Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
IDALLIA
“You weren’t wrong about having labor and resources to spare.
” I look around the finalized interior of our new lair, satisfied and impressed.
The outside of the new stronghold carved into our mountain is just as magnificent.
It’s as much a palace as a fortress, with wide terraces, high, arching windows, and crenellated walkways atop towers and lookout points protecting the summit.
I can’t believe how quickly even the finishing touches went on, and now the town in the river-cut valley below is growing by the day, houses and businesses sprouting like mushrooms.
“I was motivated.” Bale brings my wrist to his lips and kisses the sensitive inside. “You said you wouldn’t marry me unless it was in our new home.” He smiles seductively, and heat snaps in my belly. “Here we are.”
Here we are. My heart flutters like a vortex of autumn leaves swept up and around in happy circles. “I think you could fit a horse in that fireplace. And there are a lot of rugs.”
He chuckles. “You should see the bed I chose.”
I arch my brows. “Over the top?”
“You told me to pick the furnishings. Now you have to live with my extravagant choices.”
I smile, laughter bubbling up so easily these days. “If it were up to me, you’d hate it. I’d have a bed and some swords.”
“That’s a little minimal, but I swear there’s no clutter.
Just nice pieces and what we need.” Grinning, Bale sweeps me into his arms and carries me toward what I know is our bedroom, though I haven’t seen the finished version yet.
“The roosting wall is separate from the bedroom for obvious reasons.” He flashes me a wolfish grin.
“But it’s right on the other side of the living room, so your birds will never be far. ”
“Our birds.”
His arms tighten around me, and I’m pretty sure a flush of pleasure deepens the color in his cheeks. “Now that this is done, what are we going to do with ourselves? Even the werebeast incursions are settling down.”
I roll my eyes, knowing he’s not serious, except about the werebeasts.
“More schools in both kingdoms. Housing for the disadvantaged and displaced. Medical training, since magical healing is dying out. Social integration—there are more fae and vampires mixing with dragon shifters and weres than ever before. Infrastructure! We need more and better roads. Not everyone in Torridaig can fly, and there are more and more people around that can’t these days. ”
“Ah. I knew you’d have plans.”
I laugh. “And if all else fails, sex for days and days.”
Bale’s inner heat sears me through my clothing, and his low growl is all I need for a pulse of arousal to thump between my legs.
“Before we get to that—which we will,” he promises in a husky voice, “I have a surprise for you.”
He veers off before reaching the bedroom, heading down a corridor I’m convinced was hidden before. Curious, I sit up straighter in his arms. “What’s this?”
“Patience, Sunshine.” I huff loudly, and he dryly adds, “That’s the spirit.”
Laughing, I bite his neck with little fangs. Not enough to draw blood. We’ll save that for later. Bale is delicious, and he finds my bites delicious too.
With me still in his arms, Bale strides into a huge bathing chamber, natural runoff pooling in a wide, deep basin carved into the rock. “Amazing.” Grinning in surprise, I take in the large, rough-walled, stalactite-hung room. “This cavern must’ve already existed.”
He nods. “Right here at the peak of the mountain. I was thrilled when the workers broke down a rock wall to expand our chambers, and there it was, already half ready to go.”
“Fantastic.” I beam. “How starsdamned cold is that water, though?”
He chuckles. “Very. Unless I heat it up.”
“Promising,” I murmur. I can’t wait.
“I have another promise for you.” He sets me on my feet and drops to one knee.
My eyes widen, and my heartbeat accelerates, taking off with an excited jolt. As if by magic, Fyrestar, Rim, and Sol swoop down from previously dark corners, brightening the big room as their feathers heat and glow.
“I lay my kingdom at your feet,” Bale rumbles, and Fyrestar hops closer, pushing a pine bough toward me. Its fresh, sharp, woodsy scent anchors me home in the mountains of Torridaig.
My breath shudders. I lift my gaze back to Bale.
“I give you my heart, my body, my strength.” After Bale’s words, Rim moves forward and opens one clawed foot. He drops the scale Bale sent me all those months ago at my feet.
Tears crawl toward my eyes, fogging my vision. I swallow hard.
“I give you the rest of my days, all my nights. Will you marry me now that we have our home? Live here with me and be my mate and my partner in all things?” I can barely tear my eyes from Bale, but Sol draws my attention as she flutters in.
She has a ring in her beak, and I hold out my hand.
She puts the golden jewel into my palm. The ruby is gigantic. Bale knew I’d want something red.
