Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Why does it have to be either of you?” I asked, though the idea of biting someone other than my two guys turned my stomach. “Maybe I could find someone else…a willing volunteer, possibly?”
“You won’t find anyone to volunteer to be bitten by an untried Queen who hasn’t proved her Thirst is under control,” Sel said grimly. “Besides, the idea of you biting or fucking any other male makes me want to pound them!” he added, his voice dropping to a growl.
“I don’t like the idea of sharing you with anyone but Sel, either, my Lady,” Krynn told me. “We’ll lose you soon enough, when you choose your Royal Consort. Let us do this for you tonight—let us serve you one last time before you ascend to the Throne and pick another to stand by your side.”
“I don’t want anyone else but you two!” I protested. “But I don’t want to expose either of you to ridicule or shame, either. Maybe one of you ought to, er, fuck me instead.”
“No, absolutely not,” Sel growled, shaking his head. “You’re already at a disadvantage, Princess. You didn’t grow up in Court and the people don’t know you and love you as they would if you had. You can’t appear weak in front of them.”
“Sel is right—it would be a poor start to your reign,” Krynn agreed. He looked at me earnestly. “My Lady…choose me. Take me. I am only the Records Keeper and Historian—it won’t matter if the Court finds out I’m a Needer. I’m certain Lady Elgiana has spread enough gossip about me by now that most of them at least know I’m a Sin Eater. And it’s a short step from there to the Needing.”
Sel frowned, his face like a thundercloud.
“You shouldn’t have to do this, Krynn! You shouldn’t have to expose your weakness to the whole Court!”
Krynn put a hand on his shoulder, a look of gratitude and love crossing his lovely face.
“Sel, I can see that you’re trying to spare me and I appreciate it, but I’m the logical choice for the Princess to take.”
“Why? Just because you’re submissive?” the big Fae demanded.
Krynn shook his head.
“No, because I need this.” He sighed deeply. “Look, you’ve been helping me with my Needing Cycle for a long time and believe me, I’m grateful. But being whipped isn’t enough anymore.” A look of shameful defiance came over his face. “I need…I need to be fucked,” he said in a low voice.
Sel looked stricken.
“Krynn, you know if I could—”
“I know,” Krynn said quickly. “And I don’t blame you at all, believe me. But during the last few cycles, the Needing hasn’t been completely satisfied. And you know what could happen if it keeps building up.”
“What could happen?” I asked, concerned but also curious.
“He could get really fucking sick,” Sel growled. “The magical parasite inside him could start sucking away his life force.” He shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me, Krynn?”
“Because there was nothing you could do about it,” Krynn said gently. “And there was nothing I could do either—other than going back to Lady Elgiana and you know how I feel about that.”
“You need to stay away from that poisonous bitch,” Sel growled, his eyebrows drawing low over his burning bronze eyes. “Especially now that we know she’s in league with Mordren.”
“I have no intention of going anywhere near her,” Krynn said calmly. “But I need to be dominated and taken.” He looked at me. “Please, my Lady. I want to give myself to you.”
“Even if it means some kind of public humiliation?” I asked uncertainly.
Krynn nodded.
“I don’t care what the Court thinks of me—the only opinions I value are yours and Sel’s.”
Sel put a hand on Krynn’s shoulder and squeezed.
“You know I won’t think less of you, no matter what.”
“I know.” Impulsively, Krynn hugged him.
Without hesitation, Sel hugged him back, wrapping his long arms around the other Fae and pulling him in for a close embrace. Krynn pressed his face to the big Fae’s throat and breathed deeply, as though the scent of his best friend comforted him.
I felt tears prickle behind my eyes as I watched the two of them. Krynn had told me that they had grown up in the Palace together—both hated and despised because they were half-breeds, so they had only each other. I was almost certain that if Sel hadn’t been so straight they would have been more than friends, but even so, their friendship and devotion to each other tugged at my heart.
At last the two of them pulled apart and I thought I saw the glimmer of tears in Krynn’s lovely green eyes. But when he turned to me, he was calm.
“I’m ready, my Lady,” he said firmly. “Ready to submit to you. Please, use me.”
I bit my lip. It touched me deeply that he was willing to do this for me, mainly because I sensed he would still have been willing even if he hadn’t had the Needing.