One

If I could make it through just one day without my parents trying to set me up with another magical prince, I’d be pretty damn happy.

I’d begun to think today was going to be one of those rare, peaceful days where the topic doesn’t come up. But as I settle into my chair in the dining hall to join my parents for dinner, I catch them exchanging a glance, and I notice that look in their eyes. Hoping to delay the inevitable, I duck my head and focus on piling mashed potatoes onto my plate from one of the serving trays.

We used to have servants who’d bring us plated food, but the kingdom’s dwindling income forced us to cut down on staff last year. Now the kitchen brings everything out in the dishes they were cooked in, and we serve ourselves. I don’t mind. I’m fully capable of doing it myself. In my eyes, the only benefit to having servants for every little thing is that it provide jobs for people—assuming my parents paid them well. I am fairly certain they did.

But rather than letting me learn about the kingdom’s finances, they’ve expected me to focus entirely on finding a husband.

Mom clears her throat. I ignore the sound. I don’t see the point in forcing myself into a marriage alliance. Monarchies are archaic, our realm’s magic is dying anyway, and I never asked to be a princess. But none of that changes the fact that I am heir to the Silverwood throne. And none of it changes the fact that my parents are convinced the perfect alliance could allow our family to strengthen our magic and regain some of our former glory.

Our realm is a pocket dimension of sorts, with a few magical portals connecting us to the outside world. For centuries, the magic in Silverwood allowed us to grow an excess of perfect crops and harvest other resources that we could take there and sell. But those resources have been dwindling, and we’ve yet to find a solution.

We’re magicians, essentially. And our family magic is fading.

“Hazel.”

The sound of my name makes me glance up from my plate of food. “Yes?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow at my mother.

She glances at my father and clears her throat. Again. “We’d like you to come out to dinner with us tomorrow night. Maybe that restaurant with the chicken masala you really like?”

I tense. “You and who else?”

Mom sighs. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, she says, “We’d like you to meet a werewolf. He’s the son of the leader of a prominent east coast pack…”

There it is. Days since I was last set up on a date with some random magical heir: zero. I stare at my parents through narrowing eyes.

My mother, Queen Mara, shares my honey blonde hair, though she keeps hers pinned up while I usually let my waves fall down my back. She’s been the one running the kingdom’s farms and mines for years with a fiery determination. So, yes, my parents are aware that a woman can play a more active role in the kingdom than wife. I guess the drastic decline in magic has clouded their judgement a bit. They’d probably be just as focused on finding me a partner if I were a son, but the thought’s a small comfort.

King Alder, meanwhile, is a dark-haired man with hazel eyes that mirror mine. Dad’s been doing his best to reassure the people living in the Silverwood realm that things will get better. We’ve disagreed over that—I think redirecting our remaining power into providing them new opportunities outside the realm would be a better use of our time. He’s calm in arguments and accepts my points, but he’s yet to agree to make any changes to his strategy.

My mind goes back to the aforementioned werewolf dinner date. I sigh. “I’m busy tomorrow night.”

Dad’s brow furrows. “Busy with what?”

“A session with Professor Darken,” I lie. I don’t need to worry about my parents verifying with him. He’ll back me up. “He’s going to test me on some history.”

“I’m sure he’d be happy to reschedule,” Mom says.

“Well, I wouldn’t.” I rise to my feet. “I’m serious. You cannot put the burden of saving the kingdom on me. Believe me, I want nothing more than to see Silverwood restored to its former glory. But I don’t think me marrying someone with magic is the easy solution you’re imagining.”

“The right partner could provide us with an infusion of magic—” Mom begins.

I shake my head. “It might work. It might not. We all know that. So, until we can confirm the cause of the fading magic and prove a magical alliance is a viable solution, stop wasting my time with random men!”

“And what would you suggest we do instead?” Dad asks. “The magicians researching the shift in the realm’s magic haven’t come up with anything else that’s likely to work.”

“Would you please just let me go start a life in the outside world!” I blurt. I immediately grimace, especially seeing my parents’ stunned expressions. I know it sounds like giving up and running away, maybe even like I want to abandon them.

That’s not it at all, though. I could still come to Silverwood and even help try to fix the magic. But spending all my time here, devoting so much energy to saving something that might not survive the coming years, feels like a waste of my life.

I’m twenty-five. If I weren’t wasting my time in a dying realm, I could have graduated from college and started a career by now.

“We have no other heirs,” Dad reminds me quietly.

My fists clench at my sides. “Plenty of your advisors are more than qualified to run Silverwood, should it continue to survive. And as I said, I’m more than happy to help in ways involving knowledge or research or using my magic. I’ll come take the throne if we do fix things! But my entire life is not up for grabs.”

A knock at the open doorway prevents either of my parents from responding to my outburst.

