Chapter 32
Brivul
Brivul adjusted his formal attire as he watched Mila descend the grand staircase of the council palace. The emerald silk dress hugged her curves, making his breath catch. Her dark hair cascaded in elegant waves, and the birthmark on her temple seemed like an artist’s deliberate flourish.
“You’re staring,” Mila said, a smile playing at her lips as she reached the bottom step.
“Hard not to.” He slithered forward, offering his arm.
The crystalline chandeliers cast rainbow patterns across Mila’s emerald dress as she glided beside Brivul through the council’s grand ballroom. His chest swelled with pride at the way other guests’ heads turned to admire his mate.
“Everyone’s staring at you,” Brivul whispered, his tail curling around her waist.
“They’re staring at both of us. You’re the great general who helped take down Kurg.”
“Former general.”
“Once a general, always a general.” Mila’s fingers traced the medals pinned to his formal uniform. The council had reinstated his rank along with additional honors for exposing Kurg’s corruption.
The marble floors gleamed beneath them. Sweet incense wafted from golden braziers, mixing with the perfume of a hundred exotic flowers arranged in towering vases.
A Niri nobleman approached, his eyes lingering too long on Mila’s exposed shoulders. Brivul drew himself up to his full height, his scales bristling. The nobleman quickly found somewhere else to be.
“You’re adorably protective.” Mila’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Can’t help it.”
“I can take care of myself, you know.”
“Oh, I know. But that doesn’t mean I won’t fight anyone who looks at you wrong.”
She laughed, the sound making his heart skip.
A gong chimed, signaling dinner. Brivul guided Mila toward their seats at the high table, savoring how perfectly she fit against his side. A week ago, they’d been fugitives. Now they were honored guests in the council’s palace.
Brivul pulled Mila’s chair out at the high table, and she settled gracefully into her seat. The golden plates before them caught the light from crystal chandeliers, casting warm reflections across her face.
“The council certainly knows how to celebrate,” Mila whispered, leaning close.
The scent of her—jasmine and something uniquely her—made his scales ripple with pleasure. “They should. You helped expose one of the biggest corruption scandals in Jorvlen history.”
“We did it together.”
His tail curled possessively around her chair. A year ago, he’d been drowning in guilt and shame, convinced he’d never be worthy of a good life or happiness ever again. Now, watching Mila charm the dignitaries around them with her quick wit and warm smile, he felt whole. Happy.
“What are you thinking about?” Mila’s fingers brushed his arm.
“How lucky I am.” He grabbed her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “A few months ago, I was just a security guard going through the motions. Then you walked into my life.”
“And caused nothing but trouble.”
“The best kind.” His violet eyes met her green ones. “You gave me my purpose again. A reason to fight.”
The first course soon arrived—some exotic Jorvlen delicacy that probably cost more than his old security job paid in a month. But Brivul barely noticed the food. His attention kept drifting to Mila and the way she carried herself with such quiet strength. She’d gone from slave to honored guest, yet she handled it all with natural grace.
At this moment, Brivul realized that his future stretched bright and clear before him. No more hiding. No more letting life pass him by. With Mila at his side, he felt ready to take on the entire universe.
After the dinner celebration ended, Brivul guided Mila through the ornate palace corridors to their chambers. The silk of her gown whispered against his scales with each step.
Inside their room, moonlight spilled through towering windows onto marble floors. Brivul helped Mila out of her formal gown, his breath catching at the sight of the bandages wrapped around her ribs. His jaw clenched, remembering Kurg’s cruelty.
“Let me check these.” His fingers traced the edge of a bandage.
“They don’t hurt anymore.” Mila’s skin flushed under his touch.
Brivul unwound the bandages with careful movements. The bruises had faded to nothing, leaving her skin smooth and unmarked. Relief flooded through him. He’d failed to protect her once—never again.
They changed into the silk robes provided by the palace staff. The fabric was impossibly soft against his scales, but his attention stayed fixed on Mila. The way the midnight blue silk draped her curves made his blood heat.
“Come.” He took her hand, leading her onto the balcony.
Three moons hung in the velvet sky, casting silver light across the palace gardens below. Stars sparkled like scattered diamonds, and a warm breeze carried the scent of night-blooming flowers.
Mila leaned against the balcony rail. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yes. But not as beautiful as you.” He watched how the moonlight painted silver highlights in her dark hair, how it made her green eyes luminous.
His tail wound around her waist, drawing her closer. She fit perfectly against him. Like she was meant to stand by his side. The sweet scent of her skin mixed with jasmine from the gardens below.
“I never thought I’d see a view like this.” Mila’s voice was soft. “A slave dreaming of the stars.”
“You’re not a slave anymore,” Brivul said in a low voice. “You’re my mate. My warrior queen.”
She turned in his arms, pressing closer. The silk of their robes whispered together as her fingers traced his jaw. His scales rippled at her touch.
Above them, a shooting star streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of silver in its wake. But Brivul barely noticed, lost in the depths of Mila’s eyes.
His protective instincts surged at her proximity, wanting to shelter her from everything that had hurt her before.
“Come to Nirum with me,” he said in a low voice. The words had been building inside him all evening. “You and Priscilla both.”
Mila’s green eyes widened. “Nirum?”
“I have a home there.” He drew himself up to his full height, wanting her to understand what he could provide. “The universities there are the finest in the system. You could study anything you wanted.”
Her fingers traced patterns on his scales, sending electricity through his blood. “You’d do that? For both of us?”
“I’d give you the stars themselves if you asked.” The fierce possessiveness in his voice surprised even him. “You’ll want for nothing. Neither will your sister.”
“But what about your position? The council reinstated your rank.”
“I don’t care about rank anymore.” His eyes locked with hers. “I care about you. About us. About building a life together where you’re truly free to become everything you were meant to be.”
A smile curved her lips, making his heart stutter.
His tail tightened around her waist. “Say you’ll come with me to Nirum.”
“Yes.” She pressed closer, her warmth seeping into his scales. “I’ll go with you to Nirum.”
Pride and possession roared through him. His mate chose him, trusting him to provide for her and keep her safe. The warrior in him preened at her acceptance.
“When can we leave?” she asked.
“Tomorrow, if you wish.” His fingers traced the line of her jaw. “I’ll have my ship prepared by morning.”
She smiled up at him. “Then let’s go home.”
Brivul cupped Mila’s face in his hands, his thumbs tracing the delicate line of her cheekbones. The moonlight caught in her eyes, turning them to liquid emeralds. He lowered his head to claim her lips.
The kiss started gentle but quickly deepened with barely contained passion. Her hands pressed against his chest, sending electricity through him. The sweet taste of her, the soft press of her body against his, made his head spin.
“You’re all mine now,” he growled against her lips. The words held centuries of Niri instinct, the primal need to possess and protect his mate.
“All yours,” Mila whispered back.
Joy exploded through him, pure and overwhelming. After years of darkness and doubt, she’d brought light back into his world.
The three moons cast their silver glow over them as Brivul drew back just enough to drink in the sight of her. Her dark hair spilled over his arms, her lips curved in a smile that was his alone.
“I never thought I could be this happy,” he rumbled, his violet eyes intense.
“Neither did I.” Her fingers traced his jaw. “It all feels like a dream.”
“No dream.” He nuzzled her temple. “This is very real, and you’re mine. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubt either of those things.”