Page 135 of Throne of Dreams
“Maybe you’re just too big.”
“Gods,” he groaned, gripping her ass so hard she knew she’d bear the mark of his fingers before they were done.
Over and over, he pumped himself inside her. Magic simmered along their skin, heating them until the water turned to smoke and steam. Energy crackled in the air above them, sparked with shards of violet and gold. Their matching Strands reached for one another, binding them, dragging them further to a point of no return.
Until a resounding knock on the bathroom door jolted them back to reality.
“What is it?” Tiernan shouted, his voice taut with rage that would cause even the most valiant of fae to cower.
He stilled and Maeve whimpered.
“We’re ready to go,moh Rí.” Merrick’s voice sounded from the other side of the door, his tone mocking. “Come whenever you’re ready.”
The insinuation wasn’t lost on either of them, and Tiernan clamped one hand over Maeve’s mouth as he rammed himself inside her. She clenched around him, urging him on. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she held tight. He smothered her pants and cries with his palm, then grinned. Bending his head down, he sucked her breast into his hot mouth. Maeve bucked against his hold, but he held firm, his tongue swirling around her nipple as he fucked her harder. She swore his cock grew then, emboldened by the fact that Merrick was just outside, knowing exactly what he did to her.
“I’ll come when I’m damn good and ready,” Tiernan barked, and the only response was Merrick’s wild laughter.
“When this is over,” Tiernan whispered, sliding out of her only to shove himself into her again. “I’m going to spend every waking hour fucking you.” He repeated the movement. “From sunrise.” Then again. “To sunset.”
He buried his thick cock in her once more, filling her to the hilt, and she shuddered around him as the orgasm shredded them both. She collapsed onto him, her body spent, her heart longing to hear all the words she worried he would never say.
ChapterThirty-Nine
They traveled for three days through parts of Faeven Maeve had never seen before, finally reaching the outskirts of the Winter Court.
At her back was the half of the Summer Legion, along with the Furies, and before her was a wondrous landscape of frost-covered beauty. Breathtaking yet treacherous. Thick snow covered the ground and towering evergreens stood watch overhead, their rich decadent branches swooping low and decorated with glimmering icicles. Snowflakes fell around them, each one intricate in design like patterned lace. Furry white foxes with crystal blue eyes bounded past the hooves of her horse and a snowy white owl dove from the trees on the hunt for its next meal.
It was cold here, but not bitter like the winters in Kells. Still, she was grateful for the gloves and fur cloak to keep her warm. Even the air here was different. Magical. It smelled of spruce, peppermint, and something warm. Everywhere she looked, the world seemed to sparkle like it was frozen in an eternal celebration of Yuletide.
In the distance, she could make out the mountains of the Crown City of Ashdara that carved the horizon with their rugged peaks.
Silver flowers with blood red centers bloomed from a bush nearby, and she bent down to see if they too, would smell as lovely as the rest of Winter.
“Don’t be fooled by its beauty, my lady.” Lir rode up beside her, blocking the tempting blossoms from her view. He dusted a small accumulation of snow from his cloak. “The Winter Court is known for disguising its lethality behind its allure.”
“He’s right.” Merrick brought his horse up alongside them and nodded toward the bush. “Those arecohlahblooms. One sniff, no matter how slight, will put you into a deep sleep.”
Maeve smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind in case your sister ever decides to make amends and send me flowers.”
Merrick’s laughter rang out and he flashed her a winning smile. “How did we ever survive without you? I don’t think I’ve laughed so often in years.”
The sentiment warmed her heart.
“Keep a steady eye,” Tiernan called from the front, piercing both his commander and hunter with one look. He raised one hand, halting everyone behind him.
Brynn rose from her saddle, scanning the skies and the forest. She gave her mare a gentle pat on the neck. “If the scout’s coordinates were correct, we should’ve intercepted them by now.”
Maeve peered over the pristine scenery before her. Surely a swarm of dark fae would stand out against a backdrop of winter white.
From beside her, Merrick hopped off his horse and paced the outer perimeter of the forest, snow crunching beneath his boots. He inhaled deeply, a line furrowing across his brow. “This isn’t right. There’s no sign of them, at least not for miles.”
Just then, Maeve witnessed the world shimmer before her eyes.
Glamour.
“There!” she cried, pointing directly in front of them, to where magic shifted and the untouched snow upon the ground started to swirl.
Except it wasn’t the dark fae. Or Parisa. Instead, Queen Ciara, Malachy, and a few other Winter warriorsfadedinto view.
