CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
MY BODY ALMOST FEELS RELAXED. More and more of the Vathian warriors have been arriving with the rebels.
Shadowfire is placed strategically around the city, and I’m finally happy with the rotation of guards keeping watch over Maleen.
It feels like I can breathe, and now it’s almost as if I’m walking back into the past as I venture down the decorative corridors that lead to a library I never thought I would see again…
to her. My mate. The female I never thought I would see again in this lifetime.
We were young then, but she was always safe. Somehow I knew that she was the one for me, even if I didn’t know what that meant then. She was my best friend, a fae I knew would never judge me, who sat with me in my darkness while she held the candle, keeping me anchored to this realm.
Even now, she quiets the demons that threaten to take over. They almost consumed me. I was happy to be the protector of our group, keeping my brothers safe, but now, because of her, I want so much more. I want her.
The door to the library opens silently and my blood pumps with nerves and excitement.
My Little Warrior is here somewhere and I have a feeling I know exactly where she is.
My massive form weaves through the stacks of dusty tomes and stories until I reach the far back corner where a large window lets the moon shine its silver light across the small corner—our spot.
It takes me only a second to find her, and seeing her curled up under the table reading a book has my heart sputtering. It’s like we never left—that here, none of the shit that plagues our realm exists, and it’s only me and her.
She’s so engrossed in whatever she’s reading that she doesn’t notice me slip under the table beside her until I knock my head against the solid wood. Her body jerks and she rolls to the side, her hand instantly flying to her dagger, eyes wide with fear until she realizes it’s just me.
“It seems I’ve outgrown our table,” I mutter as I try to make myself as small as possible to fit under it, but it doesn’t work, so I lay on my side.
She laughs. “I guess we need a bigger table then.”
A smirk pulls at my mouth, but I could never replace this table. “What are you reading?”
She shows me the cover and I laugh. “You and your princes.”
“Now I have my own princes,” she states. “Yet I can’t help but get lost in these stories. Everything seems so much easier when all the problems are between pages and scrawled in ink.”
It takes everything in me not to pull her into me. “We will figure this out, Rav. I promise.” Aemon told us how her mother’s original plan was to keep her hidden until the war was over, so she could come back to us safe, but it’s obvious the Fates had different plans.
Her small hand slips into mine and the touch makes my skin shiver in a way that has my blood roaring. “Come, let’s find you something to read,” she says, squeezing my hand three times before crawling out from under the table. “What are you in the mood for?”
You. I’m in the mood for you, is what I want to say, trying to clear my head of inappropriate thoughts.
We are taking things slow, but fuck. Ever since I learned that I’m physically not capable of hurting her, I’ve thought of nothing else but her body against mine.
Right where it belongs. I know she’s bound to Talyn now too, and even though I’m happy for them, I’ve never felt more of an outcast in our group than I do now. But that isn’t the reason I want her.
It’s because she’s her. Beautiful and strong.
Stubborn as an ancient dragon. Intelligent and kind.
She’s the kind of female that won’t ever put herself first, something I know a little too much about.
But that’s my job, to make sure she can put herself first, so she can relax and not worry about trivial things.
“Killian?” she asks. “Is everything okay?”
I nod, unable to speak, and grab a random book off the shelf, briefly glancing at the cover. It’s some sort of romance involving creatures of the ocean that can shift into land beings.
“Are you sure that’s what you want to read?” She rolls her lips into her mouth like she’s trying to suppress her laughter.
I grunt. “I’m bored with battle books,” I lie. Fucking Fates, what is wrong with me.
She shrugs in amusement, gesturing to the two-seater couch that overlooks the city. “Might be more comfortable than under the table.”
Words don’t seem to be my strong suit right now as my tongue keeps getting tied up in knots.
What do I say when all I can think about is making her officially my mate…
Mine. I make my way to the small leather couch and sit, and somehow take up most of the space without meaning to.
“I’m sorry—we can find somewhere else to read, if you want?
” My tongue is so dry, I might as well be roasting it over a fire.
She holds her book close to her chest, making her breasts seem even more pronounced, and I can’t look away. “I mean, if you’re fine with me leaning up against you, I’m fine with staying here?”
I swallow and nod. She smiles brightly and curls up against my side, getting comfortable. I open to the first page but I can’t think of anything but the warmth of her body at my side, the curve of her hips and every breath she takes.
Fucking Fates help me.
I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting here. It could be minutes or hours, but time doesn’t exist with her next to me. Her fingers trail aimlessly along the leather of my pants and it takes everything in me not to gasp, her small touch causing my pants to tighten uncomfortably.
She must have felt me tense because she stops, pulling away. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause you any pain,” she states worriedly.
I don’t know what comes over me at that moment. Maybe I’m a male possessed. “More like the opposite of pain,” I mutter.
Her gaze widens as she takes in my meaning, her gaze darting to the cause of my straining leathers, and her cheeks pinken. “I–I um…” words elude her, and within seconds she’s as red as a sunset.
Maybe it’s seeing how nervous she is that makes me gain a shred of confidence that I’m not used to having, but my feelings spill out.
“I know I said I wanted to take things slow Rav, but I’ve wanted nothing more than to feel you against me.
This book?” I raise it and then toss it on the table beside me.
“I haven’t read a Fates-damn page since you put your body against mine.
