EPILOGUE
TWENTY YEARS LATER
I n the far north of Sky Mountains, pytherions flocked atop cliffsides and soared over the Moss Sea.
Upon a hillside overlooking a small valley of wildflowers, we watched them and the setting sun. The latter melted into the edge of the ocean and gilded Surella’s dark green scales.
From where she’d perched at the opposite side of the valley, she eyed the beast I leaned against, always curious and close whenever we visited.
Atakan’s tail curled before me on the grass. The spiked tip shifted, squashing the wildflowers our daughter insisted on feeding him every time we brought her with us.
He’d wake bemoaning the state of his stomach tomorrow, yet he ate every one without complaint.
Lumina giggled and clapped her tiny hands, then trudged over the grass to collect more.
Her father didn’t take his bronze eyes from her, although the beasts in these mountains would never dare harm either of us, and I petted his scales.
He huffed, the steam from his nostrils dissipating before Lumina returned. The wind spun her creamy blond hair around her face, buying her father some time as she lost her flowers while trying to free herself from the tangled curls.
Smiling, I gave my attention back to my book—another recommendation from Daylia.
When the first had arrived six months after the treaty was signed, with notes tucked into her favorite chapters, I’d known what it was.
I’d accepted the olive branch by reading and returning the book with my own notes. Ever since, when we read something we loved, we shared it.
Atakan munched on more wildflowers, making a show of it to make Lumina laugh from her stomach and swipe at her eyes. She touched his snout, saying, “Good beasty,” then hurried to fetch him more.
The grass swayed as the ocean breeze gathered force, revealing something dark within the valley’s bright reds, golds, and greens.
A shadow.
Not a threat. Rather, a greeting of sorts.
I smiled warmly at the dark tendril and lifted my book slightly from my knees. The shadow wobbled, appearing to grow with the information it absorbed. Then it vanished, presumably to pass on my greeting and well-being to its king.
It wasn’t the first time I’d glimpsed one, and I hoped it wouldn’t be the last.
I hadn’t seen Vane since the end of the war between our realms, but I assumed he was well. I trusted Daylia would let it be known in her notes otherwise, though it was none of my business. While that might have been true, I sometimes wondered if he was happy. For I was, and despite all he’d done, I wanted that for him.
The wards surrounding the Unseelie kingdom remained.
Many were sure they would never be removed. But over the years, witches and magic wielders had found ways to widen the gaps. This gave hope that there would come a day when the wards did not exist.
The pytherions continued to breed.
A handful of hatchlings arrived in the wake of each spring. The pytherions could roam wherever they wished, but Atakan said they would never roam far from where he dwelled.
He was their alpha.
Everything he’d done had been to free himself from his deadly secret—until that secret could become his greatest weapon.
A guardian against war between the realms. An Unseelie and Seelie king who could not be challenged. Instead, he was as feared as he was revered.
A monster, most certainly.
Atakan ruled with the ruthlessness and cold apathy that made him untouchable regardless of the form he took. He included me in any issues this kingdom faced that might satiate my hungry survival instincts, and I sparred with him to satiate his bloodlust during dull lulls in politics.
Atakan was more than my mate—he was the edge I sharpened my armor upon and the safety I surrendered my softness to.
I’d survived him because he’d allowed it.
But I truly lived because I’d allowed him to prove he wasn’t heartless.
We’d been blessed with a daughter who’d slept through the night since she’d arrived screaming into this world four years ago—but only if she slept in our rooms.
As soon as Lumina learned how to walk, she crept into our bed, forcing us to get more creative with how we found time alone.
Though Pholly, Elion, and I had spent weeks decorating Lumina’s rooms on the third floor, Atakan hadn’t the heart to make her use them. Often, I’d lay awake after reading late into the night, Meadow snoring upon the cushions at the foot of the bed, watching them sleep. Lumina’s little body always ended up sprawled over Atakan’s, her long curls smothering his mouth.
While awake, Lumina was just as cunning and cutthroat as her father, and while asleep, just as secretly and intensely adoring too.
Atakan found me mere minutes after I’d hidden from him.
He ensured the throne room doors latched behind him. “Again,” he said.
So perhaps it wasn’t all that creative. But it was my favorite.
With a sly smile, I uncrossed my legs slowly, lifting them as I did. I tapped my nails on the arms of the throne and said, “Would you rather I play a prisoner in the dungeon again?”
It had become a second favorite of mine since we’d put a torture table down there. Although we seldom had real prisoners, Atakan had warned that it was not to be used by anyone but him.
I was certain the entire castle knew what that table was used for, and I liked being used on it so much that I didn’t care.
