Page 87 of Kingdom of Spirits

Pleasure scattered across her torso, peaking her breasts, then traveling down the backs of her legs to pebble her skin in waves.

Two could play this game. She bit her lip, stared into his eyes, and wrapped her legs around him in one swift maneuver.

His lips parted in a gasp and he winced, hissing, his fangs showing and the veins in his neck growing prominent.

“Be still,” he growled, going still himself as well.

She grinned. “Why?” She rocked herself against the length of him.

Snarling, he suddenly dropped his hips and thrust into her. He drove forward again and again and again.

“You are mine, Tahlia.” His voice was the storm-tossed forest. “Mine. All mine.”

The bed shook beneath the fervor of his pace, and pure pleasure whipped through her body, the heat inside her unfurling and snapping, making her cry out.

Dropping to the bed, he wrapped his arms around her and tucked her up beside him. Sweat made their skin stick here and there, but everything was perfection because this love was real and it was forever.

Epilogue

MARIUS

In the months that followed, Marius was never satisfied when it came to showing Tahlia love. In word and in deed, both in the bedchamber and outside those walls, he did his best to honor the love of his life, his dear and perfect mate.

And it wasn’t just because a certain female Healer would stab him repeatedly if he did anything less. Fara actually seemed to like him now. Perhaps even trust him.

It was because Tahlia deserved to be treated like a goddess, and he’d be damned if he didn’t make up for all the trouble he’d caused early on by not acting on his heart’s knowledge from day one.

Remus is concerned,Ragewing said into Marius’s mind.He smells of fear.

Is it Lija?Tahlia’s dragon still hadn’t healed well enough to fly and the Witch hadn’t yet responded to their pleas for assistance.

No. Something else.

The squire rounded the corner and entered Ragewing’s stall. He held out a sealed letter. “This came for you. From one of the king’s messengers.”

Marius set aside the cloth he’d been using to polish Ragewing’s shoulder scales and accepted the letter. “What’s wrong, Remus?”

“The male, he…” Remus rubbed at his nose and glanced away.

The seal bore Fae King Lysanael’s seal. Marius cracked it and opened the missive.

Remus met Marius’s gaze. “The messenger’s horse died shortly after arriving. He rode him too hard because this message is so urgent.”

“Why didn’t the queen ride her forest dragon here, I wonder…”

“There’s word she is in Fjordbok at the moment.”

The queen’s home. “Ah.” Marius scanned the letter, his heart dropping with each new detail. “Remus, find Tahlia for me, will you?”

“No need,” a quick and perfect voice said from the stall doorway. Tahlia lifted a hand in greeting.

A wave of concern swept over Marius and he had to restrain himself from pulling her to him protectively. He swallowed and met her at the door.

“King Lysanael and Queen Revna have set us on a mission.”

“Oooh.” She rubbed her hands together. “Will Ragewing let me ride with you since Lija is still healing?”

Marius could tell Tahlia was ignoring the potentially lethal elements of Lija’s condition. Dragons that didn’t fly, didn’t stay alive for long. But for now, that issue had to wait.

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