Realm of the Chosen

d feet. The barrier reached past her waist, so he was certain she was safe, but he moved toward

ing aloud, "I'll begin my Exploration. And I'm not sure... that is to say, it might be dif

e, he couldn't imagine being with her and not getting to keep her. He felt that he'd rather never know what it was like to lay with

d, shifting so that she w

e. That way, you can discover what you like, and what you don't like, without worry

moving a step closer to him. "Do y

ou, I'm certain that you will be just fine." She leaned into him, and he let her, holding her close against him, breathing her in, and tr

a whisper, reverberating against his chest.

always been just out of reach. The fact that it was different for men than women came to mind as well, but that's not what she wa

ter them, he'd need to act quickly if he wanted to keep his head. Everyone knew it was forbidden to have any sort of relations with the princess before her Exploration began. Yet, he took a deep breath and stared into her eyes. "You asked me earlier if I ha

?" she asked, her lips mere inches

pleasuring women just for the sake of gratification. "I've never had an Expl

loved any of the wom

her off guard, and she took a slight step backward. "

. He let her go, thinking they needed to return to the ball, but not wanting to interrupt her thoughts. "Thank

r and a privil

ough there were still a few feet between them. Her hands were clasped, and she interlaced he

at him, her lips full and lush, and he knew she wanted him to kiss her as badly as he wanted to, but any excuse for her mother to eliminate him once

you." She let out a nervous laugh, but it didn't escap

as Kit stepped around the edge of the tapestries, she was greeted with a flourish of

ber of the Queen's Guard stopped him. "The

ed, and the soldier headed off toward the room behind the dais where th

e walked through, unaccompanied by the guard

referred dark colors, and her flowing cape trailed across the floor a good ten feet behind her. He waited, l

Majesty. I

prepared to

nd, and I gave it to her. I assure you, there was no impro

stopped with her pointy chin just an inch from his face, and yet he still didn't fli

ould prevent anything from happening between the two of them, which meant, once she began her Choosing, a ceremony he would i

wn her nose at him, even though he was still inches taller than her

m away before the Proem. At least he might be there for Kit afterwar

king away from her. "Oh, and Eliason," she called him back.

of thinking she had won when in all actuality, he had resolved himself to this fate many years ago. It was inevitable that Katrinetta