Junia's POV
I bite into the fruit Ashmaris had plucked from a tree growing on the mountain where we are now sitting.
I hesitated before chewing the fruit in my mouth, and its sweetness exploded in my mouth. "This is delicious," I hummed.
"Why is the tree growing on a mountain?" I asked, taking another bite from the fruit. I turned to Ashmaris, whose eyes were already on me.
It was night already. The moonlight shone on us. I averted my gaze.
My cheeks burned.
There was this look in his eyes that I had seen many times but couldn't decipher.
"It only grew on mountains, nowhere else. Ancient dragons tried other places, but it wouldn't grow."
"Is that why it is called the mountain fruit?" I questioned, but he wasn't able to answer before I asked another. "And how do you plant one?"
"Yes, and it can only be planted when there is a crack on a mountain," he replied to me. I nodded and kept chewing on the fruit.
Ashmaris snatched the fruit from me. I frowned and tried to take my half-eaten fruit from him.
He kept it out of my reach. "Give it back," I told him. I leaned on him unconsciously, trying to take the fruit from him.
"I just want to help you take out the seed," he said.
"Oh."
Then I realized that I was leaning on him, my bust against his arm, and jumped back.
"You could have just said so," I murmured.
It was awkward for me. I had never been in this state with another man except Solric.
My heart dropped. He is dead, and I am here enjoying another man's attention.
"Here," Ashmaris said, passing the fruit back to me. I took it from him.
I didn't speak a word. Thankfully, Ashmaris didn't say anything. He was already aware of my sudden change of mood.
"I am sorry—" he started but stopped halfway. His eyes shut closed, and he heaved a breath. "I apologize about Solric."
He didn't sound apologetic. It was like he was forced to say the apology.
"You are not sorry," I said softly. Our eyes met. He was closer than I thought. "You are just apologizing to get on my good side."
"Yes," he replied truthfully. "I will kill a thousand men before they could take you away from me."
"He was good to me," I whispered.
"No, he was using you." He leaned closer.
Our faces was now near.
My lips parted when his hot breath fanned my face.
"You don't know him."
"Yes I don't, but I have enough reasons to kill him."
My eyes fell on his lips. I have only kissed one person on the lips my entire life—Solric. We had only kissed once, and briefly.
What does Ashmaris' lips taste like?
Without thinking, I brushed my lips against his.
It was soft.
I tried to pull away. Ashmaris held me against himself and crashed his lips against mine. The kiss was fast and hard, not soft and innocent like the one I had shared with Solric.
His hand found my chin to keep me in place. My mouth opened slightly, and his tongue dived into my mouth.
He pulled away, and I was out of breath. My breathing was ragged. I didn't even know people kissed like this.
Before I could process what happened, Ashmaris pulled me to him again, lifting me up and making me straddle him.
I felt a warm hand underneath the skirt of my dress, caressing my thigh.
Ashmaris' hand gripped my waist before coming up to my hair and pushing it back, revealing my neck.
My body started to feel warmth—strange warmth—and I couldn't think of anything.
His lips met mine again, but this time it was slow.
One of his hands was around my neck, one stabilizing my hips.
Then I felt something poke me.
I stopped. "Is there something in your pocket?"
"No." He stared down at himself. "It's just my manhood."
My eyes widened, and I flushed.
I quickly got up from his lap, standing. I thought he was going to try to make me come back.
He just paused. "We need to get back to the palace." He stood up hastily.
"What happened? Is there something wrong?"
"Yes," he answered shortly before moving further from me to shapeshift. My stomach churned with excitement, and my cheeks burned when I thought of moments ago.
We arrived at the palace soon. There was a large number of people in front of the palace. Ashmaris told me to head to my chamber and that I shouldn't roam around.
I was annoyed by the way he dismissed me. When I got to my chamber, Lady Ishkara was waiting there.
"Lady Junia," she spoke. Her voice was calm.
"Lady Ishkara," I greeted her. Something flashed in her eyes as she stepped closer.
"I see you haven't made up your mind yet." She pressed her hands together. "You can't forget what he had done to your people, your father."
"I didn't forget about anything," I replied, "and don't act as if you didn't want to get rid of me because I am an obstacle to your goals."
She didn't look shocked that I knew what she was aiming at. She laughed; it was mocking. "So you think you can survive as a Queen in the Dragon Court." She sneered, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Yes," I answered firmly. What am I even saying? Do I even want to stay?
"You think the King wants you? If he did, why didn't he come to get you before your marriage?" She pushed. "You should know that there is a reason you are here, and it is because the shadowborn are rising again."
"What do you mean?"
"The shadowborn are rising. Ashmaris needs a seelie fairy to cast a protective shield against the armies of the shadowborn."
"You don't know what you are saying.
"
"What I am saying is that the only reason you are here is for casting a shield and sustaining one. If there's no need for a seelie, he won't come to get you—especially not because you are his mate."
No. No. No.
She is not saying the truth. I choose not to believe her.
"I don't believe you."
"I am not asking you to believe me. Just think and make your decision. You won't survive here, Princess." She said and brushed past me.