Once Upon a Time by Maggie Shayne

Author:Maggie Shayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, fantasy, contemporary, fairies, fairy kingdom, magical land
Publisher: Maggie Shayne

Chapter Two

Tristan twisted beneath the covers, but the brush of cool satin against his naked flesh only made matters worse. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Bridin. Her tiny waist entrapped in his arms and her breasts pushing against him. Her mouth. The taste of it. The way she’d shuddered, and sighed, and blushed in his arms.

Gods! She was his sworn enemy. Always he’d been aware of his weakness where she was concerned. He’d never been able to bring himself to simply have her killed and be done with the only true threat to his rule. And he’d known, for weeks now, the location of her forest hideaway. Yet he didn’t tell anyone he knew. Even his second-in-command, his own brother, Vincent. Only Tate knew, and that was because he’d been the one to discover the honeycomb of caves in the hillsides. Tristan didn’t inform his knights, didn’t launch a raid. All because Bridin would likely be killed in such a mission, and he couldn’t stomach the thought of that happening. Nor could he tell his men that he wanted her life spared. If they realized his weakness for their enemy, they’d turn on him, and his reign would end in mutiny.

No. He’d risked all he cherished to spare her life, in the hopes she would give up her foolish notions of retaking the kingdom. He prayed that would be the case.

But deep down, he knew better, didn’t he? Because no one, not even Bridin herself, knew her heart the way he did. And he knew she’d never give up without a fight. Never.

He closed his eyes. He ought to be up, dressing in his royal finery for the revelry of tonight’s celebration. The celebration and feasting and merriment were things he’d just as soon do without, but his men needed the break from the tension. Constantly putting down rebellion had taken its toll on them. And his birthday was as good an excuse as anything else to let them cut loose and have some fun. He’d thought a short nap might better prepare him for the night ahead, but of course, he couldn’t sleep. And he knew too well that none of the perfumed whores paraded before him tonight were going to remedy what ailed him.

Not now that he’d tasted her. He didn’t think he’d ever know a good night’s rest again. And yet his own reaction baffled him. He knew he was stronger than her fairy allure. Was certain of it. Why, then, did he feel this need to have her in his arms again? Why couldn’t he stop thinking about that kiss?

A tap at his chamber door stirred him, and he sat up in the bed, pulling on a purple satin robe and belting it tight as he slid to his feet.

As a precaution, he drew the small dagger from beneath his pillow, and stood to one side of the door. As ruler of Rush, he must be careful, for there were others besides Bridin who would take his throne if they could.

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