A Curse of Shadows

My hands slide beneath her shirt, caressing every inch of skin that I touch until I get to the clasp of her bra. With one flick of my fingers, I disconnect the hook between her breasts and grin as she whimpers in response.

I trail kisses down her neck, knowing where my mouth has been dying to be these past couple of weeks. Just as I grip the silk material still covering her chest, ready to rip it away, there’s a nudge in my mind from Malimorte.

Ignoring him, I tug at Isla’s shirt, but he tries to reach me again. Something he never does unless there is something wrong.

Some days, I really fucking hate my role as Alpha King.

I look up at Isla, taking in her flushed cheeks, perfect lips, and heaving chest. My chest rumbles, annoyance flooding through me for what I’m about to do.

She looks up and her eyes widen. “Why are you stopping?”

“Not because I want to,” I practically growl. “I need to answer Malimorte.”

“What?” I snap through our mental link, hating that Isla is already sitting up, righting her clothing.

“Elyn has arrived early and says it’s urgent that she sees your mate, Your Majesty.”

Of course she has.

I want to deny the elder’s request, but we need her, not the other way around. I asked for this opportunity and I’m not going to mess it up because my cock wishes for something else.

Cupping Isla’s face gently, I kiss her again before explaining. “Elyn is here early and we need to go meet her.”

“Now?” Isla says breathily.

“Unfortunately so.” I kiss her again, smoothing down the mussed strands of her hair. “I wouldn’t have stopped if this were something I thought we could postpone.”

Her lips downturn, creating an adorable pout. “I know, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t terrible timing.”

I reach for her hand, pulling her toward me. “In that, my love, you are very accurate.”

The ache in my groin confirms as much, but I’ve waited half a millennia to have this chance with my mate again. I can wait another day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ISLA

I’ve never had a blue vagina, but I certainly have one now and it sucks. It wasn’t my intention to end up sprawled out on Asher’s desk when I followed him back to his office, but I’m also not upset that I ended up there.

Well, besides the fact that we didn’t get to finish what we’d started.

I’ve spent weeks pretending I didn’t want to find out what having sex with an actual wolf god would be. Not because I think it would be a bad idea, but there’s been this little voice in my head that’s made me think that until I understand more about who I am that I shouldn’t throw pleasure into the mix.

That little voice is now going to be shoved into a steel box, never to be opened again because she’s an idiot.

I haven’t felt this alive since arriving in Lunara and I need more of Asher. No, I need all of him.

Except that’s going to have to wait until tonight.

Something must be wrong because Asher is rigid and not really talking to me. Thanks to the little crease between his brows, I think he’s doing that mind speak thing and I’m trying not to interrupt, but I also would love to be kept in the loop.

I tap on his shoulder and when he blinks several times before addressing me, I have my confirmation that he’s been speaking with someone else.

“What’s going on?” I ask as we start to descend the stairs.

“Elyn insists we meet her by the river,” he explains, his voice carrying an undertone of urgency that he doesn’t elaborate on.

“Okay, but there’s something more or”—I reach up, poking at his forehead—“you wouldn’t still be talking to someone in here.”