17. MY SAVING GRACE #2
Auren had seen a glimpse of what my shadowfire could do in Benmoor, when I’d turned those guards to ash on a whim, and that wasn’t even my full strength.
That was just a crumb of it. This well of power inside me .
. . it wasn’t as vast as hers, but it was still frighteningly deep.
And if this darkness ever got out of my control . . .
I glanced up at her. She sat above me, playing with the ends of her hair, looking so perfect. So innocent.
She’d seen what I’d done in a singular moment of rage and clung to Remic. I knew she didn’t fear me, but witnessing the uncertainty in her eyes cracked my heart, and I never wanted her to feel that way about me ever again.
I reached up and cupped the side of her face, and she closed her eyes, the hair slipping through her fingers, her hand stilling.
“I would do anything to keep you from harm. And I would never let my power even touch you. I don’t ever want you to fear me.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I love you.”
“And I love you. You are what kept me together down there. All I had to do was think about you, and I was somewhere else.”
She turned her head into my hand and planted a kiss on my palm.
“You saved me in more ways than one, Auren.”
Her eyes flicked to mine again, a bit of uncertainty still lingering there. Like she wasn’t sure she was able to be the saving grace where it really mattered.
I sat up, moving toward her. “Your presence grounds me. Your power—your very essence—steadies mine. I’ve never felt as calm and controlled as I do when you’re with me. All you have to do is speak my name, and I’m commanded by you.”
I wished she could see the truth of it in this moment. My heart was steady, my mind at ease. My power was leashed and quiet within me.
Her eyes danced between mine, and she leaned in to kiss me. I slid my tongue between her sweet lips and kissed her back, slowly, deeply. Then I pulled away and placed my forehead against hers. “You know I’d tear the world apart for you, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“Good.”
“I’d do the same for you. You should have seen what a mess I was when Aremis ported me back here. Leaving you behind . . . I didn’t think my heart could bear it. I cried every night. If it weren’t for Aremis . . .” Her voice drifted off, and her face fell, recalling the memory.
“That’s why Aremis is my second. He will never hesitate to do the hard things when they are necessary. He can keep his emotions out of things. I owe him a life debt for getting you out and keeping you safe.”
“Your Trium is truly special.”
“They’re yours, too.”
The corner of her mouth lifted. “They told me I had to take your place while you were gone. I didn’t know what to do.”
“Whatever you did, you did it well. You organized one hell of a rescue mission.”
She slid her fingers through the longer pieces of hair that fell over my forehead. “I had their help, but thank you.” She tugged on a strand playfully. “Just don’t ever get captured again.”
“Anything else you’d like to demand of me, darling?”
“Hmm . . .” She made a show of thinking. “Not at the moment, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
“In that case, I have a request,” I said, catching her hand and twining my fingers through hers.
“Oh? A request? Not a demand—”
“Marry me.”
She froze, her fingers tightening around mine.
“Marry me, Auren.”
“W-Why?” she stammered. “I mean, of course! But, why? I thought the fae didn’t—”
“The fae have a mating ceremony to join two souls in union. It’s not called ‘marriage,’ like it is in the human realm, but it’s essentially the same.
It’s a sacred ceremony, performed by a priestess or an Adorner.
A few spoken words, oaths, and that’s it.
For a High Lord, it acts as a public recognition of shared power, with witnesses present to vouch that it occurred.
And it’s a declaration I can make to the entire world that I love you.
” A tear slipped down her cheek, and I wiped it away with my thumb.
“I love you more than life itself, and I want to make you mine, in word and in bond.”
“I love you too. And I want the same,” she said, still gripping my hand as if it were the bond itself.
“I’ll have it arranged then,” I said, eyeing her lips before I claimed them in another deep kiss.
When we finally pulled back for breath, her mouth twisted in a slight grin. “I have a request of my own.”
“Anything you wish.”
“I get to design my gown.”
I raised her hand and planted a kiss on the back of it. “Done.”
She beamed.
“But first, we need to take a small trip.”
“And where is it that we’ll be going?”
“To your little Dionach’s lair. I want to meet his wardeness and confirm for myself that he is who he says he is.”
She gave me a pointed look, calling out my skepticism. “I clearly recall Elspeth saying Dionachs are inherently good beings and loyal to their cause. I don’t think he would lie about this.”
“In any case, I want to be sure. You’re too important to me—to the realms.”
“You just don’t like the way Silas barged in and claimed me as his.”
I angled my head at her. “Are you saying I should be okay with that?”
“I’m just saying that fae males are very overprotective.” Her finger playfully jabbed at my chest.
“It’s in our nature. Dionachs have to get over that.”
She sighed long and heavy as she fell sideways onto the bed. “Why did the gods have to surround me with so many possessive males?”
One quick movement, and I was on all fours above her, smirking. “Is the protectiveness annoying you?”
She rolled her eyes but grinned up at me. “Perhaps.” Her hands reached up and grabbed onto my bare waist, and my cock was instantly hard again.
My voice slid into a predatory growl. “I’m afraid that’s something you’ll just have to get used to, my love, because there’s not an alternate life or timeline where I wouldn’t lay waste to anyone or anything that tried to harm you.”
I watched her expression change from love and reverence, to heated desire.
“You’d better condition me to my new reality then, High Lord,” she said.
My cock stirred, swelling further. “And how would you like for me to do that?”
She glanced down between us to where I was pitched high and ready for anything she wanted from me. “By thoroughly laying claim to me again.”
“Mmm, I can certainly do that.” I traced a finger along her jawline, tilting her chin up toward me. “In fact, I think I might have to fuck you so hard, so deep, that any and all other males will scent our bond from miles away and know you’re mine.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” she breathed out, grinning. “Typical, overprotective—”
I cut off her playful goading by crushing my lips onto hers while my knees shoved her legs apart. Positioned at her entrance, feeling how primed and soaked she was, I didn’t wait. I pushed inside, groaning at the decadent feel of her as she clenched around me.
All I heard were her approving moans, and the two breathy words she whispered in my ear: “Take me.”