Chapter Ten: Daelyn - Irresistible Consequences

  Lightning landed near the palace walls, but it still wasn’t as loud as the question Daelyn hadn’t dared ask since Andrik came back. She hadn’t been able to sleep in days—not after the fragments of conversation she’d overheard behind his door, not after the way he had looked at her. That glance had said everything and nothing all at once.

  She hadn’t realized she’d even dozed off until a deafening boom rattled the windows and jolted her upright. It sounded like an explosion, violent and close. Without waiting another second, she jumped out of bed and ran to the hallway. The second burst of thunderstruck just as she made it outside her doorway.

  Andrik met her there as lightning touched down, hitting one of the trees on the front lawn. Rain streaked down the tall palace windows, and the sky flashed with electric fury.

  "That strike was close," Andrik said, his voice low. "You alright?"

  He hadn’t touched her, but just standing beside him, her skin remembered what it had never felt. He had his arm around her shoulder, eyes scanning the windows and the rising storm. After weeks of the palace staff and she was sure --his father--ensuring they hadn't crossed paths since his return, his sudden presence was giving her goosebumps.

  Thinking of shelter, she remembered the reinforced rooms in the secret passages.

  "Yes, they're this way," she said, pointing toward the library.

  Glass windows from ceiling to floor exposed the entire hallway. The night sky pulsed with zigzag lines of electricity whipping through the darkness. Down the hall, muffled sounds of rushed footsteps and shouting echoed faintly—guards and aides were shepherding the rest of the guests and their families to the main storm shelter located in the east wing.

  No one had stopped Daelyn and Andrik in their rush toward the library. Perhaps it was the chaos. Perhaps it was luck.

  Once they reached the library, they slammed the door shut behind them. Daelyn turned on a lamp and attempted to push a dresser out of her way.

  "Here, let me get that for you," Andrik said, moving the dresser aside with little exertion.

  Behind the dresser was a curtain. Daelyn moved it, unveiling a door.

  "My ancestors had the secret doors installed for security reasons," she said, flicking on a switch that illuminated a pearl-colored staircase. "It was updated and remodeled last spring."

  Andrik grinned as he followed her in. "Finally, one of the nice ones. The last secret passage I saw over the summer had cobwebs, two rats, and a portrait of your great-grandfather that looked like it wanted to murder me."

  Daelyn laughed, and the sound calmed the air between them just a little.

  Andrik closed the door behind him and followed her down.

  "So what other mysteries and secrets does the palace have?" he asked.

  "Well, there's no ghosts. But there's a bathroom and a small kitchen. Essentially there's enough to live off of. Our security personnel know about it, but other staff don't."

  Stepping down to the last step, she turned another switch and a small living room lit up.

  Andrik examined the fixtures. "It's a smaller version of what we have in our palace back home."

  Walking into the kitchen, Daelyn grabbed two waters from the fridge and handed one to Andrik. Then she walked to one of the bedrooms and turned on a light. Andrik followed her, his water almost gone.

  She paused at the doorway, her back to him.

  He walked in her direction.

  She could almost feel his breath on her skin they were standing so close. How many times had they nearly crossed this line during the summer, only to be interrupted by palace staff or her brother's watchful eye? Looking up at him, she touched the stubble forming on his face.

  "This is a good look for you."

  He chuckled and rubbed his beard, his hand resting over hers.

  "You want me to grow it out?"

  She smiled. "I don't know. Is that even allowed for future kings?"

  Andrik's arms slid lower around her waist, holding Daelyn tight. Leaning down, he rested his head upon hers and kissed the top of her head.

  "I'm not king yet," he whispered.

  Daelyn intertwined herself against him and slid her fingers underneath his shirt. Andrik's blue eyes looked intensely into hers before he lifted her and kissed her on the lips.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  She'd never been kissed before. This was better than she had ever imagined. His lips moved against hers with a gentleness that made her heart race. When they pulled apart, she couldn't help but stare at him, memorizing every detail of his face in this moment.

  He hesitated, but Daelyn knew what she wanted. Turning her head, she pulled his face to hers and parted her lips. Andrik eagerly returned her kiss, lifting her completely off the floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist, their mouths moving in unison, both giving and taking.

  He carried her to the bed and sat down with her on his lap. When she reached for the hem of his shirt, he gently caught her hands.

  "Daelyn, I think we'd better stop now," he said, running his hands over his face.