I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never done anything with another female, but I want you, Ravina. I want to be your mate.”
Her lips part and her gaze is glazed over. “But the mating frenzy… we should talk about that.”
“Mating frenzy?” I ask as I pull her onto my lap, the heat of her center pressing against me.
Her hips rock and her lips are so close to mine that I can practically taste them. “Three days of insatiable sex… all instinct… no thoughts. At least according to the book. We should wait until we are safe and can take the time without worrying.”
Her words register, but I don’t feel any panic about that. “Your safety here is taken care of, we can deal with that after. Unless you don’t want to do this right now? Then that’s okay too, and I will keep my thoughts to myself until you want this.”
Dragons roar somewhere in the distance and I feel Voissor’s bond crack open. I’m hit with such a primal lust that nearly all thought leaves my head as I slam my lips against Ravina and she groans against my mouth, pressing herself against me.
“Damn you Vasari, I don’t need the encouragement. I was going to say yes,” she mutters out loud against my mouth. And I realize our dragons were going to try to manipulate us into this. I’m not sure if I’m pissed about it yet or not, because all I can feel… is her.
“Say no, if you want to stop,” I mumble, my hands running down her body.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” she growls.
My fingers dig into the fabric of her tunic and I tear it open, exposing her back, my fingers tracing each and every scar, causing her to shiver and gasp, each movement causing jolts of pleasure to my cock.
“I will avenge you, Ravina, and then I’ll lay the bastard’s head at your feet when I’m done taking my pound of flesh. ”
She groans, throwing her head back as I trail kisses down her neck, letting the fabric of her tunic fall, exposing her perfect breasts. Nothing has ever looked so fucking good.
I stand with her in my arms and splay her body across our table as I tug off her pants.
A feast just for me. A deep, primal growl leaves my lips as I watch her squirm, wanting my touch so badly she’s nearly writhing for it.
“So fucking beautiful.” I drop to my knees, and her legs fall open.
If I couldn’t scent her need before, I do now, and it’s consuming me.
I can’t wait, and I dive right in, my tongue tasting, licking and sucking.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. She’s delicious. I could live between her legs.
My hips jerk against nothing. I have no idea what I’m doing, and a faint tremor shakes my hands as I worry I’m not doing this right, but her moans are like swords swinging and clashing together—music to my ears—so I must be doing something right… right?
“Killian,” she moans, gripping the top of my head and holding me against her. “Please,” she begs.
A knowing tingle sparks up my spine and my balls tighten. Swiftly I undo my leathers and come onto the floor, but it doesn’t stop me—in fact I’m ready to go again.
Her legs tense and somehow I know that this is it, she’s getting close, and all from riding my face.
Her thighs hug my neck and her back arches off the table as she screams my name, but I’m not done with her.
No, I need to feel her come around my cock as I drill into her over and over again even if it’s clumsy as fuck, and I can only pray that this is as amazing for her as it is for me.
Before she’s finished, I’m up and leaning over the table kissing her, my hands touching as much as I can of her. I never thought this was something I would be able to do with anyone, but with her? I’m addicted.
“I’m going to fuck you now, mate. And you’re going to take it like the good little warrior you are. Do I make myself clear?” I growl as I line my cock up at her center.
“Please, fuck me. I need you. I need—” She gasps as I impale her with my length, and it’s as if my mind empties and all there is, is us.
A primal need takes over as I grip her wrists. I pin them above her head as my body relentlessly pounds into her. A crack sounds and I grab her as the table breaks beneath us. I pause, feeling her warmth pulsing around me, and move towards the bookshelves.
“Grab the shelf, baby girl, and hold on,” I mutter, and she does as she’s told and grabs the bookshelf near her head as I continue with the need to make our bodies become one. “Good girl,” my guttural voice purrs.
Books fall off the shelf, but I couldn’t care less as the tingling along the base of my spine builds. “I need you to come for me. Make me your mate, my warrior Queen,” I growl.
“Killian,” she groans and I suck her nipple into my mouth. “I’m so close.”
Pages and scrolls rain down around her as her legs squeeze around my waist. “That’s it,” I mutter into her ear.
“Come for me so I can fill you, and once we are mated and your mark burns against my mark tying us together, I’m going to fuck you so hard that you will feel me every moment of tomorrow.
You won’t be able to take a step without feeling my cock deep inside you. ”
She shatters, screaming as her nails dig into my back, and I follow not a moment after. Her teeth sink into my throat and mine into her wrist, covering the thick scar that’s there.
Her forehead falls against mine as our bond finally snaps into place and her mind slides into mine. “I don’t think I can move. Are you okay? Not over-touched?”
Her concern is precious to me. “I’m perfect. Are you okay?”
Her chest heaves as she tries to catch her breath. It seems like we may need to work on her stamina. “I’m amazing.” She smiles at me as I move us back over to the couch, keeping her impaled on my cock. I don’t think I’ll be able to let her go for a while yet.
“But we will need to warn and prepare the others if that book is right—”
I kiss her again. “I will handle it. Let me just be here with you right now.”
She nods and lays her head against my chest and slowly rocks her hips along me. “Tomorrow then. Now what was this promise about making sure I feel you all day tomorrow?”
I lift her ass, hovering her above me as I slowly glide myself in and out. “Better hold on, mate,” I growl. “You’re not leaving this library until I’m thoroughly done ravishing what’s mine.”