Chapter Thirty-One #3
I stared at all the skin exposed, thinking twice about taking her out of the protection of the arch. She still wore her robe, which wouldn’t turn heads in Korvashan, but for a Human on the surface, would certainly draw attention.
Elaina's amusement brushed against my worry.
“If the winds are calm, I’ll be fine. I’ll tell you if it becomes too much.”
I leaned down and pressed a kiss to the marks and felt her shiver. The surge of lust through the bond was matched by mine when her fingers tightened over the matching new bite on my neck.
My tail lashed, kethra glowing blue before I pulled them under control again.
“Careful, rethari.”
My growl was low and quiet, meant just for her.
“Why?”
My lips pulled back and I let her feel the full degree of my desire for her.
“We need a spectacle, and I have no problem giving my people another show.”
She bit her lip then smiled sweetly, but there was nothing sweet about what came through the bond. Groaning, I palmed myself through my pants and pulled away from her before I rutted her right there where no one but those passing by would see.
“You are trouble, rethari.”
She laughed as I took her hand and pulled her out into Vorrashan’s light.
The final day of Khavren had drawn even more people into the festivities, and the surface seemed to pulse with life.
Music drifted in the air, merchants called to the passing crowds, and flames danced from elevated braziers, fed by attendants who moved constantly between them.
We took our time, paying just as much attention to each other as we did the booths and performances. She'd seen it before, but not like this. Not with everyone celebrating with the abandon of people reluctant to let the fun end.
And not without blending into the crowd.
Now she walked the surface with her differences on display, the violet branches of her kethra showing she was my mate even if they somehow missed the marks on her neck.
It filled me with more satisfaction than it should have, and I strutted like the proud alpha I was.
We wanted to be seen, so we made certain we were. Elaina stopped at various booths, speaking what Morraki she'd learned while I corrected her pronunciation until she threatened to stop speaking altogether.
I bought her more books and scrolls. Dresses and jewelry. Blankets and pillows. I paid a young beta to carry everything home for us, so I didn’t have to tote it around and risk losing it again.
And no matter what was going on, I paid attention to those around us. To the way people moved.
I purchased another necklace she’d taken notice of only for her to turn around and protest. Sliding an arm around her waist, I pulled her against me and pressed my mouth to her neck.
“Drazien!”
I ran my tongue up to her ear, nibbling on the shell as she pretended to struggle against me, but I could scent her slick.
“We are supposed to look newly bonded.”
She let out a soft growl that held no threat to it.
“We are newly bonded, but you don’t have to buy everything I look at!”
Rocking my hips forward, I pressed my shaft into her belly as I nipped her jaw, pulling a hiss from her before I soothed it with my tongue.
“Then stop pretending all this stuff is more interesting than me.”
She gasped, mouth opening to protest again, but I stopped it by covering her lips with mine. My tongue was twisting with hers in a heartbeat, silencing her even though her amusement still beat inside my chest.
“I can’t believe you’re jealous of books and fabrics,” she said when I finally released her mouth.
Frowning, I moved my tail beneath the edge of her robe, running the tip up the inside of her thigh.
“I’m not.”
The bond betrayed me and Elaina burst out laughing before gasping once more as I pushed my tail higher, into the tight space between the top of her thighs. I pushed until the tip rested at her entrance. Her eyes widened and warning flashed through the bond
I growled, low and deep, drawing the attention of several Morraki around us. Taking hold of her chin, I let my lips tip into a smirk.
“We need a spectacle, remember?”
Her glare promised murder but desire curled beneath it, and it was only a moment before she pushed back against it, taking the tip within her.
I took advantage of her gasp once more, thrusting my tongue into her mouth the way I thrust my tail into her core. She whimpered and squirmed against me, driving me crazy with the urge to rut her right there, but I couldn’t let myself be that distracted.
Kissing was becoming more common, but it was still a Human behavior, and strange enough that more than one passing Morraki slowed to watch.
Elaina's surprise melted into need despite the audience, and I increased the speed of my thrusting until I felt her clench and shudder, her release sweeping into me through the bond and threatening to make my knot swell in my pants.
“There,” I purred to her as she panted.
Her eyes were narrowed but there was more pleasure than irritation coming from her.
“I don’t think anyone passed without noticing you.”
She sighed and shook her head.
“You are ridiculous.”
Shrugging, I didn’t pull my tail from her as I tucked her into my side and started urging her forward.
“You like it.”
And fortunately for me, she couldn’t deny it. The warmth through the bond told me so, although she still protested trying to walk with my tail inside her.
“I can always carry you?”
Her snarl made me laugh and withdraw, lifting the tip between us to lick her slick from it. She made a face as if she thought it was gross, but the bond didn’t lie.
We continued through Khavren, playing games, eating, and watching the different displays. Elaina dragged me toward every show that caught her attention, and all the while, I watched.
Faces, movements, voices… Anyone who appeared too often or lingered too long.
I saw nothing.
That worried me more than if I'd spotted one of them.
The rebels had attacked once, they knew Elaina was alive, and now they could see that her heat was over and she was bonded.
If their goal was to prevent Humans from diluting the bloodlines and changing our traditions, we were proof they were still failing.
They would act, the only question was when.
Elaina leaned into my side, and I looked down, realizing she’d grown quieter, our steps slower.
“Tired?”
She hesitated as if she didn’t want to admit it before nodding.
“A little.”
“Then we go home.”
She didn't argue. That concerned me enough to turn us toward the nearest stairwell instead of heading back to the main archway.
I kept our pace slow and steady. Neither of us spoke, but there was no need. The connection between us carried a quiet contentment I was beginning to crave.
Elaina's hand remained in mine, my tail looped around her waist, until we reached our door. I let her enter first and she stopped just inside, and for one terrible moment, I wondered if something was wrong.
But she was looking at the pile of items I had purchased at the festival, her lips parted, a furrow between her brows.
“What are we going to do with all this?”
She blinked up at me and all I could do was smile and pull her against my chest. She came willingly, and I brushed loose curls back from her face.
The answer was simple.
“You will nest.”
Shoulders sagging, she huffed before looking at the pile again. She gave a decisive nod, but when she took my hand, she pulled me towards our room, bypassing all of it.
Outside, Khavren continued without us. The rebels were still waiting, but our trap was ready. In the morning we would return to the Archives and finish what I'd started when I brought Elaina to Morrakan.
But for the moment, it was time to hold my mate in the home that had somehow become ours, and for the first time since Rhydek gave me my mission, I understood exactly how much that mattered more.