Not wasting any time, the rustle of leather behind her signaled that the prince had freed himself in the same way. He prodded her legs apart with a knee. Core tightening from the silent command, Serenna opened for him, as far as the restricting uniform allowed.
Vesryn’s breath was uneven and rough against her neck as he planted his boots next to hers. “That’s it,” he panted, wrapping his callused hands around her hips.
Wishing the prince would’ve sacrificed seconds to shed the rest of her clothing, Serenna nearly unlaced her bodice herself—until a deep groan reverberated from his throat.
Her priorities quickly rearranged when Vesryn slid the rigid length of his arousal between them. Serenna sucked in air through her teeth as their hot flesh merged, the unyielding hardness of him gliding along the slickness of her.
“Fuck,” the prince growled, the word butchered along its journey from deep in his throat.
Rocking back and forth against her center, the tip of his length teasingly sank into exactly where she needed him. The tantalizing pressure he swirled around her entrance before retreating promised more.
Driven by a mirrored desire, Serenna rolled her hips with a whimper. A wordless demand. Like the prince, she wasn’t interested in waiting and reached for him behind her back. Wrapping her fingers around his solid length drew out a satisfying shudder and a hiss against her neck.
Vesryn breathed a husky laugh. “I can feel how much you want me.”
Senseless now, Serenna pumped him from root to tip, guiding him closer. She wasn’t the only one gasping and trembling when she pushed herself on her toes to line him up.
The prince needed no further encouragement. One hand braced against her waist, digging in his fingers, he seized a fistful of her hair, arching her spine. His hips stroked forward, sliding into her a fraction. Serenna released a moan as the first inch of him stretched her in all the right ways. Still teasing. Still not enough.
She cried out in protest when Vesryn withdrew. He rubbed the length of his shaft against the seam of her body. Back and forth. Sliding a palm to her core, the pads of his fingertips circled that pulsing bundle of aching nerves.
Tightening his grip in her hair with the slightest sting prickling her scalp, Vesryn’s voice was a rasp in her ear. “The stars made you for me.”
Serenna’s breath hitched as she writhed under his hand, smothered by the flames of passion scalding her through the bond. The prince’s lips clamped around the point of her ear and Serenna grabbed the parapet before she collapsed, nearly undone.
Fingers strumming against her center, Vesryn delivered the pressure she needed, cresting her pleasure alarmingly fast. Indecision had Serenna snagged somewhere between seating herself fully on that length he was tormenting her with or greedily leaning forward to grind into his palm.
Mouth returning to her throat, the prince’s arousal nudged her entrance again, the tip dragging through her drenched flesh before diving further. This time, he didn’t hold back. Vesryn rammed his hips into hers, claiming her with one savage thrust.
The blissful stretch had Serenna’s head falling back into his chest when he released her hair. Her body melted around him, absorbing every offered inch.
Breath shuddering against Serenna’s neck, the prince grunted as he plunged deeper, pinning her against the balcony’s ledge until he buried himself to the hilt. For a few fleeting heartbeats, they both stilled, gasping for air.
Vesryn suddenly retreated and then snapped his hips forward, sheathing himself again with a vicious lunge. Catching herself on the parapet’s ledge, Serenna’s fingers splayed as she braced herself against the stone. Fractured whimpers escaped her as the prince set a demanding pace. He bucked, driving into her again and again, each brutal slap of their bodies coming together harder and faster than the last.
Vesryn’s hand cinched against Serenna’s hip, crushing her body further into his while the other continued to coil that sensitive spot between her thighs into a blissful knot. Heartbeat racing nearly to the point of detonating, her world faded into oblivion under his expert strokes.
Somehow, the prince plunged even deeper, dragging out a sound between a shriek and a moan from Serenna’s throat. The noise only seemed to encourage his punishing rhythm, delivering blow after blow.
“Come with me,” Vesryn growled in Serenna’s ear, his hand continuing to build that knotted bliss between her thighs.
While sooner than expected, the order still made her core clench. The prince’s fingers swirled and strummed, dragging out spine-tingling rapture. Knees trembling, Serenna ground herself against his palm, meeting every one of his erratic thrusts.
A collision of sensations exploded through the bond. The prince barreled over the edge, his arousal jerking and throbbing, spilling himself inside of her. Vesryn swore against her neck, delivering one last wicked stroke with a guttural groan.
