Forbidden Craving: The Nymph King / The Beautiful Ashes

Shaye blew Mr. Dictator a kiss using her middle finger.

Valerian rubbed the back of his neck. “I cannot simply make you king. You know that. My men would never follow someone who hadn’t proved himself worthy.”

“That’s true,” Joachim agreed. “Which is why I’m willing to prove myself worthy.”

Valerian hands flexed, as if he imagined holding a sword. “And just how do you plan to do that?”

“Yeah,” Shaye said. “How do you?”

“Yesterday you were willing to fight me.” Joachim lifted his chin. “Are you still?”

A nod without hesitation. “Yes.”

“Are you willing to relinquish your crown when I best you, thereby proving myself worthy?”

A predatory stillness came over Valerian. He muttered, “I knew it.”

She’d never seen him fight. She’d never seen either of them fight. Joachim possessed the same confidence as Valerian, and yet he also struck her as bloodthirsty.

Could Valerian win?

And what if he were injured?

The thought...displeased her. Because she needed him to remain in charge so that he could escort her home. Not for any other reason. Really.

“What about a game of chess?” she suggested. “Hey. Not that it matters, but are either of you good at chess?”

Valerian’s eyes narrowed on her—and churned with more fury.

“What did I do?” As many insults as she’d tossed at him, he’d only ever smiled at her. But a mention of chess pushed him over the edge?

“You doubt my skill with a sword,” he barked. Then he looked away from her, as if he couldn’t stand her, and that was somehow far worse.

“Such a thing has never been done,” he said to Joachim, his tone careful, even guarded.

Joachim wrapped his fingers around his sword hilt. “Yet such a thing has often needed to be done.”

Well. Shaye had thought tensions were already high. Wrong! The room pulsed with danger.

If she didn’t do something, and quick, the two males would come to blows right here, right now. But what could she do?

Flash her breasts? No, thanks.

Dance a jig, hoping everyone would laugh at her? Bad idea. She had a feeling any dance would be considered a mating dance. No, thanks.

Food fight?

Not great, but not terrible, either. A girl had to make do.

Shaye scooped a handful of the coconut-cream pudding and tossed it at Joachim. Success! The pudding splattered over his cheeks.

As he blinked in surprise—and before she could talk herself out of it—she launched a handful at Valerian.

His gaze returned to her, hot so very hot. And so much better than the fury.

No, no. So much worse!

He gathered as much cream as he could on his finger and licked it away. Her insides quivered.

The reactions this man roused in her...

A grinning Broderick and Dorian leaned toward her...hoping to get nailed, as well?

She might never understand these nymphos. But. Mission accomplished, tensions reduced.

“Why did you do that?” As Joachim straightened, his armor clinked ominously. “Never mind. The answer doesn’t matter. What say you, Valerian? Shall we fight, the winner awarded the woman and crowned king with all the rights the title entails?”

She had to swallow a shout of denial.

At first, Valerian offered him no response. He took her hand and brought her fingers to his mouth. Out came his tongue, licking the pudding on her skin.

Oh, my stars, what have I done?

Delicious heat flowed from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, melting her bones.

Earlier she’d thought she could handle a month with this man. Obviously she couldn’t handle five minutes!

“He declines,” she said with a tremor in her voice. “The woman will choose her own man.”

Valerian leaned into her. “If you think I would risk losing you, you don’t know me at all.”

Was he serious? “Um, like I’ve tried to tell you a thousand times, I don’t know you. We literally just met.”

Frustration and disappointment flashed in his beautiful eyes, and she kind of wished she could take back her words. Even though they were true!

“Valerian?” Joachim prompted.

Without looking away from her, Valerian stood and said, “No.”

His cousin hissed with surprise.

“We’ll fight for the crown, only the crown, and not the girl,” Valerian finished. “She’s mine, no matter what.”

Shaye gaped at him. She meant more than his kingdom?

“Agreed,” Joachim replied.

Valerian splayed his arms, encompassing the room and everyone inside. “What is your weapon of choice?”