“My apologies for interrupting dinner, your highnesses,” comes the slow drawl of Professor Leon Darken. Renowned sorcerer, respected by many magical realms like ours, absolute DILF…

…and one of the tutors my parents hired to work with me. After completing my basic education, they thought it would be worthwhile to have some professionals introduce me to more varied types of advanced magic.

I sink back into my chair before I can stop myself, feeling my entire body flush with heat. Magicians and sorcerers aren’t exactly the same, but we do share a few skills. Leon has been teaching me about spellcasting and magical history on and off for the past couple of years, though he’s been employed by my parents a little longer than that.

My eyes settle on him as he strolls toward the table at my father’s nod. He’s tall, with sharp features, golden-brown eyes, and black hair that’s begun to silver in recent years. “My assistants just brought back new reports on the magic levels around the realm’s boundary,” he says. “Nothing remarkable, but if you’d like to read them, I’ll have them dropped off in your office.”

Dad nods. “Thank you. Would you have time later to discuss the reports with us?”

“I could once you’re finished with your meal.”

“Come to our office in half an hour, then,” Dad replies with another nod of his head. It could’ve been perceived as a gesture dismissing the sorcerer, but Leon’s not finished. His attention turns to me.

“Hazel, do you still have time to meet with me later tonight? I’d like to review some of those papers you wrote last week.”

I dip my head, doing my best to appear respectful and not at all flustered. That slight smirk on Leon’s lips tells me he can see right through me. That’s fine by me, as long as my parents don’t notice. Leon’s a powerful sorcerer, but he has nothing by way of political power. Not outside Silverwood, anyway. They’d consider any time I spend with him outside of lessons a waste. And they’d probably have a few…other issues with the nature of our relationship as well.

Not that it matters. Neither of us have romantic interest in the other.

Just physical.

Leon leaves after I confirm our meeting, and I brace myself to be at the center of my parents’ attention again. To my surprise—and relief—they instead begin speculating about the boundary reports.

My heart slows once Leon’s gone, but there’s still a lingering heat thrumming under my skin.

An hour later, I’m zipping up a tight red dress in front of my bedroom mirror, with nothing underneath but lacy black lingerie. One of the magical abilities I’ve honed in recent years is minor shapeshifting powers. I alter my body to better fill out the dress—mainly adjusting my hips and chest. Fine, yes, I’m making things a bit bigger.

I throw on a long coat before hurrying to Leon’s office, but thankfully, I don’t run into anyone on the way there. When I arrive, I slide off the coat and knock on the door, then ease it open. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

We both like leaning into the dynamic, even though my status as princess technically means I have more power over him, if anything. Really, though, neither of us has much authority over the other in daily life.

I try not to think about that during our sessions together, though. It’s more fun this way.

Leon rises from the chair behind his desk, a small smirk on his lips. His eyes move up and down my body, clearly drinking it in. “Yes, come in. And lock the door behind you.”

I do as he asks, unable to help the shiver of pleasure running though my core. I take a moment to steady myself before crossing the office to his desk.

Leon spreads a few papers across the desk in front of him. I quickly recognize my own handiwork. As I study the notes he’s made in the margins, he circles around the desk to stand behind me.

The next thing I know, he’s leaning against me, his hands on the desk on either side of mine, and my heart is beating wildly. “Good job,” he murmurs in my ear.

I squeeze my legs together in a futile attempt to temper the pulsing heat between them. “Thank you, sir.” After a moment, I add, “Is it enough for me to complete my training?”

“You want to graduate?” One of Leon’s hands moves to my hip. As it slides up my side, he says, “I’m not quite sure you’ve earned that yet.”

The hand reaches my chest, and I moan a little as he begins to squeeze. He leans into me, and I can feel him hardening against my ass.

“Your parents have something planned. I believe they plan to tell you tomorrow morning.”

I freeze. “What?”

“I’m sorry, they didn’t share any details with me. I just overheard a bit of the conversation on my way to their office.” His lips move closer to my neck. “Just thought I would warn you. Whatever it is, it sounds like it involves multiple men.”

“I have a feeling that won’t be as fun as it sounds.”

He chuckles. His other hand slides up my thigh. His lips move to my ear. “Sounds like we’d better get you some fun while you have the chance, then.”

Instead of pushing things farther, Leon backs away from me. I bite down a groan of need, but I’m not sure how much longer I can temper my desire.

“So,” I say, my hands tightening around the edge of the desk in front of me. “We were discussing my education?”

Leon chuckles. “So eager to graduate.” He brings his mouth to my ear again, but his body is still painfully far from mine. “You want to be free of me, princess?”

I bite my lip and close my eyes. “Never, Professor Darken.”

“Good.” He moves in slowly. His hands find their way back to my hips, and he squeezes lightly. “You’ve been a good girl, but you still have a few lessons to learn.”

“Like what?” The words come out sounding breathless. I flush, a little embarrassed at how little touch it takes from him to drive me wild. Damn sorcerers.

