Chapter 37
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
MAX
There’s little to celebrate with the threat of what Zelos will do to us, or where Oslo is, but we stumble into the room I awoke in, my mate and I. My body hums with awareness, feeling him beside me, in my soul. I’m completely surrounded by him.
My husband.
I was drawn to Kaden in King Griffin’s court because of the Heartbond—the one we were fated to find, who we could refuse if we wanted—but the claiming is the meshing of two souls, two lives into one being.
In every way, Kaden and I belong to the other.
He looks at me, eyes flaring in hunger and want. Both of us worry for what the next day will bring, but right now, as our allies celebrate outside, it’s just us. It’s still our wedding night.
“What are you thinking, kitten?” he asks, stripping from his tunic. His body is a maze of battle scars, cuts and bruises. “How do you feel?”
Stepping close, my hand follows one mark on his stomach, his ribs clenching under my touch. “I feel… alive.” I search for the right words. “I can feel you. Inside my body. My mind. It’s not oppressive but it’s there, a guiding hand. Quiet. Deep.”
He grabs my hand, holding it flat to his chest where his heart lies.
“I feel the same. You’re life. Chaotic. A fire raging.” Amber eyes shine in the darkened space. There’s love and desire and open amazement hidden beneath those thick lashes. “You chose me.”
“I chose us.”
He smirks, a wicked smile, before he pulls me by the neck, yanking the dress from my shoulders. It puddles around our feet as we tumble into the cot, the springs squealing something horrible. We laugh, mood broken, but not our want.
“They’ll hear us,” he whispers, nipping at my lip, my jaw, down further. “Fae have exceptional hearing.”
“Then you better be quiet,” I quip, feeling his teeth raking over my collarbone, over one breast. My hands tug his hair, moving him to where I want him, and he happily obliges.
His tongue swirls around my nipple, pulling it into his mouth, tasting my skin. My body arches, searching for more, needing to feel all of him. This need is much more potent than I’ve ever felt. From a soul-bond finally realized.
“So greedy for your mate, kitten,” he murmurs, moving to the other side. “Your husband.”
I shiver, delighted at that title. Husband. After everything, all the trials, the hurt, I finally feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.
He goes lower still, shifting to lay between my legs, kissing my inner thigh, my knee, pulling one leg over his shoulder.
My chest heaves as I stare down at him, and he winks smugly.
“Better be quiet and not move. You don’t want an audience.”
That’s the only warning I get before he holds me wide, tongue diving deep. His lips nibble and caress, tongue swiping against every part. I bite down to keep from screaming, hands tangling into his locks.
I yank them when he finds my clit, and he growls pleased. His fingers dig at my thighs, holding them open, tongue circling around my entrance.
“Fuck, you taste like a gift from the Gods,” he compliments, sucking my clit between his teeth. I arch up, huffing, almost screaming his name. “Every part of you is divinity, wrapped in the body of sin. You are wholly mine, kitten. Every bit of you.”
His tongue laps again, hard strokes exactly where I need him. I pant, head thrashing back and forth, trying valiantly to keep my moans to myself.
A small whimper leaves my lips and he chuckles, tongue spearing deep. “I love that sound, Max. How you whimper for me. Beg me. Everything. And now that you’re mine, I’m going to keep you. Forever.”
His tongue flicks against my clit and I’m lost, orgasm barreling through me so quickly that I shout out, losing the restraint to be quiet. As soon as I do, he rises over me, mouth devouring my screams. I can taste my release on his tongue, smell his essence, and sink into his heat.
He holds me through the orgasm, quickly kicking his pants off before lining up with me.
Sitting back, he looks down at me, face vulnerable. It’s the most open I’ve seen him, exposed to me, here, in this tiny room, surrounded by the desert, war on our doorstep.
“Thank you,” he says like it’s a prayer in the night.
“For saving me. For giving me everything. Everything that you are.” He leans into my neck, inhaling me.
“You’re the stars to my moon, the love I’ve always wanted but never thought I would gain.
You are a thousand lives wrapped into one, my purpose, Max.
I’ll protect you until my dying breath.”
“Just don’t go all beasty on me,” I joke, feeling him huff at my tease, “and we’ll be fine.”
“I can’t promise I never will again. But I promise, I’ll never hurt you.”
Lips press to every spot he can touch without lifting his hips away from me. I’m hot and rubbing against him like a cat in heat by the time he moves back to my face.
His full lips find mine and coax another moan as his tongue darts into my mouth. I meet his demanding kiss with my own and his hard cock presses against my core.
Biting his lip, I feel a rumble of lusted amusement leave his chest. “Promise?”
Swiftly, he lifts my legs, spreading me wide as his length teases my entrance. I whimper just as the head breeches me, and he captures my sound with his mouth.
He pushes, fully sheathed inside before he breaks the kiss.
There’s no foreplay, no warning. Just the need to have him in me, dominating me, commanding me as only he can.
Amber eyes, blinding in intensity gaze into mine.
He removes himself just to drive back deeper. Harder. Further. It steals my breath.
“I promise, Max. I’ll swear to every star overhead. To every flower that blooms in my lands under the full moon. I’ll swear on every drop of blood in all the world. On every burst of air that robs you of sound. You are mine and I’ll never leave you.”
Late in the night, we’re roused from our slumber with the incoming sounds of horse hooves. We don’t say anything, quickly dressing, me in another dusty dress, he in his old clothes, grabbing the few weapons we have at our disposal.
Like the rest of our allies, we stand at the front of the house.
The area is deserted, with only the village backdrop further away.
The distant sounds of life, of people moving, working, enjoying company pulls at my conscious.
My magic stirs but it’s more of a surge, than a furious need to take as Kaden’s shadows restrain it.
