Cracking open my eyes, I looked at him, gasping when I saw a myriad of thorny roses blooming in my bedroom. It was like they were growing out of the marble tile. He worked me faster, making more and more sprout around us. What was once an elegant suite was turning into a wild garden—and I loved it.
“Come for me, Princess,” he demanded once more.
I climbed that crest of pleasure and jumped off the cliff, grinding against him as cries escaped my lips. More vines wrapped around my body, teasing every cell with its growth as I came down from my high.
“Oh my gods,” I said while sitting up. There wasn’t a single inch of space in this room that didn’t have a flower on it. It was bright, earthy, and vibrant. Even Cypress was covered in vines and weeds. A single pink flower I didn’t know the name of grew on his shoulder.
“We might need to start doing this outdoors, Princess,” he chuckled, obviously proud of himself for making me grow an entire fucking garden with a single orgasm.
“Are you okay?” My voice shook. I mean obviously he was not okay. He was covered in greenery. And if my eyes didn’t deceive me, he was hard as hell.
He tugged on his fancy clothing. “I’ve never been better in my life.” Standing up, he brushed his clothes free before plucking the pink flower off his shoulder and handing it to me. “The Brownies who clean up in this castle are going to be so confused about where all of this came from.”
I leaned back on my elbows. “You’re...not taking care of yourself. Come over here.”
He shook his head. “No. Later. I’m going to enjoy the edge of pain being this hard. It’ll remind me how sweet your pussy tastes, and even though everyone will look at you tonight, only I have been between your thighs.”
I shook my head. “Who are you? What happened to the version of you I’ve spent the last week with?”
“Oh, you’re still my job, Layne. Make no mistake. You always will be.”
What did he mean by that?
He pressed his finger to his lips before winking at me. “Enjoy your drink, Princess. I’ll see you tonight.”
With those quick parting words, he slipped out of my open window and scaled the wall outside. I scrambled after him to watch and gasped when his boots hit the hard ground.
“Princess?” I heard Lilac call. I blanched and tried to fix my hair, though I knew it was hopeless. The moment my attendant opened the door, my cheeks flamed with embarrassment.
We silently stared at one another for what felt like ages. She took in the vines, plants, and shrubs now growing out of my mattress, then observed my wild hair full of leaves and the brazen look I just knew was dancing within my blue eyes. Lilac took a deep breath.
“I got your stiff drink, Princess. Perhaps while you enjoy it, I can fix your hair? And find you a dress not covered in dirt?”
I stifled a snort. “That would be lovely.”
I couldn’t imagine the gossip that was being shared about me. That was fine. I was raised in a prison. I didn’t imagine they’d think very much of me anyway.
And it only mattered what I thought. I’d had to rely on myself my whole life. That hadn’t changed just because I’d finally come to this strange place that I was supposed to call home. If my tight dress was any indication, it was only going to be another kind of prison. And not one I knew how to navigate yet.
The ballroom was filled with people looking so beautiful I was practically blinded by their good looks. This wasn’t reality, at least not one I’d ever seen. In prison, they were far from gorgeous, although no one was in their best shape there. And even in the town we’d stopped at, I hadn’t seen so much...glitter.
I should be impressed, but this was ridiculous. I snorted.
“Sorry?” Oh, the man who stood next to me had been talking. What was his name? Milo? The moment I was introduced as the long-lost princess, men flocked to me like sharks on shifters. It was comical, especially since a certain assassin kept his hungry eyes on me. I wasn’t interested in anyone but him.
“Sorry, I was just watching the dances. Everyone moves so gracefully…”
I scoured the room for my parents and frowned when I spotted them chatting up someone that looked like some sort of Fae prince. He was tall and slender and wore more gold than I’d ever seen in my life. I doubted that anyone in this ballroom had ever spent even a month in solitary confinement or skipped meals so they could barter for magic or pencils. Had they ever been jumped by vampires or threatened by an angel?
“Princess?” Milo said. I shook my head and turned to stare at him. I wasn’t intentionally trying to be rude; I just wasn’t in the mood for his dull conversation. “Did you hear me at all?”
“I’m sorry. This is all just a bit overwhelming. What did you say?”
Milo blushed. “I was just curious if you’d do me the pleasure of sharing a dance with me.” He bowed reverently, and I had to hold back a chuckle.
“She’s dancing with me,” another voice interrupted. I turned, hoping that Cypress was here to save me from the awkward encounter, but instead it was the Fae man my parents were talking to.
Milo nodded and hurried away, fast. Wow. I stared up at the gold prince, and I had no doubt that was what he was. He was beautiful in a way no one else in here was. They were all gorgeous, but he was...powerful. I could feel it in my pores. It was everything I could do
