Chapter Fifty-Nine Garrick
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Garrick
The teenage girl was sitting by a sparkling river, trying to catch a fish for dinner, and she was as familiar to me as my
own reflection, though I hadn’t known her then. Her face was softer, gently filled in with better food and fewer worries,
and I mourned for what would come.
She slid a glance at me, holding her fishing pole with easy familiarity. A wrinkle appeared between her brows, and she turned
to face me more fully. “I know you.”
I smiled. “You do.”
She looked around and the river wavered. “This is a dream. A nightmare, actually. This is the day my father died.”
It was as I’d expected. I met her eyes. “Would you like to wake up?”
“Will you be there?” she asked, her voice hesitant.
“Always.”
She nodded decisively. “Then yes. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, little mage,” I murmured.
The dream faded away and I opened my eyes. Riela was securely held in my arms, her lithe body resting on my chest. I’d at
least managed to pull a sheet over us before the magic had dragged me under.
Our bond was exceptionally strong, which shouldn’t have been surprising, but it was a relief nonetheless. I just hoped that
Riela felt the same.
Right now, she was happy and content, and just barely waking from her dreams. She yawned, then tensed before remembering where
she was. Worry flickered in, and she frowned up at me. “Why are you worried?”
“Why are you?”
She propped her arms on my chest and pushed herself up. “I asked you first.”
“Our bond is strong. We’re sharing emotions, and we’ve already shared a dream. I’m worried that you will regret it and want
to be released.”
Her face softened, and I could feel her worry evaporate. “You saved me from one of my most frequent nightmares. I don’t regret that at all.” The worry drifted
back, and she swallowed. “Do you?”
“I will never regret being closer to you,” I told her, and she must’ve felt the honesty in the words because her mouth parted
with wonder, and a jumble of emotions flashed across the bond: surprise, fondness, desire, and a dozen others too quick to
name.
Her gaze settled on my mouth and desire won. Her eyes heated when she felt the answering desire from my side. “Will it always
be like this?” she asked softly.
“I don’t know. Each bond is different. It might settle some, or we might get used to it.” I wrapped my hands around her hips
and felt her desire grow. When I shifted her so that she slid along my length, her fingers curled into my chest with tiny,
delicious pinpricks of pain.
Surprise ricocheted across the bond, then horror. She jerked her hands back, staring at her fingertips with disbelief. “I
have claws.”
I took her hand in mine before she could jerk it away. Delicate violet claws tipped each finger, sharp and deadly. I grinned
at her and willed my own claws into existence. She twitched in surprise, then reached for me, curiosity on her face and thrumming
through the bond.
“How do you hide them?” she asked.
“Will them away. You’ll get used to it, and it’ll become second nature.”
She huffed a breath at me. “Has anyone ever told you that your explanations are terrible?”
“A mouthy little mage keeps trying to convince me, but I’m not so sure.”
She looked like she might be contemplating clawing me again, and my cock twitched at the thought. Her eyebrows rose, amusement clear. “Are you aroused right now?”
“You’re sitting on my cock. Naked. What did you expect?” I snaked a hand between us. “I like your claws, and I heal fast.
Do your worst, Riela.” I thumbed her clit and rolled my hips.
She lifted and notched me into place, then she took me to the hilt in one smooth slide that scrambled my brain. I grunted,
beyond words. Her claws pricked my chest again as she leaned forward, undulating against me.
She dragged one hand down, hard enough to sting, and my vision went white with pleasure. My rhythm stuttered, and I held on
to control by the thinnest thread. Then she lifted her hips until only the tip of my eager cock was still nestled in her warmth,
and she grinned at me, her pleasure and delight burning bright against my mind.
Slowly, deliberately, she curled her fingers into my skin like a kneading cat, watching my reaction. I fought the urge to
grab her, to roll her under me and prove my dominance.
Whatever she saw must’ve pleased her, because with a tiny mischievous smile, she raked her claws over my chest at the same
time her hips slammed down, sheathing me in her delicious body.
Pleasure blotted out everything, and I came with a roar. When I returned to myself, the little mage was pinned under me, looking
entirely too pleased with herself.
“Having fun?” I murmured against her mouth.
Her grin widened. “Yes.”
“Good. Because now it’s my turn.”
I flexed my claws, but she didn’t flinch. Excitement thrummed through the bond as her eyes narrowed and her chin rose, and
I could feel the heat of her desire. “Do your worst,” she challenged.
I locked my mouth onto hers and did my best.
By the time we were both limp and sated, I barely had the energy to drag her back into my arms and curl protectively around
her.