Crown of Betrayal (Wicked Kingdoms Book 2)

by Graceley Knox

I roll my eyes and the butterflies in my stomach die with his warning. “Yeah. I know. All the big scaries are out to get me. I just needed a minute of silence to clear my head.”

  “Take someone with you next time.” He frowns at me. “Did you get what you wanted?”

  “World peace? Nah, couldn’t find that.” I cross my arms in front of my chest. I’m not going to be the one that tells him about the stranger in the woods, or the fact that my team probably snuck out under his nose. And then got back in without him knowing.

  His brow furrows. “That’s not what I meant, little álainn. Have you decided on a course of action in regards to MECA? You know–”

  “Yeah, I know. I know I could work within the Goblin Kingdom as a Guard, and I appreciate the offer, but I can’t just walk away from my life because it’s difficult. They stop allowing that when you become an adult. It’s frowned upon.” I rub a hand over my forehead. The spot just above my left eye is throbbing with a nasty headache approaching.

  “You wouldn’t be giving up, just changing paths.” Dare shrugs and steps closer to me.

  I step back. “I like my path.” I wave a hand. “I can’t talk about this now. I’ve got to get some sleep. We’ve got the trial tomorrow and I need my head on straight if I’m going to get out of this thing alive.” I inch to the side and try to walk around him.

  Dare wraps his hand around my arm. Each finger feels like a brand on my cool skin. The heat between us is like molten lava. If we don’t stop it, it could destroy everything in its path. I look down at his fingers on my arm and bite my lip. My throat tightens and I don’t move.

  “Little álainn, let me help you.” He tilts my chin up with one of his rough fingers and I get lost in his autumn colored eyes. “Please.”

  His soft request breaks down my walls and I give in to him. I turn my body into his bigger one and let him fold me into his chest. His strong arms wrap around me and I take a deep breath. His earthy scent overpowers me and I bury my face into his chest. I breathe in his strength and his belief in me, and I let it wash over me like a cleansing rain. All the doubts of what I could have done better to avoid tomorrow. All the what if’s and if only’s wash away as his large hand rubs up and down my back. My eyes burn with unshed tears and I bite my cheek to keep them at bay.

  “Dare.” I tilt my head back to look up at him. “We can’t do this.” I shake my head when he opens his mouth to speak. “We can’t. Not now. Not when I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. I can’t handle having to walk away from you again. Not tonight.”

  Dare’s lips soften and one side of his mouth twitches up into a smile. “There is no better time than now, because you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow.”

  He doesn’t wait for my response. He dips his head down and our lips meet in a kiss. He licks at the seam of my mouth until I open to him and grant him access. His tongue pushes into my mouth with a demand for more. I dig my nails into his chest and rise up on tiptoes to meet his demand. I kiss him back and our tongues dual with each other. He sucks on my tongue and I falter against him, dropping from my tiptoes. Dare growls and pulls his mouth back from mine for a moment. He looks behind me and grins wolfishly.

  He picks me up and walks us a few steps backward until my back is pressed against the tree he was leaning against when I first spotted him. He presses his front to mine and the feeling of him surrounding me sends a rush of moisture to my core. I wiggle my hips against him and he attacks me with his mouth again. Sucking. Nipping. Licking at my mouth until I’m following his lead and chasing him at every withdrawal of his mouth from mine.

  “Dare. Mmm… more.” Warmth spreads through my limbs as his hands caress me. Down my sides and back up again, he grips me to him without mercy.

  He doesn’t respond. Instead he tears his mouth from mine and my lips tingle with the loss. He pushes my face to the side with his chin and bites his way down my neck. His tongue soothes every sting as he makes his way down to the hollow of my throat. When he reaches the collar of my shirt, he pulls it aside as far as it will go, his tongue tracing patterns on my skin.

  I watch him as he lays each kiss on my flesh. My nipples harden the lower he goes, and I arch my chest into his face.

  “Little tine.” He gives me a little smack on my ass with the warning and I grin above him. He pulls my legs up and issues another command. “Wrap your legs around me. I want your breasts in my mouth.”

