And to the beginning of the rest of our lives.
Epilogue
Vivian
I give the man sitting in the corner of the room my most flirtatious smile, tilting my head so more of my hair falls over my naked breast.
I’ve been planning this surprise since before everything went down at the banquet. When I told my cousin what I was going to do, she high-fived me, saying I was sly as a fox and obviously, I’d found my lady balls.
Come to think of it, that could mean this is a really bad idea.
It’s too late to even check in with Sarissa now. She left to take the chip to Alexis a few days ago, Korzyn by her side.
“You’re frowning again.”
“Sorry.”
I had to lock Cauri out, since I know damn well she’d lose her mind if she found out exactly what I’m up to in here.
Arix is away, negotiating with another tribe king. Since he’ll only be gone for the day, I told him I’d stay here. He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously, knowing I don’t like to be left behind ever.
FOMO is real.
But this is the perfect opportunity to get this taken care of, before my possessive king comes back.
The door slams open, and Arix walks in.
He takes one look at my undressed state and the male sitting in the corner of the room, and a roar leaves his throat.
Uh-oh.
I jump to my feet, wrapping the blanket around me as he advances on the painter.
His guards burst through the door, and he whirls on them.
“Out!”
My mouth goes dry. “Arix, I can explain.”
“Explain what, lovely? How I open up to you and find you mostly naked and alone in my rooms with another male?”
“You were supposed to be away this afternoon!”
He growls. Then he turns from me, advancing toward the artist, who is currently cowering in the corner.
I jump in front of him. “This was a surprise for you, you giant asshole!”
He stares at me. “Consider me surprised.”
I roll my eyes. Men. I move toward the easel, but Arix catches my arm.
“No closer.”
I break his hold the way Hewex once taught me. “We’ve been working on this for days! We were almost done, and now you’ve ruined it.”
“Days?” He gapes at me, and then his eyes turn to ice as he returns his attention to the artist in the corner.
I stalk toward the easel, avoiding the hand Arix shoots out toward me. I turn it, revealing the painting.
“You said you wanted one of my ‘photographs.’ This is the closest I could manage. You’re fucking welcome.”
I turn to stride away, but Arix clamps his arm around my waist, holding me to him and ignoring my struggles as he examines the painting.
“For me?”
“Of course it’s for you!”
He glances at the artist, who is currently attempting to mold his body into the stone wall behind him.
“This is incredible.”
“Th-thank you, Your Majesty.”
He’s right. The artist has captured the dark red of the blanket I hold in front of me, barely covering one breast. My hair is thrown over my shoulder, covering the other. One of my legs is bare on the bed, the other hidden by the blanket mounded between my legs. I’m wearing the jewelry Arix gave me and nothing else. Just as he wanted.
The arm clamped around my waist softens slightly but not enough for me to escape.
“For me?” he asks again, and some of the fury leaves me at the wonder in his voice. This king can afford anything he wants. But when was the last time someone gave him a gift? Something tells me it was probably back when his parents were alive.
“Yes.”
He glances down at me, and I almost flinch at the emotion in his eyes. He gently brushes his mouth against mine and then turns to the artist, who still looks as if he’s worried he might be dragged away in chains at any moment.
“This is amazing. Thank you, and I apologize for my reaction.”
I blink. Arix is apologizing? People must be ice skating in hell.
“You’re…welcome, Your Majesty.”
“How much longer until this is finished?”
“One more sitting, Your Majesty. The finishing touches I can do alone.”
Arix nods. “You will be rewarded handsomely for this. I will ensure it. Please return tomorrow for the last sitting.”
The artist smiles, leaving his paints where they are and scurrying toward the door.
Arix watches him go. Then he examines the painting some more, ignoring me as I wiggle against him.
“This is an incredible gift,” he says. “While I don’t appreciate another male seeing you like this, I will hang this in front of my bed, where I can appreciate it.” He drags his gaze away from the painting and brushes my hair off my face. “Thank you.”
I frown at him, still unwilling to let him off the hook after that reaction. “What exactly did you think was going on here?”
“I didn’t think,” he admits. “I saw you looking like all my fantasies come to life, with another male staring at you intently. And I lost my mind. I’m sorry.”
Two apologies in one day. Wow.
I sigh. “I guess I understand. I should’ve told you about it, but I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“It was definitely a surprise,” he says. His eyes heat as he stares at the jewels circling my neck and dangling from my ears. “We are still learning each other. I promise I will work to be the male who deserves you.”
“A male who doesn’t jump to conclusions?”
He looks remorseful at that, and I laugh. He studies the painting some more before sending me a wicked smile in return. “Now drop that blanket so I can thank you properly.”
Arix spends all night thanking me properly. In the morning, I groan at a knock on the door, burying my head under the covers. Next to me, Arix laughs. He’s not usually a morning person, but satisfaction is rolling off him in waves this morning.
After the way he made me scream his name last night, I can’t really blame