I watch the darkness warily. No one should be here. Not unless they knew where to find us.
Kaden’s shadows rise, pulling above his shoulders, but he winces, the strain on his mental control too much with the beast fighting for dominance. It’s tasted freedom and it wants more.
Placing a hand on his shoulder, I shake my head. “Don’t use your magic. Not unless you have to.”
“What of yours?”
Exhaling, I nod. “You’re not the only one who seems to have gained something from the bond.”
His eyes gleam with happiness. “Control?”
“Something like that.” I tug on the connection, his power filling in the cracks my magic doesn’t touch. It gives stability to the chaos inside me. For the first time in my life, I’m not afraid of my magic. I have something that helps me contain it.
“Good,” he comments, withdrawing his sword. “Do whatever is necessary.”
Guards burst through the pass, their path long and laborious. But these aren’t the dark uniforms of the Dark Fae, but bright golden armor and white linen of the Woodland Fae.
Kaden’s swords falls only slightly but he doesn’t move. He stands at the front, the first to battle if someone attacks. Hair blowing in the dry air, his brows slashed over his eyes, he looks like a fallen warrior back from the dead. And I stand beside him.
Fee and Reid walk up to my side, eyes on the newcomers. At the front are Fenrir and Mal, both dismounting before their horses fully stop.
“I knew we’d find you here,” Mal calls, hustling closer. “Our mothers always loved this village.”
“Convenient for you to show up now,” Kaden drawls, sword to the Fae’s throat. “Where were you when Zelos tortured my mate?”
Mal stops, hands up. Fenrir walks up beside his brother, rolling his eyes.
“Unfortunately, after you sister started a fight,” he explains, glaring at the princess who smirks, “Zelos put us all in lockdown. We weren’t to leave until he figured out the traitor in our midst.”
“You couldn’t sneak out?” Reid asks, tone incredulous. No doubt because the younger Fae could.
“Guards were stationed at our door with the intent to kill. Our guards were locked into the great halls, kept from us. Not all of us are known thieves.” Fenrir scoffs, staring at Reid. “Nor born with magic. We could only escape when the guards were pulled to a disturbance.”
Mal shifts, warily watching the blade. “I assume that was you?”
“You assume correctly.”
He swallows. “You don’t seem so beasty.”
Kaden’s jaw clenches. “Thanks to my mate, my beast is controlled. For now.” The sword stays at Mal’s throat, just as Zeke comes up behind Fenrir, his blade at his back. “But tell me now. Where do your loyalties lie?”
Fenrir sighs, bored. “Sola take it, Kaden, you know Mother sent us to help you.”
Mal smirks, though the blade nicks his skin. “You know she’s always been more fond of you than us. She was the first to join your cause.”
Surprised, I glance at each of the Dark Fae siblings, then the Woodland Fae. They were in on it? They knew what Kaden was planning, even with all the hostilities? “Your mother pledged to help in the coup? You knew this was coming?”
“Against my better judgement,” Fenrir comments dryly, rolling his green eyes.
Zeke drops his sword followed by Kaden though neither male step away.
“But my mother was always close with Kaden. When his mother died, she took to his schooling, to his care, even some trainings. Whatever he wants, he gets.”
“I also sided with our mother,” Mal admits. “Zelos in power does us no good. Once he has the world, he’ll turn on his allies.”
Zelos is wretched and they’re right. He will go after his allies once he has the rest of the continent. His thirst for power is untamable.
And then, who will stop him?
My back aches as if remembering his cruel words, his glee in seeing my body break. My hand finds my shoulder, now healed, but the pain still remains.
“Good to see you’re you again.” Mal smirks smugly. “The curses your father spewed when you took your mate would make the entire army blush.”
“He deserves to die.” He shrugs. “Not to be alive to curse me. What news do you bring of the palace?”
Mal and Fenrir share a look and the older brother steps forward. “He prepares for your attack. It’ll be suicide to attack him directly.”
“We knew that,” Fee retorts, gripping her hilt. Her knuckles are white. “What have you heard of Oslo? Is he there?”
“He’s there.” Mal rubs his chin. “But it’s not good.”
The siblings stand still, Zeke walking around the group as if to offer comfort. Baris moves to my side, as silent as death, his coolness a welcomed steady presence. Somewhere in my memories, I know, I found comfort in him when I couldn’t sleep.
“What is it?” Kaden asks, voice low. I hear the current of his beast, garbling his words.
Gods, his control is faulty. The bond might have given him strength to contain it, but one wrong move, one too strong of an emotion, and the beast will break free again.
“Zelos has labeled Oslo a traitor.” Fenrir shifts, ready for a blow. “He’s set to execute him the morning after next.”
The air rushes from Reid’s lips as Fee whips her head to Kaden, face twisting with worry. Both are waiting for his reaction.
My mate stands taller, digesting the words. He doesn’t break his mask, the beast doesn’t appear, but the whites of his eyes vanish. His shadows flow off his back like an angry cape and I know, he’s mentally preparing for war.
“Orders, my heir,” Zeke asks, the guards standing.
I remember what Reid said. The guards revere the general, respect him, and will fight for him. Everyone here is ready to save him, tiredness gone, wounds forgotten. It’s a wave of fury that strikes me as I watch them ready to die for the male.
“We plan,” he replies, nodding. “We make a plan and attack. We get into the castle. We stop the execution and we take the throne.” The sword moves in his hand, the sound of bending metal the only noise around us.
The heartbeats in my ear grow louder, harder. Adrenaline pumps through them, willing to follow him into the fray. I almost smile as a piece of my soul ignites with my magic restored.
When his eyes meet mine, he smiles wickedly. “Zelos is mine.”