Something about the prince finding his release crested Serenna over the final swells, losing control of her movements as she climbed the same peak. A tremor shuddered from her toes straight to her core as Vesryn’s hand drove her body to the brink.
Serenna’s inner walls fluttered, clamping down. Climax crashing over her, light streaked across her vision, sending her spiraling into a free fall. Despite the wind whirling around them, she couldn’t catch enough air as she finished panting the prince’s name.
Vesyrn’s fingers found Serenna’s face, tilting her head back toward him. Lips meeting hers, this time he delivered a softer kiss, long and slow. Heartbeat calming, she settled back down somewhere between the clouds and the Spire.
Serenna gasped against the prince’s mouth, severing the kiss when he suddenly pulled out, the absence of him evoking a different kind of ache. Turning back to gaze across the island, she peeled her fingers away from the ledge.
I suppose there’s no graceful way to do this. She clumsily hauled up her leathers, hearing the rustle of Vesryn doing the same. Thinking about how she was going to clean herself up, a nervousness began to root until the prince spoke behind her.
“You can help yourself to the bathing chambers.”
Twisting around, Serenna met his satisfied smirk. The expected awkwardness from the moment vanished. “I can’t say you’re a poor host.”
Vesryn grabbed the sides of her face, hauling her mouth back to his. “Oh, there’s more to my hospitality that I have yet to show you.” His lips swept over hers. “But that’ll unfortunately have to wait for another day.” His eyes darted into his apartments. “I am rather…late.”
Hearing the dismissal, Serenna stiffened as he released her. Well, he did say he has business in the capital even if this feels abrupt.
Serenna tried to walk normally rather than shuffling to Vesryn’s bathing chambers. Since the prince was in a rush to leave, she swiftly tidied herself up and rebraided her wind and passion-mussed hair.
Returning to the sitting room, she found Vesryn staring out of his balcony windows, hands clasped behind his back. The setting sun descended under the island’s horizon, throwing splashes of reds and golds across his silver strands.
“Thank you,” Serenna said, hurriedly adding, “For taking me flying today.” Cheeks heating, she didn’t draw attention to what they just did.
Vesryn turned toward her, one side of his mouth tugging up. “We’ll make a ranger out of you yet.”
Sensing the prince barricading his emotions from the bond to close himself off, Serenna froze. He absently thumbed his bottom lip, his focus seeming to drift.
Worried that something had shifted between them, an anxious feeling claimed Serenna’s mind. Silently chiding herself, she shook out the tension in her shoulders. He obviously enjoyed himself and must be preoccupied with his obligations tonight.
“I’ll…see you later,” she said as the unusual silence constricted the air.
Vesryn straightened and gathered his power. “I can portal you to your rooms.” Essence unfurled, wending around him in a rush.
“No need.” Serenna said weakly, clearing her throat. “I’ll head down to the mess hall. Dinner should start soon.”
The prince simply nodded, his attention wandering back to the campus grounds. To assuage her mind, Serenna almost asked what was bothering him. Instead, she swallowed her concern and left his chambers. I’m sure he needs to inform the council about the wraith prisoners and doesn’t want me sharing in his fretting.
Lost in thought and turning over the last few minutes, Serenna picked at every word. She wove her way through the corridors, heading to the stairs to begin her descent. An overwhelming haze of cloying perfume accosted her nose as she rounded a corner.
Serenna staggered in her tracks, nearly running straight into Ayla.
CHAPTER 20
SERENNA
“What are you doing up here?” Serenna blurted, the words slipping out as she skidded to a halt. She’d never observed anyone aside from the prince’s staff and Jassyn at the top level of the Spire.
Ayla’s manicured brows rose. “I don’t need to explain my presence. But, if you must know…” she trailed off, flashing her teeth. “I’m expected.”
Registering that her sister wasn’t in uniform, Serenna’s eyes popped. A silky emerald gown cinched her slim waist, clinging to her generous curves. Serenna’s mouth went slack at the plunging neckline. The dress was more fitting for a night carousing around court than traipsing through the hallways of the Spire.
Jewels glittering with Essence garnished Ayla’s creamy skin. Her striking, flame-colored hair somehow both contrasted and complemented her regal gown. Ruby locks coiled around a silver diadem studded with matching magic-infused gems. Ayla looked more magnificent than the gathered nobles that Serenna had seen at the start of the term—like she belonged among the aristocrats in Kyansari’s courts.
