A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

He opened my lips with his, stroking his tongue through and letting me taste myself on his lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck and legs around his hips, holding him tightly.

“I didn’t mention it before,” he murmured, the movement of his hips measured and powerful. I groaned from the wonderful friction. “When I was talking about you killing me.”

“Hmm?” I said with a smile.

“I love you.” His pace picked up, and he kissed me again, tilting his head to bring the kiss deeper, fucking my mouth with his tongue. His pace matched that of his cock.

“In a life created of nightmares,” he murmured, “you have become my paradise.”

I held on to him tightly as our bodies moved together, as he drove into me, his cock filling me, his tongue wrestling with mine. I swung up into him, ground against him, panted into his kiss. Lights danced behind my closed eyes as I relished his body. His touch. Our intimacy.

“Come with me,” he commanded, and my orgasm exploded through me. I cried out, calling his name. He shuddered, filling me with his release, clutching me tightly.

He breathed heavily, stilling, and then kissed me languidly while my legs were still wrapped around him.

“Take a small break, princess,” he said, kissing along my cheek to my ear. “I’m not going to give you much reprieve tonight. I have a need for your body, and I’m going to take my fill.”

PART 2

THIRTEEN

Arleth

The next day, my heart in my throat, I walked through a castle I’d hoped never to set foot in again. It was larger than I remembered. Grander. Many things were scratched or needed replacing, and there was a worrying amount of glitter, but overall it was much the same as I remembered it. It felt different, though. People were laxer now. Much laxer. They were looser with their smiles and shallower in their bows, not quite sure how to do their jobs but trying their best all the same.

The most important change, however, was that no one lived in fear. Not of the king or his court. Sure, they quailed when Nyfain was in a temper, but they didn’t think he’d randomly hurt them. Or kill them. They trusted in him. Were willing to put their lives on the line for him.

They respected him.

My heart swelled as I walked down the hall toward one of the rear doors.

I’d always known he’d make a magnificent king if given the opportunity to do things his way. The late king never would’ve given that to him. He would’ve tried to corrupt Nyfain into his way of thinking. Now, without that obstacle, my son could spread his wings.

A pang hit my heart at the thought of wings, and I teared up before I could blink away the moisture.

When I first saw his dragon, I’d had to choke back a sob. Then, seeing his human body, covered in scars that attested to years of pain and turmoil, had sliced off a piece of my heart. I’d done that to him. My negligence in not getting word to him quickly had allowed that insane king to trap him here. The demon king had obviously tried to kill him, and any lesser dragon would’ve succumbed long ago.

Anger kindled in my belly. I had to own that I was not born a fighter. Unlike other dragons, I’d never reveled in rage. But seeing the torment that had been visited upon my son made my blood burn until all I could think about was the destruction of the demon king.

We’d get our vengeance. I might not be an asset in the actual battle, but I had a talent for finding the weaknesses in a royal court. I’d had to develop that skill to shield Nyfain from harm. Finley wasn’t the only survivor in this family—she’d just had to deal with a different kind of hardship.

With my help, she would learn to hide her dagger behind her beautiful smile. To dazzle and delight while exploiting the weaknesses of our enemies. She’d become the best queen this kingdom had ever known.

“Hello, my darling.”

I slowed upon hearing that voice as the strange man who used to be the butler and was now apparently Finley’s advisor stepped out from a room and fell in at my side.

He smiled at me with straight white teeth below an odd little mustache. His coat, a vibrant spectacle, was closed in front with two buttons embedded in the bright pink…velvet? His…what could only be described as slippers, nearly matched his lapels, the pink a shade darker with faux-gold buttons.

I vaguely recognized him from my tenure as queen, but I couldn’t place him. I was sure the servants would know, but I’d been keeping a low profile around the castle so as not to make my presence any harder for my son and his mate.