Lorcan carried me back to the castle, and I did not protest despite feeling foolish. Because greater than my foolishness was the pain in my hand and the tired ache in my bones. In fact, I must have dozed off because between one blink and the next, we went from the stone bridge spanning the river to my bedroom door. Only after entering my bedroom did the king lower my feet to the ground.

"Today did not go exactly as I planned," he said, pushing a damp strand of hair behind my ear before dropping his hand to my chin and running his thumb along my bottom lip.

His touch sparked something in my gut, sending heat rising upward, seeking the point where his flesh connected with mine. Niamh said Fae could not compel humans with magic, which meant whatever I felt for this male before me must be true attraction, and I wondered if we had not been interrupted earlier if this lust would be satisfied or intensified. The curiosity mixed with want was almost enough to make me lean into him, but sheer exhaustion—mental and physical—held me back.

Stepping away from him, I wrapped my arms around my waist. "That makes two of us, then."

Disappointment darkened his eyes, but he masked it by walking over to the lit fireplace. A large porcelain tub sat in front of it. Crystal clear water filled it, and flower petals of all kinds floated on the surface. Ripples formed around Lorcan's fingers as he dipped them in, and moments later, steam rose in silver wisps.

"Tomorrow will be better. Tonight you should relax. Take time to... what is it you humans say? Process everything?"

"That's it," I said with a laugh, walking toward the tub. The laugh quickly turned to a wince as pain jolted along my spine with each step.

"What is it?"

"I'm fine," I lied, then gave myself away when my knees buckled.

Lorcan caught me before I hit the floor, and with his help, he set me on the edge of the tub. "Were you injured in the fall?"

"I—I don't know. I must have passed out on the way down because I don't remember Calix catching me. How did he catch me?"

"My brother's gifts are many." Did I imagine a grimace on those graceful lips when he said that? "He can become like the mist to move between places, and when he does, he can take a passenger. He likely flew to catch you and misted you down to the earth."

"Teleportation. Got it," I said weakly, imagining the darkly handsome Fae prince breaking apart into silver shadows in one place and reforming in another. "Maybe I got a bit of whiplash when he caught me?"

"Well, it's nothing a hot soak won't help. Many of the petals in your water come from flowers that have healing properties."

My fingers curled over the gash in my palm. Lorcan had said nothing about it, making me think he hadn't seen it, and I wasn't in the mood for a big production, which would include questions. Hopefully, the magic in the plants—because I was sure there was plenty of magic in them—would heal me enough to wait until morning. Then, I would ask Niamh to fix it.

"I would have thought flowers would be a Spring Court thing," I said when he didn't move to leave. I wasn't certain I could stand on my own and didn't want to fall again in front of him.

Lorcan tilted his head, making his golden hair fall to one side like a curtain of sunshine. "The Spring Court is our greatest alley. We share several affinities with them. The love of flowers included."

"I see." I swirled the petals in the water. Roses of all colors. Lavender. Marigold. Some dark purple flower I felt like I should recognize, though honestly, they probably all had different names here in Faerie.

"Come on. No more delaying," Lorcan said, rising in a fluid motion and extending his hands toward me.

"I can do it on my own."

"Luna." He settled his fists on his hips and arched a brow. "You almost fell just walking over here."

"I'm good now."

He squatted in front of me so he could look me in the eye and placed his hands on my thighs. "There's no need to be shy. I nearly had my mouth between these delectable legs earlier. You certainly weren't shy when you opened them for me, and the only reason I'm not joining you in that bath is because I can see you're exhausted. So, please let me help you."

"Do you promise not to look?" I asked, letting him help me up.

"I told you earlier that I do not lie, which means I cannot promise that. My eyes will look where they please, and when you're settled, I will return to my room and take myself in hand."

The bodice of my dress loosened and unraveled, revealing the effect his wicked words had on me. My nipples were hard, dusty pink peaks atop my full breasts, and Lorcan let his fingers brush against them as he continued to work his way down the dress.

"This may be my favorite thing about you," he whispered as he shimmied the skirt down my hips, his teeth skimming over the globes of my ass. "I cannot decide which thought excites me more. Driving myself into you from behind so I can fill my hands with your delicious ass or watching those breasts bounce while you're on your back."

"E-either sounds alright," I squeaked out.

Covering my breasts, I half threw myself into the tub to escape his wandering hands before I threw myself onto the bed and assumed one of those positions. But while the water hid my body from his perusal, it did nothing to calm the storm he'd triggered. If anything, the hot liquid lapping against my aroused parts and the heady, floral scent filling my nose only made me wish I'd ignored my good sense.

Good lord, who was I becoming?

Lorcan shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut, raising his face toward the ceiling. If we were anywhere else, I might think he was praying. When he looked down at me, there was a feral glimmer behind his tight smile.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I have just come to an unpleasant realization. It has been so long since I've been around a human that I've forgotten the effect my kind has on you. I can see the war going on inside of you, and the terrible, monstrous part of me wants to push you over that edge so that I can have you."

"But what does the good part say?"

His canines appeared, and the pointed tips of his ears poked through his hair. "Oh, darling girl. There is nothing good about me. I am Fae. So my decision to refrain is entirely out of selfishness. When I—what's that other human phrase? Fuck you?"

I hissed, one hand moving between my legs. Lorcan wouldn't be the only one taking care of himself tonight. "Yes. That's it."

"When I fuck you, Luna, it will be because you want me and only me. Not because your senses are muddled by Faerie and magic. Do you understand?"

"Yes." He was giving me the out I wanted, so why did I feel so disappointed?

"Good." He paused in the doorway, then looked over his shoulder. "Sleep well. Tomorrow the fun begins."