  A shiver runs through me and I do what he says. My hands grip his shoulders as he continues lower. He pushes my shirt up and cups my breasts in his hands. One at a time he pulls the cups of my bra to the side and the cold air of the night puckers my nipples further. Dare leans back and stares at my exposed breasts.

  “Aoibhneas.” Dare’s tone is reverent. But when his lips wrap around my nipple they’re possessive and lush.

  Fire spreads through my veins, splintering from where his mouth toys with my erect nipple, a direct line to my aching clit. I grip him tighter with my legs and try to press my center to his hard length. I brace my hands on his strong shoulders and move until I get what I want.

  Dare grunts and bites down on the side of my breast before soothing it with his tongue.

  “Ouch.” I frown down at him before he moves to my other breast and I throw my head back in pleasure. “Dare… more.” My breasts tingle with his ministrations and I dig my nails into the back of his head.

  Dare releases my nipple with a pop and drops his hands to my ass. Both hands knead my flesh as he guides my hips into a rhythm with his. With each move forward my clit rubs against his hard cock through our pants. Each brush of my clit against the wet cloth of my panties and the pressure from him against me tears a moan from my throat.

  “That’s right, little tine. Remember who does this to you. Remember what our bodies feel like when we touch.” He pushes a hand between our bodies and cups my sex. “Remember who your pussy is wet for.”

  With each word out of his mouth, my pussy clenches, aching to be filled. I remember what he feels like inside me and I want it again. I need it like I need my next breath. “I know.” I whisper my response and go still. Our stares meet and I say it again. “I know.”

  With my words, Dare grips me and spins around. He walks a few paces into the forest and looks around. Without a word, he drops me to my feet and I sway unsteadily. He removes his coat and lays it on the ground before he coaxes me down and lays me flat on top of it.

  My body thrums with excitement as his eyes rake over me. My shirt is still pushed up over my heavy breasts. My hair is a tangled mess and my chest is heaving with each breath I take. I hold a hand out to him and he leans down to place a sweet kiss on my lips. Chaste and quick, he laves at my upper lip before he pulls back and inches down my body. He leaves a trail of kisses down my abdomen as he goes, his stubble tickling my sensitive skin. I track his movements as he inches farther away from my reach.

  His hands slide past his lips and with a flick of his fingers, he unbuttons my pants. I shimmy my hips as he removes them.

  “I want your skin against mine.” I reach for his shirt, but he shakes his head.

  “No. This isn’t about me, little álainn. It’s about reminding you that sometimes you have to let others give to you instead of only giving to others.”

  My eyes sting with tears at his words and I swallow hard. I can’t form words so I only nod.

  Dare kneels between my legs before placing a hand on each leg and bares my center to him. His hands clench on my thighs as he opens them. “You’re wet for me, little tine.” He reaches a hand and brushes a finger across the wet fabric of my panties.

  I bite my lip at his touch, the teasing contact shooting pleasure through me. “I know.”

  He bares his teeth in a satisfied grin. “I want to lap at your cream until you explode for me.” He leans his face down and licks at my pussy through my panties.

  I moan and grip at his head. “Dare, please.”

  At my moan, he slides a finge
r under the elastic band and jerks. With a rip, my panties fall to scraps of fabric, and I’m bared to him. He breathes me in and places a kiss against each thigh. “Mmm… vanilla and rain.” He licks his lips and lowers his mouth to my swollen folds.

  At the first touch, I jerk in his hold. His hands tighten their grip on my thighs and he pushes my legs into the ground. He kisses me softly before he flicks his tongue against my sensitive nub.

  “Yes. Goddess, yes.”

  He parts my folds with two fingers, wraps his lips around my clit, and sucks. My body shakes as pleasure assaults every nerve ending. His tongue laps at the moisture spilling from my hot cleft and he groans.

  I push my pussy up into his face as much as his grip on my legs will allow and pant beneath him while he builds my climb toward bliss. One finger presses against my opening and I hold my breath while I wait for him to push inside me. He only circles it around my entrance.

  “Don’t tease.” I breathe out.

  He lifts his mouth from my pussy and I almost weep at the loss of feeling his lips on me. I brace on my elbows to look down at him between my thighs.

