When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

AERYN'S POV 

Shade's lips thinned and he frowned, wearing an expression that mirrored a certain green-eyed shifter. Giddiness from the high bubbled up my throat in the form of a giggle and I imagined my slow dance at the Nyrial Castle with the culprit. All logic fled as flaming desire consumed me. I stretched my arm out to brush my fingers across the hard patch of bone on Shade's cheekbone. 

"You look like my Champ...wait we're not bonded anymore," I realized, hand pausing as my fingertips met the pale skin on his cheek and he flinched as if I'd shocked him, backing away with wide eyes. I dropped my hand to my lap as another surge of bliss flooded my veins, confirming the truth that our bond as Champions had been broken. Trying again, I tapped his nose and murmured, "You look like my...Zoran. He frowns at me just like that! And you both wear that angry look when I say something you don't like." 

I crossed my arms over my chest, drew my eyebrows together, and scrunched my nose, attempting to mimic their identical looks of annoyance. Shade's disbelief faded and he ran his eyes down the length of my body and back up to my eyes as he raised a finger to his cheek where mine had vacated. 

"Did you just...?" he trailed off, allowing his hand to fall to his side. His lip quirked upon seeing the face I was making and he turned away, clearing his throat. 

"What's funny?" 

Erasing all humor from his face, he denied, "Nothing. Sounds like your Zoran must be a handsome guy." 

Shade hitched a suggestive brow and a burning blush ignited on my cheeks. 

"Why'd you say his name like that!" 

"You called him yours first." 

Rolling my eyes, I raised a flippant hand and my shameless lips admitted, "Pfft, whatever. It's quite obvious I want the shifter despite how rapid his fiery attitude is extinguished by icy apathy. If I didn't know better, I'd say frost fire was addictive." 

My grin widened, reaching my eyes as another truth brought on a stronger sense of weightlessness. My mind swirled in exhilaration as I sighed deep, picturing running my fingers through the thick, dark locks of midnight hair between Zoran's horns. 

I heard a distant grunt followed by Shade's utterance of irritation as he headed over to the door. "The medic must've infused some love potion nonsense into her concoction before giving it to you." 

Ignoring him, I lost myself in the thrilling high that came with disclosing secrets. I had to confess more and release of the truths bringing me down. 

On an exhale, I declared the darkest and most dire secret I could think of, longing for the high. "I am here to assassinate Prince Shade Cross." 

I was charged with an intense, pleasuring sense of bliss as my mind cleared, and oxygen filled my lungs. The light, airy feeling was addicting, and I couldn't get enough – I needed more. Gripping the sheets, I disclosed, "The antidote is in Garrenth" and sunk deeper into the mattress as pastel hues mixed behind my eyes. A pleasing coldness streamed through my veins, cooling the ache from the constant scalding of the Curse. 

"There's a cure?" Shade inquired, sounding closer. Under his breath, he added, "And you're supposedly going to kill me." 

I nodded, limbs feeling as light as one of the Phoenixian feathers on Zoran's wings. "The Dracnae in the secluded hot spring cave. They might be the answer," I drawled, wiggling my fingers as I chuckled. "Plus, Bastion knew your father was lying when he accepted the marriage proposal at that Consul meeting. You've been plotting my assassination before the treaty was even created."