I’d been lightheaded before, but now I was swimming in clouds. If I didn’t get myself together, I wouldn’t stay awake long enough to ask him anything, least of all about his eye colour.

“She is nearing her insurrection,” Sinister repeated, staring at Karmuth intently. I was glad I wasn’t the only one parroting the king’s words, although I didn’t like that bit of it pointed out again. “You do realise what that means, Kar?”

It meant that I was going to go through a rebellious time whether I liked it or not, and if my recent rage had been an indication at all, it was going to be a rough one.

Every fae went through an insurrection in their twenties, just like every human had tumultuous teenage years. It was a period in our life when our actions weren’t as harshly punishable since we weren’t completely in control. It was common for the females to go through it worse than males.

My shouting at the king would have gotten me a whole lot more than a strained smile had I been through my insurrection already, or not as close to it. He’d even called me reasonable. Really? I was far from reasonable; I was insane to make demands.

“I do realise, Sin,” Karmuth replied softly. “I suspected it already. It changes nothing.”

I turned my head to get a glimpse of him, but from my position I only saw his jawline. What didn’t it change?

“You’ll be having your hands full with her when she hits the peak of it,” Sinister pointed out.

“I’m counting on it.” Karmuth’s lips tugged up into a smile.

I shuddered. His confession made me want to be a handful. I wanted to see how he’d deal with me being a pain in the ass. How he’d punish me… tie me to the bed to control me… or would he let me be in control in my state of total discomposure? I supposed we’d find out, because he was counting on it.

Chapter 25

KARMUTH

I’D NEVER BEEN INSIDE ISAY’S ROOM. IT WAS AN EXACT REPLICA TO Prince Hiko’s chambers. While the prince’s balcony was directed toward the gardens behind the palace, Isay’s overlooked the courtyard in the front. Hiko had also added his own spin on the decor, switching the beige lounge set with black leather couches.

Isay’s room felt airier and lighter. While I knew she hadn’t personally made any of the interior choices, it still fit her.

I didn’t want to just assume she’d go to bed right away so I asked, “Where to, Princess?” while pressing her closer to my chest in a strange instinct. I didn’t want to let her go at all.

She’d turned quiet after her outburst at the king, and when I dropped my gaze from the layout of her room, her eyelids fluttered softly. Bed it was.

I gently placed her on the bedsheets, unable to pull the covers away with her cradled in my arms. Her light hair covered the pillow in frilly waves, and I grabbed a lock to slide my fingers through it before I could think better of it.

“You’re so beautiful,” I murmured.

My throat was dry, and I really needed to get my distance from her before I did something stupid. Releasing her hair, I watched as it dropped to the pillow before I took a step back.

Isay’s eyes opened lazily. “Aren’t you going to kiss me good night?”

I swallowed, eyes fixed on her lips that were now slightly parted. Fuck, I wanted to kiss her so badly, but I didn’t know the extent of the shield keeping her safe from me. I wouldn’t put her in danger.

“Karmuth,” she purred, and it sent blood straight to where I needed it the least. “You promised me a taste.”

My feet took me back to her bedside, and my ass planted on the edge of her bed. A blush covered her delicate cheeks, and she nervously bit at her lower lip. Adorable.

When I brought my hand to her cheek to brush a few strands of hair out of the way, her breath caught, and she released her lip, eyes drooping low in anticipation. I felt the thrum of the current that ran under my fingers and stopped me from using my power on her. It ran strong and steady.

“I’ll never be able to say no to you,” I said, leaning in and covering her mouth with mine.

I meant to keep it short and sweet, but the moment I captured her lips, I wanted more. Her sweet aroma and sugary taste were addictive.

The way she gasped when I pried her mouth open and met her tongue was incredibly satisfying. And then she grabbed at my shirt, keeping me from moving away, her hungry mouth devouring mine. I dropped my caution and climbed on the bed with her, trapping her under my body.

Isay’s hands, those tender soft hands, ripped at my clothes, and she bit my lower lip, catching my growl of approval.

Rearranging our position so that my knees came up on either side of her body and her thighs were hugging mine was a bad idea. It brought my erection right to her core. With her dress travelled up around us, she was so close for the taking.

Cupping her ass, I rubbed my jean-clad dick against her panties, waiting for a rejection that never came. Instead, she whimpered and attacked my mouth fervently. Heavens, she was a force to be reckoned with, pulling me under her waves, drowning my senses. I breathed her in, came undone in her mercy.

I grinded against her again to hear her moan again, and she didn’t disappoint. It vibrated against my lips, driving me deeper into madness.

I needed to feel her, to see if her body reacted to mine the same way. My hand still wrapped around her ass, I stilled my hips to give my thumb the space to creep under the fabric of her panties.

She gasped while I groaned at the silky wetness that greeted me.

“Karmuth,” Isay pleaded, her eyes wide open.

“Yes, beautiful?” Whatever she wanted, anything at all, I was at her service.

“Is it true?” Her voice was breathy.

Everything stilled. My thumb hovered above her heat, but her question made me wait. She kept on breathing heavily.

“Is what true, Isay?” I rasped.

She was testing me in more ways than one. While my answer mattered to her, I was battling with restraint.

“Did you walk out on Sela?” Her eyes bore into me, burning me alive.

“Yes.” The confirmation left my lips with ease; I didn’t even have to think twice about it.

Heavens, she made me burn with the way she looked at me. Her bottom lip was between her teeth again. I took a deep breath and pulled my hand away, resting it on her stomach instead and running circles around her skin. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know about it, so shoot.”

“Why’d you walk?” Isay breathed the question shyly.

That blush of hers was my undoing. “What I had with her was purely physical.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. Why’d you walk?”

“What I have with you is more,”—I looked her straight in the eyes so that she’d understand I wasn’t joking—“emotion-based. I didn’t want Sela coming between what we could have.”

“Ohh,” she sighed. “So you thought I would disapprove?”

“Do you?” Not being able to stay still for very long I trailed my fingers up under the fabric of her dress, exploring her skin, and her breathing quickened.

She ignored my question. “How often did you go to her?”

“Are you jealous? Isay, I haven’t been to her once since I met you.” Okay, that was a lie. I’d been to Sela once since I met Isay, but not after I’d shown my interest to her.