  “Ah, but little tine, that is the best part.” While he’s speaking, he slowly pushes his finger in to the first knuckle, my soft flesh parting easily at the intrusion.

  My mouth drops open and I can’t form words to respond. He winks at me before he turns his attention back to my soaked slit. He rumbles against my hot flesh and pleasure pulsates through my body from my core. My gaze is locked on his mouth while he pleasures me. The sight of him between my thighs adding to the experience. His eyes are closed in bliss while he works to bring me to mine. He opens his eyes and meets my stare. He watches me watch him and he slowly slides his finger further inside me and I inhale a sharp breath.

  “Don’t stop.” I beg.

  He withdraws his finger from my sheath at my words and I let out a cry of despair. My cry turns to pleasure as he pushes not one, but two fingers into me. The force of his thrust shooting waves of pleasure thorough me.

  “Fuck. Yes! Please, Dare. Right there.”

  With each word out of my mouth he plunges his fingers into my slick heat and I unravel a little bit more. I arch my back and wiggle my hips in his grip. He presses his face into my mound and the little bit of added pressure catches my breath.

  He notices and does it again. He twists his fingers inside of me, hitting that spot that sends me over every time.

  A strangled moan escapes my lips and I reach one hand above my head and grab a fistful of his jacket in my hand. Incoherent words escape me as he nibbles on my clit and thrusts his large fingers inside of me. With each thrust, I lose my breath. And on each withdrawal my pussy clenches around him to keep his fingers inside me.

  “Dare…”

  He doesn’t respond, he only watches me as my legs tighten around his head. As my pussy starts to pulse around him. As I let out a keening cry and fly over the edge.

  “Yes! Oh goddess, yes! Mmm, yes. Dare.” I dig my nails into his head as my body goes numb with the pleasure lighting up each of my nerve endings like a rocket. My muscles twitch uncontrollably as aftershocks pulse through me. I moan while he continues to stroke my pussy like I’m his puppet and I dance on his strings.

  “You taste like heaven.” Dare mutters while he flattens his tongue against my pussy and gives me one last lick.

  “Mmm, sure.” I nod my head, barely able to move after he sent my flying. Each limb weighs too much to lift at the moment, and I wouldn’t be able to run away even if my life depended on it.

  I lie there under the stars and listen to the sounds of the forest around us. Dare climbs up my body and places a soft kiss on my forehead. I smile and sigh. With each passing moment reality creeps back in. My heated flesh begins to cool with the brisk summer breeze caressing my exposed skin. I sigh again.

  “Do not retreat behind your facade, little álainn. Do not think that I will let you.” He rubs a possessive hand over my bare stomach and my muscles tighten beneath his touch.

  I turn my head to look at him and find him watching me intently. “I’m sorry, Dare. I wasn’t thinking clearly… We shouldn’t have done that.” Regret colors my tone. “I’m facing enough shit as it is, and if this was brought to light, I’d be finished. Hunted and possibly killed, my team along with me.”

  “I vowed to let no harm come to you or yours. I will not fail in that vow a second time, little tine.” He braces above me on his elbow and runs a finger across my cheek. His touch sends warmth through me, straight to my heart where it skips a beat. “Even if you cannot see it yet, you will. We are meant to be together, Ever. No matter your objections…”

  “I can’t talk about this tonight. I need to sleep and time to think.” I sit up and look for my pants. I lean forward and grab them before I lay back down and shimmy into them. Giant hole from where he ripped them and all. “We will talk about this, I promise, because it’s become unavoidable. But not tonight.”

  With that I stand up and look down at him still laying there on the leaf covered earth. I hold a hand down to him and he takes it. He doesn’t use me to pull himself up, but he keeps my hand firmly clasped in his.

  “Not tonight. But sooner rather than later, Ever.”

  I nod and we head back to the house, hand in hand. I have no idea what the hell we were going to talk about other than how to never let anything like this happen again. No matter how much my body craves his presence next to mine, I can’t let something like this put those I love in danger. I’m being selfish. For a few minutes of earth shattering pleasure, I had risked us all. I couldn’t let it happen again.