My breathing unsteady, my pulse a joyous riot, I turn to the man I love. “I think those are three promises. Maybe more.” He looks worried when I hand him the ring. “Don’t just stand there. Put it on.” I offer my hand, fingers splayed.
A wide grin splits his handsome face. His eyes glitter with inner fire as he slips the ring onto my finger, the metal band warm and a perfect fit.
I step into Bale’s arms and smile up at him.
“Yes, I will be your mate, and we’ll live in this amazing home you had built for us.
We’ll take care of our people and our land.
We’ll keep our friends close and love our birds.
” I sweep an adoring gaze over our phoenixes before turning back to Bale.
“Yes to everything. I love you, and I love the life we’ve started here. ”
I hadn’t seen our fully finished lair until now, but we’ve already been living inside the new mountain for weeks.
Sybil and Stuart moved in at the same time as we did, and I took any of the Bloodwold sorcerers who wanted to follow me, just like Bale did with his.
Maia, Arran, and Danica will all live here with their birds, giving mine some of their brothers and sisters to hunt and play and argue with again.
Wade is staying in Drayke with his phoenixes, but I’m sure he and Brian will visit often.
I’ve already commissioned wood carvings to decorate the different levels of the mountain, ones filled with life and nature and beauty that will only add to the warmth here and not hide anyone.
“This almost feels unreal.” Bale lets his big shadow wings unfold and solidify, wrapping them around all of us at once. “Like a dream.”
Even this chilly cavern feels warm in the shelter of Bale’s arms and with my birds giving off a happy, heated glow under the leathery tent of Bale’s wings.
“It’s real, and I’ll love you until more stars die and others are born.
We don’t need magic or the Star of Ellonrift.
We have each other, and we’ll forge whatever new paths we need to—together. ”
“I love you.” He cradles my head in his hands, his fingers threading through my hair. “And if our family expands one day, I promise I’ll never leave anyone out of the rose garden.”
A sudden, unexpected sob hitches in my throat. It’s not grief. It’s trust. Love. Faith in Bale and our future. “I know you won’t.” But I’m grateful that he said it. I glance at the clear mountain water. “Should we give that a try?”
Looking eager, Bale pulls his wings back inside and tips his head toward the exit, inviting our birds to find somewhere else to be for a while.
They fly out with backward glances that range from satisfied to cheeky to sparklingly gleeful, leaving us alone in the chamber.
Bale shifts quickly, heats the water to near boiling with firebreath, then shifts back to skin.
“You could’ve lost the clothing,” I say archly.
He chuckles. “You know it doesn’t work like that.” He starts undressing. “Hop to it, or I’m tossing you in fully clothed,” he threatens with a red-hot gaze that sizzles over me.
Grinning, I lose my clothing and carefully tuck the gifted scale into a pocket for safekeeping.
Both of us naked except for my new ring, we slip into the hot pool together.
Bale hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me against him.
Anticipation coursing through me, I loop my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist and kiss him deeply.
Our lips and tongues brush and meld. A needy ache builds in my core.
I slide against him, and we savor each other as steam rises around us, slicking our skin and dampening our hair until Bale’s curls and mine glistens.
Water gently laps at the edges of the basin, and drips echo in the background, natural music to join our heated moans.
I grip Bale tighter, rolling my hips. Our kisses turn hotter, our touches more urgent.
Bale’s erection nudges my belly, and I desperately crave the exquisite pressure of him between my legs and the hot wash of his blood in my mouth.
Not wanting to resist and knowing I don’t have to, I lower my head and sink my fangs into the curve of his neck, taking small, suckling sips that excite us both.
Bale tilts his head back with a deep groan, his fingers digging into my backside as he rocks me against him.
His erection grows impossibly harder, and his breathing turns ragged and fast. Releasing the bite, I slowly lick a drop of blood from his skin with a hot swirl of my tongue, then lift my head, my eyes meeting his.
His voice a low rasp, he says, “Every single thing of beauty in this world pales in comparison to you.” He hitches me higher against him and slides a hand toward my core. His fingers glide between my folds, stroking and teasing and making sure I’m ready for him.
I quiver in pleasure, his touch my utter weakness. “I want you, Bale.” I can’t stand another second without him inside me. If he’s the lightning strike, then I’m the thunder. We need each other to be whole.
He kisses me like there’s no end to his hunger, and I kiss him back like there’s no end to my thirst. When we join, his thrusts filling me completely as our moans echo around the chamber, I know this is my new favorite place in my new favorite home and that I could live happily here until the end of my days.
And I will.
I have everything I want and need right here in Firebird Mountain.