I thrust up into her, and she let out one of those tiny gasps that made me fucking wild.

Her gasp turned into a long, filthy moan, and I almost came.

Grinding my teeth, I angled her until I knew I was hitting that perfect spot inside her. Prisca went wild, arching her back, snapping her hips as she chased her pleasure.

That was my favorite sight.

“It will be this way for the rest of our lives,” I vowed. “You and me, like this, forever. I’ll never let you go, wildcat.”

Her eyes opened to slits, burning with passion.

“You’re mine. And I’m yours. Until the end of time.”

She nodded, breathless now. Her entire body trembled, and it took everything I had to hold back.

Sliding one hand down her body, I found her clit. She rode me like she had been born for this. My hand stroked faster, and her mouth dropped open in a soundless scream.

“Come for me, wildcat.”

She contracted tightly around me as her eyes rolled back, her entire body stiffening. I guided her hips down, up, down, and came so hard I saw stars.

Prisca slumped down, lying on my chest as both of us gasped for breath. I gently stroked her back, enjoying the feel of her limp and sated as she lay on me.

We dozed for a while, until Prisca lifted her head, blinking. When she began untangling herself from me, I tightened my hands.

“And just where do you think you’re going?”

She raised one brow. “I have things to do.”

So did I. And I very much resented everything that was preventing us from spending the next several days just like this.

Prisca sat up, swinging her legs off the bed. “I should probably get dressed.”

With that, she scooted her perfect ass off the bed. Her hips rolled as she walked toward the closet, and I was standing next to her before I realized I’d moved.

“Lorian,” she said warningly, but her nose wrinkled as she grinned.

“Fine,” I muttered. “I need to go talk to Rythos anyway.”

“I’ll see you tonight.”

This time, I gave my opinion as I strolled through the castle. Not once, but twice. And I even smiled.

Prisca was right. I could see the change—the waypeople relaxed when they spoke to me. Only days ago, I’d been crowned the hybrid king, and I wanted the people here to know I wasn’t just someone who would fight for them on the battlefield. I was someone they could bring their petitions and grievances to. Someone who wanted them to have long, full lives.

I might never have anticipated I’d be king of any kingdom, but this was the life we had fought so hard for.

When I finally made my way out of the castle, I swept my gaze over the grounds. They’d been kept tidy, although Demos had decided a large section of the gardens would be turned into a training arena.

Already, a sanctuary had been built. I hadn’t liked the idea, but it looked nothing like the mockery of religion Regner had created. It was merely a quiet place for any who needed it. And Regner’s High Priestess had settled here.

As much as Jamic liked Mona, he hadn’t felt that he could guarantee her safety in his kingdom just yet.

And Mona was a solitary creature who mostly wanted to wander the gardens.

Occasionally, she appeared to be staring into the distance, lost in memories. The kinds of memories that drained the life from her skin.

When that happened, Prisca or Asinia would usually take her by the hand and lead her back to her rooms. Most recently, though, it had been Rythos, of all people, who had linked his arm with hers and walked her out of the gardens.