  We sneak back into the house as silent as shadows before we part ways at the staircase. Dare grips my chin before dropping a kiss to my swollen lips. I grip his hand in my own and savor his touch.

  “Goodnight, Dare.” My voice is barely audible, but he hears me.

  “I won’t let you walk away from me again, Ever. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

  I twist my lips and shake my head. I step up on the stairs and ascend them quickly. As much as I wish I could believe in his words, it isn’t his choice to make.

  CHAPTER

  EIGHT

  I roll over for the hundredth time and stare at the red blinking numbers of my alarm clock. I watch as the numbers change from four forty-five to four forty-six. I grumble and punch my pillow in frustration. After Dare sexed me up last night, I had fallen asleep without a problem. But staying asleep was the issue. A quick cat nap later and I’ve been lying in bed wide awake since three am.

  I close my eyes and the faces of my crew and Arela flash across my mind, followed by Dare and me tangled up in the woods while I moan his name. I blink my eyes open and heave a sigh. What a mess I’ve made.

  “Fuck.” I might as well get out of bed because I’m not getting any more sleep before this gods damned trial.

  Arela is packed and ready for anything at this point. We’ve prepped her for it. There are plans in place for her just in case. She’s got some event she was excited about for a festival that involves time with the Queen of Goblin today, but past that it’s just a normal day for her. My chest squeezes tight while I think about her. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I keep my promise to her. And my promise to my crew.

  I throw my covers back and jump out of bed. I shower quickly in the hopes that I won’t wake anyone up. Once out of the shower, I dress for battle. Systematically, I strap on every hidden blade I can and follow it up with not one but two guns on my person. If it comes down to it, I’ll fight my way out of MECA, guns blazing. The thought makes me shiver and dread coils in my stomach.

  I strap on the final few blades in and outside of my boots and clasp my hands between my knees as I sit on the edge of my bed. I close my eyes and mutter a quick prayer to whatever entity’s feeling friendly today.

  “Please, just let my crew get out unscathed. I can deal with whatever happens to me, just don’t let my mistakes ruin their lives
too.” I touch my thumb to my lips in the old ways and open my eyes once more.

  Armed to the teeth, ready or not, it’s time to start the day.

  *

  After my early morning, the rest of my crew had woken up only an hour after I had. Earlier than they usually do. Each of them had been stunned to see me awake before them, but they quickly let it go.

  A little bit later, Arela comes flying down the stairs, her face split in two by her smile.

  “I’m going to spend time with Queen Odaine today!” She spins around in a circle and her flowy skirt floats in the air around her.

  I smile. “You told us. Do you have everything you need?” I place a muffin in front of her on the counter.

  She bobs her head so fast I’m afraid it’s going to snap off and she turns to look down the hall. A second later, Dare appears, bare chested and sweating. He must have gone for a run in the forest.

  I lick my lips as I take him in. Heat flushes through me and my mouth drops open.

  Someone clears their throat and I snap my mouth closed, my teeth clacking together. “Uh. Right. Yes. That’s great.”

  I look straight at Arela and avoid eye contact with everyone. I’ve completely forgotten what on earth we were talking about.

  “Dn’t forg mm nnth cming hmm tniht.” Arela speaks through a mouth full of food, her words coming out jumbled and together.

  I blink a few times. “What was that?”

  She takes a sip of her OJ and tries again. “Don’t forget I’m not coming home tonight. We’re all staying in the tower with the Queen.”

  I raise a brow and look to Eryn. She smiles and shrugs. “I thought it would be fine. She’s with a group of girls, and she’s prepared, Ev.”

  I frown at Eryn and look to Dare. “What is this event thing?”

  Dare runs a hand through his hair, slicking it back and frowns. “I’m not sure. I can find out though.”

  I almost swallow my tongue while I watch his biceps bulge with the movement. “Do that.”

  With that, he turns and walks away. I study every inch of his back. The runes that run down the side of his back and disappear under his sweatpants catch my eye and my fingers itch to follow their path. Dare looks over his shoulder and catches me ogling him. He smirks and winks at me. I flush red from the tips of my toes to the roots of my hair and grab for my glass of ice water. I chug it, but the cold liquid does nothing to cool the fire burning inside me.