His hands move down to the bottom of my skirt and linger there. “Like all the ways you can be useful.” Inch by inch, he starts to pull the skirt up.

I squirm, my face burning. “What are you trying to say, sir?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him wave a hand, and my dress unzips by itself. My hands fly up on instinct to stop the top part from dropping away from my chest.

“Professor Darken?” I stammer. A pulse of heat between my legs threatens to drop me to my knees, but I squeeze them together and keep myself upright.  “Sir, I—”

“You want to be a good student for me, don’t you?” Leon purrs. Both hands are back on my hips. Then, they’re sliding up to my chest. “How can I let you graduate if I don’t know how useful you can be?”

“Of course, sir.” I tip my head back, leaning into him, feeling my body flush everywhere. “How…how do you need me to be to be useful?”

Leon sucks in a sharp breath. Groans. “I want to use you for my pleasure.” His hands squeeze my tits through the dress fabric that I’m barely keeping up with a hand that’s now trembling.

I whimper, and manage a weak, “Yes, sir. If…if it’s really necessary for me to pass.”

“Of course it is.” He begins to grind against my ass with unbearable slowness. God, how can he bear to drag out my teasing when he’s that hard? “Good students are obedient. I need to know you’ll do whatever I tell you.” After a moment, he adds, “You will do whatever I tell you, won’t you, princess?”

I nod eagerly. Leon lets out a low groan of desire, and I can’t restrain myself anymore.

“Please,” I gasp. “I need to be filled.”

“Now, princess, patience is a virtue.” More squeezing. More grinding. “Do I need to make you wait even longer?”

I bite my lip and shake my head. “I can be patient,” I manage to squeak out. Still, I squirm, painfully aware of just how wet I am. My arousal is starting to trickle down my thighs. I glance back over my shoulder in time to glimpse his eyes lighting up with a soft silver glow. Fuck. Why do I always find the glowy eye thing so hot?

Leon flips me so that my back is against the desk and his hips are pressed to mine, forcing me to feel the pressure of his hard cock through his pants. The front of my dress falls away, and this time, I don’t even attempt to catch it.

“Good girl. Start by making these bigger.” He squeezes my tits again.

I groan. “My shapeshifting isn’t that good.”

“You can do it.” He pushes my legs apart so he can settle onto his knees between them, bringing his face between my thighs. He hooks his fingers in my underwear and pulls the lacey fabric down to my ankles.

Desperate, I coax out more of my magic. The flimsy bra squeezes tight against my chest, the latch threatening to snap as I push it to its limit. Leon watches my tits grow with a hungry expression.

I’m rewarded with his tongue on my clit, making gentle motions that send a shock of pleasure coursing through me. I moan loudly, momentarily grateful that Leon’s sorcery has allowed him to soundproof the room.

My legs tremble as he works me, borderline overstimulating me, but pulling back just often enough to make me beg.

“Please,” I whimper when he moves back for longer than his usual few seconds. “Please, professor, I want to come.”

He ignores my plea, instead shrugging off his suit jacket. I watch, mesmerized, as he unbuttons his shirt. Then, he’s unzipping his pants, and I’m finally treated to a view of his full length, hard and already leaking precum.

I only have a moment to admire his body before his head is between my thighs again. I yelp, then fall back into a stream of moans and whimpers as his tongue quickly sends me toward the edge.

“Oh, God—” My back arches involuntarily as waves of pleasure abruptly crash into me. I scream Leon’s name, scream that I’m coming, but he doesn’t let up. My orgasm intensifies. By the time the overwhelming pleasure finally begins to subside, I’m a shaking, whimpering mess.

Leon lifts me up onto the desk. I collapse against it, still breathing hard, as he climbs up and straddles me. He pulls my legs apart with ferocity and pushes his cock into me.

While my head still swims in the pleasure of my orgasm, he fucks me.

“Take it,” he growls as he begins pumping, slow at first. “Take my cock princess.” Another thrust. “Every fucking inch.”

“Yes,” I gasp. “Yes, sir—”

His pace quickens, and the force of him thrusting into me stops anything else I might have tried to say. All I can do is take it as he fucks me, focused entirely on his own pleasure now.

“You’re so fucking hot, princess,” he groans. “Do you know how much I think about fucking you at this desk? How many times I’ve pleasured myself right here, imagining myself exploding all over you?”

My moans mix with his, my own arousal resurfacing at the words.

“Do you have any idea how hot it is to cum to pictures of the kingdom’s young princess?” he adds with a feral rasp to his voice that makes me throb. “Your fucking curves are irresistible. How can you expect me not to be tempted by you?”

Oh, God, I’m going to come again. My hips lift in time with his thrust, bringing him in deeper than I thought possible. With another groan of pleasure, I’m overcome by another orgasm.

“Fuck, fuck.” Leon’s voice intensifies with his own impending release. “Fuck, I’m gonna cum!”

With one more powerful thrust, the sorcerer explodes inside of me.