Viola was right; she deserved better. Too bad for her, she wouldn’t get it. She was stuck with Brochan, as he would not be letting her go. Ever. He didn’t think he loved this female; he knew it. He loved her with the whole of his being.
Love, the healer of all wounds.
But what happened if he failed her test?
His body jerked in denial. He couldn’t let himself fail. But he couldn’t pass, either. What was he going to do?
Sensing his tension, she stirred against him. "Brochan?”
“I’m here, kitten.” He kissed her temple, luxuriating as she rubbed against him.
“Good.” She blinked open her eyes, all sleepy and soft, and offered him a tender expression. “How much did I rock your world?”
“Impossible to measure,” he admitted, and she beamed.
“You’ve hung around me so long, you’ve gotten smarter!” Dimming a bit, she nibbled on her bottom lip. “So? Do you want to know how much you rocked my world?”
“I already know.” His chest swelled with pride. “I clued in when you screamed my name instead of your own.”
“That was a surprise, wasn’t it?” She linked her fingers and rested her chin in the center, directly over his heart. “I mean, I’m the goddess, but you’re the one over here working miracles.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. He adored this soft, playful side of her. He also adored her full assurance of her power over him. Her confidence fed his.
“What would you like to do today?” he asked.
“Are you taking a day off?”
“I am. We can explore the realm or even remain in bed if we so desire. For the record, I vote we remain in bed.”
“Sorry, darling, but this boss babe has a full schedule. Top on the agenda is apologizing to McCadden whether he likes it or not. I’ll need your help because I’ve never actually apologized for anything before and meant it. Also, I’d like to plan my renovation of the palace. We’ll take an orgasm break every hour, of course, but this needs to be done if we’re going to be ready for our engagement party next week. I mean it. No distracting me more than a few dozen times today. I can’t wait to show you off to my acquaintances.”
He went still. Everything she’d said hit him with the veracity of a speeding car, all but wiping his brain of all thought. “Every hour? Engaged? Show me off? Me?” The most amazing emotion choked him. She wanted to be with him. Out of every male in every realm, she’d chosen him.
“We are wed, just to be clear,” he managed to say.
“Darling, if I married every man who considered himself my husband, I’d be arrested in countless realms. Consider yourself engaged until you pass my test. Besides,” she rushed on as he opened his mouth to protest, “we haven’t jumped the most essential hurdle. Fluffy must accept you as his father.”
She’d called him darling. He very much approved of the endearment. “We saved your life together.” Without Fluffy, Viola would have died. “He accepts me.” And if he didn’t, Brochan would work until his claim came true. He owed the baby everything.
Viola rolled her eyes as she oh, so clearly fought a contented smile. “You are so in love with me, it’s embarrassing.”
Terrifying? World-changing? Yes. Embarrassing? No.
How soon would she insist on issuing her test?
His good humor drained. “Forget lazing about in bed. Let’s dress and do something.” A distraction would do him some good. Give him time to think and plan. How could he win and lose at the same time?
She gave a mock mournful sigh. “All right, but I think we both know you’re only making me do this so you can watch me prance about naked.”
Raising his brows, he asked, “Can you blame me?” He would never tire of gazing upon the perfection of all perfections.
“Not in the slightest.” Unable to hide a dream-hazed grin, she pressed a hasty kiss to his lips then scrambled from the bed. “You are so lucky you won me.”
He gulped. Had he? Won her? That test…
Brochan gripped the sheets and scowled. He couldn’t eject the stupid decision from his mind. His entire destiny rested on the results. Pass or fail, fail or pass? If he lost one, he lost everything.
Using his wing joints to push from the bed, he glided directly in front of her, wrapped an arm around her waist and laced a hand through her hair. “Agree you are my wife, kitten.” The words were rushed, his urgency unhidden. “There will be no male more devoted than I.”
“Believe me, I know,” she said, melting into him. “And you know what you must do to make your wildest dreams come true and get all this”—she waved a hand to indicate the length of her body—“forever.”
Not yet, not yet. Not ready. Sweat beaded over his nape. He wanted her agreement to a union more than anything, and he wanted it now. Needed to bind her to his side in every way imaginable. They were a family now, yes? A rock-solid unit that stayed together, no matter what. Even if a certain someone failed a certain test.
He tightened his hold. “Come. Show me what improvements you’d like me to make on the palace. Your every request is my fervent command.”
This pleased her, he could tell. She softened against him, reaching around him to glide her hands over his backside.
Mine! He would win her. He would. In the meantime, he prayed Farrow returned with a Forsaken. Brochan’s every priority revolved around keeping Viola safe. He could not rest until he laid her enemies at her feet.
Just get through the day. Whatever you do, avoid the test.
“Who are you,” she asked, canting her head and nipping his earlobe, “and how long can you stay in Brochan’s body?”
Dead serious, he told her, “I am a new man, and I’m never going away.”
* * * *
“A portrait of me smiling will hang over there.” Viola pointed. She and Brochan strolled hand in hand through the foyer. Fluffy trailed behind. “A portrait of me frowning will go there. And there, I’ll be scowling. Over the fireplace will be a sketch of us. In it, you’ll be smiling, frowning and scowling at the same time. And yes, it’s possible. It’s all in the eyes.”
Brochan muttered a response, clearly not listening to her genius. He was too busy vibrating with aggression and nerves. Well, his distraction was Viola’s gain. She ate him up with her gaze, not even trying to hide her leer. He wore his standard apparel: a white T-shirt and black leathers. He looked amazing, blue skin bulging with muscles. His dark hair remained askew, and his horns stood straight. Molten silver eyes whirled with joy, fury, satisfaction and terror.
What bothered him? Why wouldn’t he tell her?
Sighing, she led him into a sitting room with dirty sofas and overturned tables. Open balcony doors welcomed sunlight and fresh air scented with roses, the garden right outside. Yes, the oasis and gardens had sprung up anew.
“I don’t know if you’ve met me,” she announced, her tone stern, “but ignoring me isn’t the way to win me.”
“I have a proposition for you,” he burst out, as if he’d held on to the words too long. He massaged the back of his neck, growing sheepish. “What if I can keep Fluffy eternally charged without the need for other life? Would you wed me then?”