of the castle."

  She ignored my pleas and continued charging ahead, pulling me behind her. Finally, she released my wrist as she stopped in front of a large black wooden door with golden accents. Poppy yanked the door open and barged in.

  Ezra stood in the center of the room in front of his bed with a towel wrapped around his waist. His damp hair fell loose over his shoulders. A look of terror crossed his face. "Excuse me, ladies?"

  "Why did you not ask her to stay?" Poppy blurted out, stomping her feet and crossing her arms.

  Embarrassment took over Ezra's face. "Poppy," he sighed, "it is complicated. She has a family to return to."

  "You didn't even ask her! She may have said yes!" She grabbed a vase that was on a nearby table and threw it at him. He easily stepped away from it, causing it to shatter against the wall behind him.

  "Enough!" His voice boomed. "Poppy, leave us."

  "Gladly!" She turned and stormed off. Winking at me as she left. The door slammed behind me, causing me to flinch.

  Ezra turned toward me, a softness in his eyes. "I apologize for her behavior."

  "Were you going to ask me to stay after the wedding?" My voice quivered as I spoke.

  "Never mind that." He threw his hands in the air and turned away.

  "No! Do not try to change the subject. Answer me!" I demanded.

  He turned back toward me, dropping his shoulders in defeat. "Yes, but I understand you would not want to stay here with me."

  I stared at him for some time, taking in a deep breath as I collected my thoughts. "I could not leave my aunt behind permanently. Would I be able to visit her? And my best friend?"

  His eyes lit up, and a smile crossed his face. "With an escort, yes. As my wife, you would be Queen of Orilon. It would be dangerous for you to travel alone."

  "How often?" I raised my eyebrow, stepping closer to him.

  "As often as you wish. You are not a prisoner, Amara. You never were." He inhaled sharply, tightening his jaw. Silence hung in the air for a moment. “Will you stay with me? Please, be my true wife. Not just to break the curse, but until the world ends and we are nothing but stardust.”

  I smirked. "I shall think about it."

  "Oh, sunshine, it would be an honor." He smirked back at me.

  "Oh, I am sure it would be."

  "Just as it is an honor for you to gaze upon me in a towel. Do not think I have not noticed your staring."

  Heat rushed to my cheeks. "We are speaking! Where do you want me to look? The ground?"

  He closed the gap between us and wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing my body to his. I felt something firm press into my stomach that caused my core to ache with need. "Oh, sunshine, you weren't looking at my face. Ask nicely, and I will show you what you want to see," he teased.

  "I… I do not know what you are talking about," I stumbled over my words. I felt as if I could melt in his arms.

  A devilish grin spread across his face. "Let me show you." His shadows slivered up from behind me and wrapped around my body. Ezra released me and stepped back. His shadows pulled me to the bed, forced me to sit on the edge, and then held my face, making me look forward.

  "Ezra," I breathed.

  He dropped his towel, revealing his full length to me. Air caught in my throat from the sight of it. Good gods, I had never seen anything so magnificent.

  "If you ask nicely, I will allow you to touch it." His shadows wrapped around me tighter and rubbed against my thighs and breasts.

  A soft moan escaped my lips. "Who said I wanted to?" What a lie. I wanted nothing more than for him to tear off my clothes and take me. I could not look away from his fist that slowly pumped his fully erect cock.

  Ezra leaned down so we met eye to eye. "I can see it in your eyes, sunshine." He bit his bottom lip, and fire burned in those ice-blue eyes. At this close proximity, his scent drove me wild, nearly distracting me as the shadows slithered up my skirt and teased the fabric between my legs.

  I squirmed as shadows played against my most sensitive parts. "Ezra," I moaned.

  He cut me off before I could say anything. "The only thing that should come out of your pretty little mouth is ‘yes, sir' and moans. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, sir." My body tensed as I spoke the words and let Ezra command me.

  "Good girl. Now spread your legs and let my shadows explore that beautiful body of yours." His tongue slowly dragged over his top lip as he straightened his back and continued to fist himself, quickening the pace.

  I obliged, spreading my legs and leaning back. The shadows pulled off my clothes, exposing me to the King of Orilon. The man I once hated. The man I once feared… before I knew his soul.

  My core melted as his shadows wrapped around my bare breasts, squeezing them, and flicking my nipples. Another of his shadow tendrils found its way back between my thighs and gently lapped at my delicate skin. It then slowly slipped inside me, causing me to arch my back.

  "Please," I begged.

  The shadow pumped faster inside of me. Ezra arched a brow, and the tendril pulled out of my aching pussy. "I didn't remember telling you that was one of the things you could say.” The shadow whipped against my clit, causing me to release a yelp. Pressure and heat built within my core as the tendril slapped against me once again. "Please what?" His voice was deep and sensual. It alone could cause me to come undone.

  "I need more," I pleaded.

  "I will tell you what you need. Now not another word."

  "Yes, sir." I bit my bottom lip, as I submitted to the king.

  The shadow forced its way back inside me, opening me up. The ones around my breasts flicked harder. My attention could not pull away from Ezra's cock. The sight of him was everything. I found myself so close to the edge as pleasure built inside me.

  "Don't you dare cum until I tell you to," he snarled.

  "Yes, sir." I held it in, allowing the ecstasy of it to take over my body. I couldn't allow myself release. Not until he gave me permission, which only added to the thrill.

  "You are such a good girl for me. Use your words. Tell me what you want."

  "I need your cock inside me. I need to cum. Please," I moaned. My body was so close to exploding. The shadows recoiled, leaving me feeling empty.

  "Get on your knees. Open your mouth," he demanded.

  Again, I obliged, quickly getting onto the floor. My knees rested on the black and gold rug as I stuck out my tongue for him. He stepped closer and smirked down at me as he rested his tip on my tongue. I slowly licked and teased it. My hand gently massaged his balls as I dragged my tongue from base to tip.

  Ezra let out a groan, ran his fingers through my hair, and gripped it to hold me in place. Taking his tip into my mouth, I gently sucked, swirling my tongue against his sensitive head. Looking up at him, I carefully watched his expression. Ezra tilted his head back in pleasure as he bucked into my mouth.

  His shadows found their way in between my legs once again and quickly thrust into my dripping slit. I moaned against him as I took him deeper down my throat.

  In opposite rhythms, Ezra's cock and shadow thrust in and out of me, and I quickly found myself at the edge of pleasure once again. His pace quickened as he hit the back of my throat, and my saliva dripped down his balls.

  He pushed forward, holding himself deep down my throat, and my nose pressed against his bare skin. I could barely hold in my pleasure. It would not be much longer before I lost control and disobeyed him.

  "Cum for me, sunshine," he groaned.

  My eyes rolled back in my head as, for the first time in my life, I experienced true bliss. I let out a moan around him, causing him to twitch in the back of my throat. My entire body quivered, and I craved more of him. I bobbed my mouth from base to tip as our eyes stayed locked on each other.

  His shadow left me once again, leaving a puddle dripping out of me. He then slowly pulled himself from my mouth, reached down, and pulled me to my feet. Spinning me around, he grabbed me by my hair and pushed me down on the bed, my legs hanging off.

  "You thought my shadow felt good?" He leaned down and whispered in my ear. "Just wait until you feel the real thing." In a swift motion, Ezra plunged his cock into me. The shadows were nothing compared to the real thing. He showed me no mercy as he made me his. He pulled on my hair, causing my back to arch.

 

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