Epilogue Silver
I grabbed Ash by the hand the moment the front doors closed behind us, the roaring of the crowd outside cut off.
The ring on my finger was heavy with the expectations of the entire realm and my father.
Through the bond I could feel Ash experiencing that same pressure as it sunk in.
We weren’t just husbands now, we were the future of the Twilight Realm and it’s only hope.
“Young master,” Caldwell nodded as we stepped inside. “You have several hours until the banquet should you and master Vale wish to get some… rest.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “You are a godsend, Caldwell,” I replied, pulling Ash toward the stairs. “Please see that no one disturbs us until the banquet. Not even my father.”
“Especially not the king,” Ash added. Then he glanced up at me, lowering his voice. “The last thing I need is your father walking in on us naked.”
I laughed, squeezing his hand. “I’m glad you and I had the same thought.”
“A marriage has to be consummated, right?” Ash winked.
“More than once, I’m told,” I nodded. “Just to be safe.”
I pulled Ash up the grand staircase, our footsteps echoing off the marble.
My heart was still racing from the ceremony, from standing in front of thousands of my people and declaring my love for this man.
Through the bond, I could feel his own emotions churning—excitement, nervousness, desire, and underneath it all, a deep well of love that made my chest ache in the best possible way.
I led him down the familiar corridor, anticipation twisting in my belly. Ever since we’d agreed to my father’s terms, we’d been kept separate. It had been days since I’d gotten to touch my mate privately and I couldn’t wait any longer.
I pushed open the door to my chambers, pulling him inside and closing it firmly behind us. The moment the lock clicked, I pressed him against the door, my mouth finding his in a kiss that was equal parts desperate and tender.
Ash melted into me immediately, his hands fisting in the front of my ceremonial robes.
These were nothing like the simple modern clothes I’d worn at Widdershins.
Now I was drenched in layers of silk and velvet in deep purples and silvers, held together with intricate clasps that would take forever to put back on again.
But I didn’t care about that right now. All I cared about was the man in my arms, my husband, my mate.
“Gods, I love you,” I murmured against his lips between kisses. “I can’t believe you’re actually mine. That we’re married.”
“Believe it,” Ash whispered back, his shadows already swirling around us in response to his rising emotions. “Because I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me forever, Prince Consort.”
I pulled back slightly to look at him, taking in the sight of him in his own ceremonial robes.
The tailors had outdone themselves. The dark fabric brought out the blue of his eyes, and the silver embroidery caught the light every time he moved.
He looked like he belonged here, like he’d always been meant to stand beside me.
“You were incredible today,” I said, brushing a strand of dark hair away from his face. “The way you spoke your vows, the way you held your head high even when I could feel how nervous you were through the bond. I’ve never been more proud of anyone in my life.”
Ash’s cheeks flushed, and I felt his embarrassment pulse through our connection. “I was terrified I’d trip over the words. Or worse, accidentally shadow walk in the middle of the ceremony because my emotions got too intense.”
“But you didn’t,” I reminded him, pressing another kiss to his lips. “You were perfect. My father even looked impressed, which is saying something.”
“Your father looked like he was attending a funeral,” Ash corrected, chuckling to himself.
“He’ll get used to it. Now that you’re the Ambassador, you’ll be working closely with him—”
Ash’s index finger came to rest on my lips, silencing me.
“Your father is the last thing I want to talk about right now,” he said, his voice thick with want. He leaned close, his breath dancing over my lips. “Get me out of these clothes and fuck me like a proper husband should.”
I didn’t need to be told twice.
My hands went to the clasps of his robes, fumbling with the intricate fastenings. My fingers felt clumsy, made awkward by desperation and the weeks of pent-up need. Through the bond, I felt Ash’s amusement at my struggle, followed quickly by his own impatience.
“Here,” he murmured, his shadows reaching out to help. They slipped between the fabric and my fingers, undoing clasps with an efficiency that should have embarrassed me. “You’re terrible at this.”
“I’m out of practice,” I defended, even as I pushed the heavy robes off his shoulders. They pooled at his feet in a cascade of dark silk. “Besides, I haven’t gotten a chance to undress you for over a week.”
