Chapter 33
TO THE NETHER VOID AND BEYOND
Gavrel
Agasp pulled her out of our shared dream. Her arm clung to me, dampness coating my chest where she nuzzled.
“Little Star.” My ragged words bordered on a pained groan.
She jerked upright, and I winced at the ache in my ribs. I didn’t think they were broken, likely just bruised. And my damned lip had split again, but I didn’t care as long as she was near.
“Thank the Ancients,” she cried out, flinging her body over my torso and peppering kisses along my jaw.
I grunted at the impact, and Seryn leaned back. “Sorry, I’m just so happy you came back to me.”
“The Fates couldn’t stop me,” I murmured, burying my fingers in her hair. “Bring those lips back here.”
She frowned and gently slid her hand over the bandage across my chest. “But I’ll hurt you.”
“You would deny a man his last dying wish?” I raised one eyebrow.
Seryn swallowed a giggle. “That would be very uncouth.” She tapped a pointer finger against her cheek. “Hmm.”
I narrowed my eyes and then tugged her curls. Amusement curved into a smile before her lips met mine. She pulled away and kissed my nose, then my brow. She trailed her fingertips over my biceps. “The poison left you.”
“It did.”
“We’re back in Helos.”
I smiled, glancing around the cabin. “I figured as much.”
“Marek and Rhaegar saved Yaya; they took back the city. Although when news spread that the Elders were missing, many of the Draumrs defected. Xeni, Letti, and my fath—Gideon—are here. I don’t know what happened to Mama. Bloody void, I—”
“I’m happy to hear about Neoma and the rest,” I interrupted gently, rubbing her forearm. “But for now, breathe. Tell me.”
For a few moments, I wasn’t sure she would speak any more. Her brows scrunched, and then her shoulders fell. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you,” she said at last, words catching in her throat.
My eyes dragged over her face. “You would live, my love.”
Heat bloomed from her chest to her cheeks. “So, you remember that.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I remember everything when it comes to you.” And I’d be damned if I let her take back what she’d said. I tucked my khorda’s hair behind her ear and cupped her nape.
Claimed her.
“There’s no point pretending any longer.
These past months have made it painfully clear that our time together is short.
You know I’m yours.” The straight line of my lips softened into a smile.
“I think you’ve always known—how deeply I’ve loved you, even from afar.
Only you, Asteria. Until the aether claims me, and even then, I’ll find a way to keep loving you. ”
“Ancients damn it, Gav.”
I chuckled, my hold tightening.
She rested her palm over my scar. “I’m yours as much as you are mine. I love you so much it hurts. And it scares me what I’d do for you. For us.”
My scar thrummed, sending a shiver over my flesh. “Then we’ll suffer together.” I lifted her hand and placed a kiss on the palm before setting it on my chest again. “And if you want to be someone’s nightmare, I’ll gladly be your right hand.”
She snorted, resting her forehead on my shoulder. “Just another day for us then.”
I grinned and tipped up her chin. “To me, every day with you is a dream.”
She searched my eyes, tucking her lips between her teeth. If she were looking for the lie, she wouldn’t find it.
Whether she was a dream or a nightmare, I loved her.
Would take her anyway I could.
Would help her burn the world down until we were the only ones left. And if it was wrong … well, it wasn’t. Because she was everything right.
Slowly, she leaned down, lips meeting mine. She was so soft, but so fucking strong.
I lifted into her body, ignoring the spasm in my ribs. My mouth pressed into hers to deepen the kiss, and my tongue prodded the seam until she opened for me.
Carefully, she straddled me, burying her hands in my hair. Her chest rose and fell fitfully as she pulled away, thumbs brushing my temples. Her eyes asked a silent question.
“I promise you can’t hurt me, but I might perish if you stop.” I wrapped my hands around her hips, pulling her center against my erection. This woman needed only to breathe in my direction, and my cock stood at attention.
Fucking void.
She bit her bottom lip, and a delicate line creased her brow. “Gavrel …”
My hands skimmed up her sides, pushing the fabric of her shift over her head.
She sighed as I splayed my fingers over her ribs, beneath her heavy breasts. Her nipples puckered as I beheld her.
“I won’t ever get my fill of you,” I said, brushing the tips of her breasts with my thumbs.
Her head tilted, curls spilling over her shoulders, tickling my hands. My touch slid down her belly, memorizing every soft curve.
I leaned forward and winced as my ribs protested the movement.
Gently, she pushed me back onto the pillows and slowly untied my breeches, her gaze never wavering from mine as she released my cock, palmed it.
My hips followed her grip as she moved it over the tip.
“Don’t move, my love. Let me take care of you,” she whispered.
My tongue wet my bottom lip as I watched her like the dream she was. All starlight and fire as her hot, wet center sank down my length.
She moved over me, her cunt clenching and pumping. Her body lifted, then down, circled, and gripped. I dug my fingers into her thighs, holding onto her as if fearful she’d slip away. As if I were still dreaming.
She squeezed her breasts, chest and neck flushing as she moved.
If I had died and our astral forms had been taken to Surrelia, I never wished to return.
Her chest heaved, curls bouncing around.
With each slick slide of her core over me, my balls tightened, muscles tensing as thick, molten desire rushed to my tailbone.
I ignored the nips of pain spiking through my body, my focus wholly on the vision before me, the warmth surrounding my cock.
Her hand drifted down her belly. The other clamped around the top of my straining thigh, fingers digging in hard enough to bruise. A guttural sound tore from my throat when she arched into her own touch, rubbing her clit in messy, desperate circles.
I called her name among garbled promises and cursing as our eyes met, her hips pistoning faster.
Bloody Ancients.
The sight of my cock slick with her desire, sliding in and out of her tight cunt, mesmerized me. She bit her bottom lip, her body jerking chaotically.
My nails dug into her hips, staccato groans catching in my chest.
Her heat squeezed, convulsed. Breathy moans spilled from her.
Her whole body trembled, and she cried out my name over and over.
As she tipped over the edge, I fell with her.
My cock thickened as my desire spilled into her. Fingers flexing, every muscle in my body taut as she took everything I had to give.
My soul. Desire. Everything.
Exposed and raw. Her eyes darted over mine, shiny and sated as she leaned forward and kissed me gently.
“I love you, Little Star,” I breathed, wrapping her in my arms and stroking her hair when she rested her cheek upon my chest.
“I know, my love.” She brushed her fingers over my bandaged chest. “And I you. To the Nether Void and beyond.”