Page 6 of Tik-Tok

Lifting Celyna, he pressed her up against the glass of her home and slid her upward until her legs rested over his shoulders. She was bare beneath her skirt, giving him unimpaired access to her slit. He shot her a knowing smirk at how wet she was. “Seems like you missed me.”

“I missed your body,” she crooned, grabbing his hair and bringing his face to her sex.

His tongue flicked her bundle of nerves and he grinned at her gasp. But, as much fun as Celyna was, he was too impatient today. His tongue ran down her opening, plunging inside, swirling as she ground against him. A groan slipped from his throat at the taste of her and his cock begged for attention, but his mind refused to release him to the pleasure.

Portal, portal, portal.

Increasing his pace just like Celyna liked it, he tore an orgasm from her in no time. Her legs spasmed on the sides of his head, her back arched. It felt as if she would pull every hair from his head as he licked her clean, but he didn’t mind. He knew, as the fluttering continued, she was seeing exactly what he needed her to. Finally, her grip on him loosened and he carefully set her on her feet. She reached for his pants with a dazed expression.

Tik-Tok brushed her hands away and stepped back from her. “What did you see?”

With a sigh, the witch bent and lifted her new basket. “Visit the queen and force her to make good on your agreement.”

“Queen Ozma?” His pulse hammered in his ears. “The female is finally mine?”

“Thatwasthe deal you struck, wasn’t it?” She cast a look to his gloved hand. “Don’t forget your ring was part of the bargain.”

Tik-Tok rubbed his chest, his heartbeat painfully fast.It’s time. She’s mine. Theportalis mine.“Yes, that was the deal.”

“Then go to the Emerald City and claim your prize.”

It was hard to catch his breath, his focus zeroing in on the end goal. How many more tasks would come after this one? How many moreyears? He shook his head.It doesn’t matter.His next task was ready.

And, just as he’d sensed the witch would have good news, he felt a tether to the unknown female. A link tying their destinies together. Gentle vibrations of an undeniable bond locked into place, warming his chest, beckoning him nearer.

“I’m expected by the merfolk,” the witch said, interrupting his thoughts. “Next time, come earlier and we can finish what we started.”

He grinned, his libido suddenly in overdrive. If he wasn’t in such a hurry to get to the Emerald City, she would completely miss her meeting with the merfolk. “Promises, promises,” he told her, winking.

But, before the year was up, he hoped there would be no need to visit again. Because he would sail the Nonestic Ocean and find his portal long before that.

Chapter Four

North

“If I could, I would tie you to the chair and make sure you stayed here where it’s safe, but your mother wouldn’t allow it,” Tin said, his silver eyes boring into North as he leaned his head against the door of her room. “You’re lucky I’m not going to tell her that you snuck out of your grandmother’s palace. Tomorrow we leave to celebrate Brielle, so please try to behave.” This would be her first time meeting Ozma and Jack’s daughter since she’d been born a month ago.

North hated disappointing her father, but she wasn’t a child anymore. She wasn’t the youngling who constantly followed him around and hefted his axe as if it were her own. While she still wanted to make him proud, she was also finding herself, becoming an individual.

“I’m sorry, Father. But you don’t understand what it’s like to not be enough or to make mistakes.” Her head drooped as she clasped her hands together in her lap.

Tin took heavy-footed steps to her bed and knelt in front of her. Under the orange orbs’ illumination from the ceiling, his iron scar seemed to glow. As usual, his hair was pulled back in a knot.

“You think I haven’t made mistakes? I’ve told you the stories. You know I’ve felt the same.” His voice came out gruff, yet soft, as he lifted her chin. “North, magic doesn’t always come right away, and if it never happens, then it doesn’t. There’s more to life than power.”

By her age, if she was going to have it, she should have already.

“Are you still angry?” she asked.

Tin rolled his gaze to the ceiling and let out a long sigh. “Fuck yes, I’m angry, but I love you. Even when you act without thinking. Oz isn’t perfect, and there are dangerous fae out there.” He pressed a light kiss to her forehead and stood. Adjusting his axe on his hip, he turned to leave, then peered over his shoulder. “There are guards below your window now too. I know you’re not a youngling anymore, but it’s for your safety. Strangers are traveling through the area to reach the capital, and you know I trust no one.”

North smiled. “No one but Mother.”

“And you.” He shot her a hard stare like she should have known better. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

North fell back onto the mattress, letting her body bounce as she stared up at the ceiling, watching the light orbs gently sway. Tugging back her hands, she pretended to throw axes over and over at the center of each invisible target, hitting its mark. This, every night, was the only way she could get herself to fall asleep. She was decent enough with an axe, but that was only because she’d wanted so much to be like her father. Even so, she missed the marks when she hurled one. However, she could twirl an axe and slice someone down if they were close enough.

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