He leaned into my hand. “Somehow when you’re around, I forget about everything else. The rest of the realm’s problems seem to disappear until there’s only you, shining so brightly.”
I smiled. I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t sure if Taelon had intended to make me fall for him so completely, but he had.
“But you agree with me. We must see to the realm. We must right all of these wrongs.”
He nodded, letting my hand scrape along his short scruff. His eyes opened and I sucked in a sharp breath at the full intensity of those sapphire eyes. “When will you leave?”
“Tomorrow if I can.”
His jaw flexed but he did not argue. “I shall ride with you then. And my guard. The road to Elysia is not an easy one. And more, you’ll need my word to see your uncle. The crown will not be enough.”
“Alright,” I consented. “And you’ll be ready tomorrow morning?”
“Whenever you need me, Tessa, I will be ready.”
My spirit swelled. “Thank you, Taelon. Thank you for all that you have done for me.”
One side of his mouth kicked up in a cocky half smile. “Does this mean I’m forgiven for all my deceit?”
I laughed and jumped from his arms. “Absolutely not!” I declared. “I shall never forgive you for that! You shall pay penance for the rest of your life, Rebel King.”
He followed me to the horse. “Then so be it! I will gladly pay penance to the Queen of the Realm if only to have a reason to spend time in her presence for as many days as she’ll let me.”
I turned around and pressed a hand to his chest to keep him from coming any closer. “Your talk is as sweet as honey, Arrick the Rebel. And yet, I’m afraid that only I can see the ways in which you move those around you like pawns on a chessboard. You are truly a master of your craft.”
His grin widened. “And what craft is that?”
My eyes narrowed. “Duplicity.”
His hand landed on his chest, resting over mine. “And what reason would I have for a duplicitous nature?”
“I suppose you could throw around your authority. But I think you find it much easier to get what you want when people follow you willingly.”
His chuckle was low and dark. “Maybe,” he relented. “But I also find it equally as satisfying to take what I want.”
I took a step back, feeling the threat whisper over my skin. But it was too late. I had fallen right into his trap and I hadn’t even noticed the set up.
His hands reached for my waist and dragged me to him where his mouth met mine in a culmination of passion. I sighed into him feeling as though I had been waiting my entire life for this kiss. Feeling as though every minute we were apart and then together had drawn us to this one moment.
He kissed me and everything I thought I knew about my life and the world and what was in it was tipped upside down and utterly rearranged.
Taelon’s mouth moved against mine and I could not help but lean into him and learn everything he offered to teach. His lips were soft against mine and I reveled in them until his tongue swept over my bottom lip.
I gasped at the sensation, and he invaded my mouth, taking our kiss to a new, thrilling precipice. I did not know it was possible to be so hungry for someone else.
Greedy for them.
He kissed me under the starlight so thoroughly I could not stand up on my own. My hands clutched his tunic until he pressed me tightly to him and my arms were forced around his neck, clinging to him willingly.
He kissed me until I was sure that this was the moment I would compare all others to.
And when at last he pulled away, I knew I would never be the same. I was more of a woman than I had ever been.
I was more of a human than I had ever been.
His kiss was a gift that I would treasure for the rest of my life.
We rode back to his palace silently with one of his arms wrapped around my waist and my back resting against his chest. I knew we had no future.
But we had this night.
And on the eve before I walked straight through the gates of Denamon, I could not have asked for a better taste of Amenon.
22
True to his word, Taelon escorted Oliver and me from Desmondin first thing the next morning. We were accompanied by a large caravan of riders, nearly all the Soravalian Royal Guard.
Hugo and Anatal saw us off, the three younger Treskinats standing dutifully by their side. I kissed Rosabella’s cheeks and made her promise to come visit me as soon as her parents said yes.
Anatal had tears in her eyes when she hugged me goodbye. “Stay safe, Tessana,” she whispered against my cheek. “We need you to do what your father could not.”
I swallowed thickly and held back a deluge of tears. But I promised what I could. “I will try, Your Majesty. With everything that I am.”
She held me at arm’s length and nodded. I was taken aback by the trust in her cerulean eyes. She hardly knew the woman I’d become. Her hope was in my bloodline.
Hugo took my hand and promised to come to Elysia as soon as state matters would let him leave. Or until he was summoned. Whichever came first.
Oliver and I rode in one of Hugo’s finest carriages. I had only glimpsed Taelon as he said goodbye to his parents and siblings. He’d shot me a roguish wink.
The man was incorrigible.
I had expected him to ride in the carriage with us now that he wasn’t hiding behind the hood of Rebel Commander, but when the carriage lurched into motion, I realized he must be riding up front with his guard.
Inside the carriage our travel was as comfortable