I ran my hands over his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my palms. He shivered at my touch, his shadows wrapping around my wrists like living bracelets.
The sensation sent electricity racing up my arms, making my own magic respond in kind.
Purple energy crackled between us, mingling with his darkness until I couldn’t tell where my power ended and his began.
“Your turn,” Ash said, his hands already working at my robes with more success than I’d had. His fingers were deft, practiced, and within moments he had me stripped down to nothing. “Much better.”
He pushed me backward until my legs hit the edge of the bed.
I let myself fall, pulling him down with me.
Our bodies pressed together, skin against skin, and I felt the mate bond flare so intensely it was almost painful.
This was different from before. After so much waiting it was more intense, more right.
We were married now. Bound in every way that we possibly could be.
“I’ve missed this,” I whispered against his neck, tasting the salt of his skin. My hips bucked, grinding my already hard cock against the soft skin of his stomach. “Missed you. Being kept apart these last few days was torture.”
“Your father’s idea of a cooling-off period was cruel,” Ash agreed, his hands roaming over my body with increasing urgency. “I could feel you through the bond but couldn’t touch you. Do you know how many times I almost shadow walked to your room in the middle of the night?”
“Why didn’t you?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Because I didn’t want to give your father any reason to change his mind about us.” He pulled back to look at me, his blue eyes dark with desire. “But now that we’re married, he can’t say anything. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
The possessiveness in his voice made heat pool low in my belly. I reached between us, wrapping my hand around his cock. He was already hard, leaking, and the small gasp he made when I stroked him went straight to my own dick.
“Then claim me,” I challenged, my voice coming out rougher than intended. “Show me I’m yours.”
Ash’s eyes flashed, and I felt a surge of dark desire pulse through the bond. “I have a better idea,” he said, leaning down to kiss me. “I’ll fuck you first, then you fuck me. That way, we both get what we want.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Goddamn… I wasn’t sure I could love you any more, but that… that is a great fucking suggestion.”
“Good,” Ash grinned, leaning back and grabbing the back of my knees. In one smooth motion he pinned my legs back, putting everything I had on display. “Now shut up while I eat your ass.”
I barely had time to process his words before his mouth was on me, hot and wet and fucking perfect.
My back arched off the bed, a strangled moan tearing from my throat as his tongue traced circles around my hole.
The sensation was overwhelming, made more intense by the fact that we were finally married.
“Fuck, Ash,” I gasped, my hands fisting in the silk sheets beneath me. Through the bond, I felt his satisfaction at my reaction, his own arousal spiking as he worked me open with his tongue.
He took his time, alternating between broad strokes and pointed flicks that had me writhing beneath him.
My magic responded to his, the two types of magic twining together in the air above us like they were dancing.
The purple energy from my twilight magic mixed with his darkness, creating something entirely new, entirely ours.
When he finally pulled back, I was panting, desperate, my cock so hard it was almost painful. I watched through half-lidded eyes as he grabbed the oil from the nightstand and slicked up his fingers.
“Ready?” he asked, even as the first finger pressed against my entrance.
“Gods, yes,” I breathed. “Please.”
He pushed inside slowly, carefully, and I felt myself open up for him. The stretch was familiar but still intense, especially after being kept apart for so long. He worked me methodically, adding a second finger, then a third, all while his shadows caressed every inch of my skin.
“Gods I love seeing you like this,” he murmured, his free hand stroking along my inner thigh. “Spread open for me, completely at my mercy. The prince of the Twilight Realm, begging for his cursed shadow witch to fuck him.”
“Not cursed anymore,” I managed, even as he crooked his fingers and hit my prostate dead on, my entire body lighting up in a flash. “You’re the Ambassador now. Official and everything.”
“Mmm, you’re right.” He withdrew his fingers, and I whimpered at the loss. “Which means when I fuck you, I’m fucking royalty. That’s got to be some kind of diplomatic achievement.”
I laughed, breathless and wanting. “Just get inside me already before I die of anticipation.”
“So demanding,” he teased, but I felt his own desperate need through the bond. He was barely holding on, his control fraying at the edges.