  Kneeling on the bed, she asked, "Why?"

  She was more angry than embarrassed by this rejection.

  Standing he moved along the wall, he bit the inside of his cheek. "You know why."

  "If you're referring to the marriage policies, it's bullshit," she said.

  "Daelyn—"

  "It's the truth! We have no control over who we can marry. They tell us who to love, and whose children to have. They take care of it all for us." Her voice cracked with emotion. "Andrik, if I never have a choice for anything in the rest of my life, I want this moment with you."

  He moved toward her, his eyes dark with conflict.

  "Unless you don't want me," she said quietly. "That would be different."

  She couldn't look at him, suddenly afraid she'd misread everything.

  "What?" he asked, his voice low and rough. Lifting her face, his fingers trembled slightly. "Of course I want you. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to restrain myself? And it's not because of the policies—fuck the policies."

  He paused, his thumb brushing her cheek. "Daelyn, I don't want you to do something you might regret later."

  Moisture spilled from her eyes as she shook her head. This was just another thing her position in life would steal from her. She could see the conflict in his eyes, mirroring her own.

  "Don't you ever just want something for yourself, for once in your life?"

  Andrik wiped the tears from her face. "If I had a say, you'd have been my choice, but I can't guarantee that I can marry you afterward. I want to marry you. I've known it for months. But my father is a difficult man, and he holds all the cards."

  "You're not telling me anything I didn't already know. Andrik, I don't need forever."

  She leaned forward and kissed his bottom lip. While he didn't kiss her back, he didn't stop her either. So she parted her lips and gently caressed his bottom lip. Waves of heat coursed through her body. This was new territory for her, but her body seemed to know exactly what it wanted.

  She slid her hands underneath his shirt, feeling the cuts on his back from the mission failure. He didn't object. She could feel his heart beating beneath her fingers as she explored his chest. Taking a breath for courage, she lifted her nightgown over her head, exposing herself to him completely.

  His eyes darkened to a stormy blue-green as they took her in. Something about the way he looked at her—like she was both delicate and powerful—made her skin flush with heat.

  He pulled his shirt off, revealing his sun-bronzed skin stretched over defined muscles. Fresh cuts marked his chest and back, souvenirs from the mission that nearly took him from her.

  "Are you in pain?" she asked, touching one of the wounds gently.

  "Not now," he said, holding her tenderly.

  His fingers trailed along her spine, and the skin-to-skin contact sent currents of electricity through her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began kissing his face, starting on one cheek and making her way across his features until she reached his lips.

  He reciprocated with an eagerness that matched her own, one hand in her hair, the other exploring the curve of her hip. She heard the soft thud of his pants hitting the floor. A mix of emotions flooded through her—curiosity, excitement, a touch of nervousness.

  Andrik guided her back onto the bed, his body hovering over hers. He kissed his way down her neck to her chest. Daelyn gasped, her back arching instinctively.

  "Andrik," she murmured as his hand slid between her thighs.

  "I've got you," he whispered against her skin.

  She trusted him with every part of herself.

  Later, as they lay tangled together in the sheets, Daelyn wiped at a tear that had escaped down her cheek.

  "Did I hurt you?" Andrik asked, alarmed.

  She shook her head. "No, it's not like that."

  She tried to hide her emotions, but her lower lip quivered traitorously.

  "I hope you don't feel like I pressured you," he said, softly running his fingers through her hair.

  "No," she whispered. "I'm just afraid I may never love anyone as much as I love you."

  Sadness clouded his face briefly before he pulled her closer. "I know. Me either."

  He turned so they were eye to eye. "I want you to enjoy this moment and not worry about the future. Your brother hasn't even announced your coming out party yet, has he?"

  "No, he hasn't," she answered.

  "Alright, so there's time. My father has been on my case about getting my ducks in a row. Wants me to ascend to the throne," he said, bringing her fingers to his lips and kissing them gently.

  "Andrik, your father isn't interested in having both of his kids married into Wintergate—"

  "My father is a complicated man, but let me handle him. I don't want you to be concerned about it," he whispered as he pulled her on top of him.

  She didn't know what tomorrow would bring. Their countries, their families, politics, and alliances…all of it waited outside this hidden room. But for now, for tonight, there was just them. Above, the storm began to subside, thunder fading into the distance like a retreating army. Below, sheltered from both the literal and figurative tempests, they had found their peace.

  And that was enough.