Kingdom of Villains

by Ella Fields

His giant hands swallowed them, and my neck cricked as I tilted it back. Our eyes met, his wild and searching. Then to my horror and complete surprise, so did our lips. I’d never been kissed, but I’d imagined that when it happened, it would be clumsy and wet. At least at first. I’d also imagined it would have been Regin. I’d have never imagined this. Him.

I’d been determined to find another way. I needed her, but I refused to force her. I couldn’t endanger her. In the end, it had all been for naught. Fia was here, and she had every right to hate me. In fact, this might just be more bearable if that were all she felt. But it wasn’t. Her scent suffocated, the shape of her hips memorized by my hands. They trembled, raking through my hair. The sickness had returned, but it was now at war with the primal urge to fight for her surrender.

“What could you possibly need me for, dragon?” “Too much,” he countered, and I ceased breathing. “Right now, I’ll settle for your mouth on mine.”

For although I hadn’t been here and I wasn’t yet entirely willing to demand he drink from me, to think that he’d so much as placed his mouth on the skin of another sliced at my innards. The intimacy of drinking another’s blood, of having him take anything he needed from someone else… I saw enough red that it wouldn’t have surprised me if my eyes had turned crimson with the lust for blood. A different, far more violent type of bloodletting. Fia the feral indeed.

“I do think that after surviving half the night stuck behind a mass of muscle and scales that I have earned the right to more than just making sure he wakes.”

I knew enough of mating connections to know that once there was an exchange of blood, it was accepted. No matter how small. It then became an agreement stronger than any marriage.

“I’ve been imagining this.” “You have?” I asked, and I’d have been annoyed by the eager surprise in my garbled words if I weren’t so invested in all he was doing. Colvin hummed, licking my jawline. “Every fucking day since I left you in that dungeon. Every fucking hour I’ve failed to sleep since you arrived because you’re here.” He dipped deeper, but only to his nail, and I couldn’t remember if I was breathing. “Every fucking time I scent you, taste you in the air I breathe greedily like a wanton beast whenever you’re near.”

I had to stop. I knew that. But one kiss from her made me wonder what the fuck I’d been doing my entire life if I’d never been kissed in such a way before.

He lowered his head, pulling me closer. “I’m terribly distracted.” His nose kissed mine, and my eyes closed, his words drugging breath. “For I find myself needing to erase his scent from your skin, Fia. To make sure I’m the only creature you ever touch.”

“Run away with me, fire-breather.”

I seized his shirt, buttons popping as I tore it open, and rose onto my toes to say to his chin, “You speak as though unaware that I wish to make every inch of you all fucking mine.”

“Let me go.” “Why? You’re upset, and I’d like to make sure you’re not before you walk away from me.”

The world birthed a brand new day, but I didn’t want it. I longed for the night—for the stars and the moon and the beastly prince who’d gifted me both.

“You need to stop this.” Leaning into him, I whispered, “Stop what?” “Ruining me from noticing anything in this world that isn’t you.”

“I want you here always.” “On your cock?” I smirked, then moaned when his other hand squeezed my ass. “In my home,” he whispered to my mouth and pressed his own to it softly. “In my bed.” His lips moved to my chin. “In every fucking corner of my life. Every night. Every day. Always.”

“Fia.” I erased the remaining distance between us and clasped her damp cheeks. “You’re my mate, Fia, but you’re also my heart. You’re in my blood as much as I am yours. You don’t just belong with me. You belong here with me. With all of us.”

“Fine, but don’t you dare forget…” I inhaled her deeply, stirring the hair over her ear, and murmured with vehemence, “I fucking love you, Fia. I’ll love you regardless of what you choose to do with me.” I stole her hand and placed my lips upon her palm. “Until every star burns out.”

I couldn’t say she was wrong. We both knew of mated pairs who desired time alone, and some who had even separated and found other lovers. Though the mere thought of not seeing Fia at least once an evening was not one I could entertain at all. It sickened me to so much as imagine it.

“You are the breath in my chest, the reason for every changing beat of my heart.”