18. Elora
18
ELORA
T he fire crackles in the hearth, and I adjust in my chair, flipping the page of the book I was attempting to read.
Failing to read is more like it.
I couldn’t get Amon out of my mind. He had looked so disappointed in himself when he walked out of the ballroom, and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why.
I had wanted him to kiss me. I’d been wanting it before this night.
A soft chirruping interrupts my thoughts, and I look over to where Nyx is sitting, looking out at me through the bars of her little cage.
“What?” I ask softly, standing and walking over to her. She spits out a little spark, and I giggle as I open the door. I hold my hand out, and she crawls into it, scurrying up my arm to sit on my shoulder.
Her little wings flutter gently and as I close the door to her cage, she glides to my chamber door.
“Nyx!” I call out, turning and watching, my jaw slack.
“I had no idea you could fly.” I say accusingly, walking to her. She looks up at the door, and I place my hands on my hips.
“It’s dark. You know we can’t go outside at night.”
The little drakeling looks up at me with her large black eyes. She lets out a little chirrup, and I tsk.
“You’re going to get me in trouble.” I mumble as I open my chamber door.
As soon it’s open, Nyx takes off, gliding down the corridor.
I gasp, looking after her.
“Nyx!” I hiss, reaching over to grab a sconce off the wall before chasing after her.
I’m barely able to keep an eye on her little form, but I quickly realize she’s not heading the right way.
“Nyx!” I hiss again, pulling my night dress into a hand. I jog walk to catch up to her, cursing under my breath as she turns a corner to scurry down another corridor.
I look around me, ensuring we aren’t seen as I follow behind her.
Hardly any of the candles are lit here, and the only light I have is that of my sconce.
I squint into the darkness, barely able to make out the drakeling’s little form. I finally catch up to her only to find her sitting on her haunches in front of a large wooden door.
I don’t know what the door leads to, and I’m not sure I want to find out.
“You’re an absolute pain.” I whisper as I kneel down to pick her up. Just as I wrap my hands around her, the door opens suddenly, and I gasp, looking up to see Amon standing in the dimly lit doorway.
He looks over me before looking down to see me kneeling there, Nyx in my hands.
The little drakeling wriggles free, scurrying around Amon’s legs into the room behind him.
I stand slowly, sconce in hand, embarrassment heating my cheeks. He looks down at my night dress, and his pupils dilate.
The sight has heat pooling in my lower belly.
“Elora…” He whispers, his grip tightening on the door.
I can’t take it anymore. I don’t know what comes over me, or why I choose to do it, but the sconce clatters to the stone as I reach up on tiptoe to throw my arms around his neck.
I press my inexperienced lips to his, and he startles, stiffening. I don’t release him, and it takes only a half a second for him to wrap an arm around me.
He growls against my mouth, pulling me through the doorway. I vaguely hear the bang of the door as he slams it shut, spinning me around to set me on my feet.
I shudder as his hand spans my waist, whilst the other wraps around the nape of my neck. He cradles my head before fisting his hand into my hair, pulling my head back to angle his lips over mine, deepening the kiss.
I’m overwhelmed by him, and when his tongue darts out against my lips, I open to him willingly.
His tongue finds mine, and I let out a small moan against his mouth as heat pools at my center.
He tastes of wine and spice, and I drink him in, fisting a hand into the front of his shirt. It’s open at the front, and I trail my hand down to rest against his skin.
His heat permeates my flesh, and a languid tingling begins to take hold. I can feel it everywhere he touches me.
It’s glorious.
I press myself against him, and he groans against my mouth, pulling me closer still. Our bodies meld together perfectly, and I can’t help but notice him hardening against my stomach.
It sends fresh heat directly to the apex of my thighs.
I squeeze them together, attempting to relieve the mounting pressure.
Amon breaks the kiss, trailing his lips over my jaw. I let my head fall back as he lowers his mouth to my neck.
Shivering, I grasp his upper arms as he scrapes his fangs over the sensitive flesh there.
“Elora…” He growls my name against my neck, inhaling deeply. My name is a prayer on his lips.
A chirruping startles me out of my trance, and I turn my head to see Nyx staring at us from Amon’s desk.
This must be his study.
I place a hand against Amon’s chest. He pulls back slowly, and when I meet his eyes, they are black.
The sight almost makes me pull him back to me.
I clear my throat instead, jerking my head towards the little drakeling.
He turns to look at her, then back at me. Releasing me, he turns to hold out his hand, chuckling when she spits a small flame at him. “Jealous?” he asks, his voice but a soft growl.
Nyx lets out a little growl in return.
I cross my arms over my chest, smiling.
“I swear she’d choose you every time.” I say dryly.
Amon reaches out, picking Nyx up to set her on his shoulder. She nuzzles him, and I tsk. “Sucker.” I say, both to her and myself.
“Nyx is loyal to you. She just recognizes me as her master. Just like I’m master of all creatures in this realm.” He reaches up, wrapping his large hand around her.
Setting her on my shoulder, he smirks.
“Women.” He says playfully.
I reach out and punch his arm gently, and he feigns pain.
I roll my eyes.
Silence permeates the room as we look at each other. The air between us is still very charged, and I feel my cheeks heat at the realization of what I’d done.
“Amon-I.”
He raises a hand to stop me, shaking his head.
“I’m the one that needs to apologize, not you. I shouldn’t have done what I did.”
I pull my lips between my teeth.
How do I tell him that I want this?
The words fail me, so when I don’t say anything, he reaches out, opening the door to his study.
Stepping aside, he watches as I walk out.
“Have a wonderful night, Elora.”
I look back at him, smiling softly, but the ache in my heart belies the smile on my face.
“Goodnight.”
Amon
I close the door of my study as Elora walks away, listening to the sound of her footsteps fading into the distance.
I briefly contemplate going after her but dash the thought instantly.
This entire night had done everything to dash what little resolve I had left.
I was certain of it.
Elora was my mate.
I’d known it before, but it was impossible to deny the moment her lips met mine. I’d felt it the night we first met, and the bond between us had only strengthened since.
Every fiber of my being screamed at me to claim her. Finish what we started, make her mine.
I knew that rushing things with her would only scare her, and for some reason that thought sent pain lancing through my chest.
The thought that she would be afraid to look upon me scared me.
I only wanted to bring her happiness.
Shoving a hand through my hair, I pace, walking to the window and looking out over the inky black that permeates the night sky of my realm.
My lips still tingle from our kiss. The memory of her skin beneath my fingers, the softness of her flesh under my fangs….
My cock jumps, hardening almost instantly.
I hiss, clenching my fists at my sides to keep from reaching in to wrap one around my length.
I needed her.
Needed to seal our mate bond.
If I didn’t do it soon, my powers would wane.
Patience…
I needed to have patience.