Page 67 of Court of Winter
“Touch me. All of me,” I whispered.
His hands gripped my thighs tightly, every line of him straining, but then he dropped me onto the covers. I bounced, a shock of surprise releasing from me.
“Go to sleep, Ilara,” he said gruffly. “Before I do something we both regret.”
The next thing I knew, covers were pulled over me, the light was extinguished, and then I was alone in my chambers as my core ached.
For a moment, I lay in stunned silence.What just happened?
The quiet reigned. Only the sound of my deep, rapid breaths filled the room. But I was alone now. I was pretty certain of that fact.Did I just imagine all of that?
Fuzzy thoughts crept into my mind, but then the room began spinning again. Minutes ticked by as I spun and spun and spun.
It was a dizzying, pleasant feeling as the soft mattress cocooned me, and even though that strange need still pulsed in my core, my eyes fluttered closed, and then the realm disappeared in a rocking motion of silence.
CHAPTER17
Sunshine blazed brightly through the windows as someone shook me.
“Ilara,please, you must get out of bed. The prince is on his way, and he insisted you be ready.”
Throbbing in my head threatened to split my skull.For the love of all the gods, somebody needs to stop banging against drums.
“Ilara!” a female hissed again.
I tried to swat the hands away, but someone grabbed my wrists and tugged. “You must get out of bed. The prince is expecting you to be ready.”
“Go away,” I croaked.
The female sighed. “He said you’d be in a state. Blessed Mother, how right he was.”
Someone forced me to sitting, then pried my eyes open. I winced when the blasted sunlight burned into my irises, and now I wascertainsomeone was pounding drums.
“What is that racket?”
“Most likely the blood rushing through your ears.” The female cupped my jaw, prying my lips open. “I’ve brought a tonic, courtesy of Murl. Drink. Now. We don’t have much time.”
I frowned as I finally recognized Daiseeum standing beside me and holding a vial up. My stomach heaved, but she forced the vial to my lips and tipped the contents into my mouth, then closed my jaw.
I downed it in one swallow since I couldn’t breathe properly with how she was holding me. Working free of her grip, I coughed. “Blessed Mother, that’sfoul.”
“Yes, it is, but Murl is a gifted healer. You should be right as the northern winds within a few minutes, believe it or not. Now, up you go. Up!”
I stumbled when I stood but managed to follow her to the wardrobe. But even though Daiseeum paused to pick out clothing for me, I didn’t stop. I carried on to the bathing chamber.
In the mirror, my appearance was a fright. Hair everywhere. Eyes bloodshot. Dried spit on my cheek. I was truly looking my finest.
I blinked, and my surprise increased when I realizedsilverhair stared back at me. Not black.
My head finally began to clear, and my bloodshot eyes turned white as the potion at last kicked in. I grabbed my toothbrush and cleaned my teeth, then picked up my comb to work through my snarls. I didn’t remember the prince casting another illusion over me, but he must have.Mother Below, what else did we do last night that I don’t remember?
My cheeks burned when I recalled how alluring he’d looked during our conversation about him believing my affinity createdorem. And we’d made a fairy bargain. An actual fairy bargain.
My hand slapped over my mouth when it came rushing back to me. I had to replenish the entire continent withorem.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
What else had I agreed to? After the bargain, everything got fuzzy. I faintly recalled him carrying me to the couch. Or...wait, was it the bed?