Atakan removed his shirt. Each step was intentionally unhurried as he tossed the creamy froth onto the floor and dragged his thumb across his lower lip. Though I wasn’t seated on the throne he’d had made for me two decades ago, but on his, he still said, “I like you right where you are.”
I arched a brow. “I’m not sure I believe you.”
He tried to turn the tables. “Would you like me to show you just how much I like it?”
“I think I would,” I whispered while bunching my nightgown.
He unfastened his black pants, and my eyes rose from the smattering of golden hair leading inside them. They took their time roaming his defined abdominals and broad chest.
As he climbed onto the dais, I met his hooding gaze and smiled. Before he could make his next move, I stopped tapping my nails, spread my legs, and said, “Kneel.”
Atakan stilled.
His hands fell lax at his sides. His eyes gleamed wholly green, every inch of him defying the challenge.
But he wouldn’t.
“It would be my pleasure.” He dropped to his knees before his throne, slid his hands over my inner thighs toward my sex, and looked up at me with sinister intent.
I ran my fingers through his hair, the combed-back strands falling into a hypnotic mess. “Something as pretty as you is bound to lie.”
“Then by all means”—he gripped my thighs—“allow me to tell you the truth.”
I laughed as he tugged me forward to the edge of the throne. But it turned into a moan when his tongue met my core.
He stopped. “Need I remind you how much this room echoes?”
Though I desperately wanted him to resume, I taunted, “I think you should.”
He bit the inside of my thigh.
I squeaked and laughed, the sounds indeed bouncing off the tapestry-bedecked walls. “Fine,” I panted. “I’ll behave.”
His fingers crawled over my stomach, gathering my nightgown over my breasts. When they reached my mouth, he ordered, “Suck.”
I did, and he groaned, eyes stuck to my lips as they wrapped around the two digits. His nostrils flared. Still staring, he rasped, “If you keep them there like a good little queen, maybe I’ll put them inside you.”
I flicked his fingers with my tongue, smiling around them.
He gave me a crooked grin, then pulled my body up to his mouth until I relied on him to keep from sliding off the wooden chair. One leg draped over his shoulder while he held the other wide. He feasted languidly at first, like always, savoring every morsel of the excitement exuded from his exquisite torture.
As my breaths grew noisy, his fingers pressed against my tongue and bottom teeth. Rapture crested, and I bit down on them, rocking into his mouth.
Atakan groaned and withdrew his fingers from my mouth.
Then he plunged them into my body. His mouth latched onto my clit, tongue flicking.
I dissolved so thoroughly and moaned so loud that he pulled his fingers from my body and caught me in his lap. His mouth captured mine. He smothered my next moan by covering my lips entirely with his, and reached between us to free himself from his pants. He tore away to say, “Sit.”
I clenched around him as I did. He let out a ragged sigh before he stole my mewl with his tongue. It swept into my mouth, forcing me to taste myself, and then he seized my legs.
He rose and held me tight until he was seated upon his throne.
Then his hand glided up my back, collecting my silk nightgown over my head. He tossed it to the floor. My knees pressed into the cushioned seat as I shifted over him.
Slouched on his throne, he drew lazy circles around my nipples. Although my breasts had changed since having Lumina, he’d only grown more obsessed with them. After lifting the heavy globes and squeezing, he dropped them and looked up, waiting.
Knowing what he wanted, I tipped his chin to put my lips on his.
His eyes stayed closed, but he twitched inside me when I laid my forehead against his. He inhaled deeply, and a rumble climbed his throat as he exhaled. His hands rubbed my back. One tangled in my hair at my nape, and the other grasped my hip.
Then he straightened.
He tilted my head back by my hair and sank his teeth into the curve of my neck—at the same time, his other hand hooked over my shoulder and pulled my body down.
My back arched.
He licked my throat as I struggled to draw breath, laughing low. “For making me kneel.”
I squirmed. He bit me again. This time, on my collarbone. As he loosened his hold, I pushed my hands against his chest and grinned at him. “You could have denied me.”
He scowled as if I’d struck him.
Still smiling, I traced his bladed jaw until it relaxed. Then I kissed the tip of his nose. “Don’t pout.”
“Don’t say asinine things.”
I laughed and watched his annoyance fade even more.
He collected my hair behind my shoulders. “For you, I would stay on my knees until they bled your name.”
Breath feathered past my lips. I laid them over his and whispered, “I’ve tamed you so well.”
His laughter was deep and rasped as he gripped my nape. “My dreadful, daring, devastating creature…” He kissed me so softly, the truth he unleashed was irrefutable as I melted atop him. “I’ve tamed you.”