Page 60 of Scaled Hearts

“Ohhh…” she moans, relaxing into the mattress.

I pant heavily against her shoulder, my entire body going limp as well. No matter that I’ve fucked her hard enough to cause her memory loss, I’ve in turn done much the same to myself.

I nuzzle my face into her shoulder and kiss her soft skin a few times. My arms curl around her entire body and squeeze her back against my chest. I hold her as both of our hammering heart beats slowly come down from the exertion.

Kelly lets out a small laugh, surprising me.

“What?” I ask her.

She surprises me by saying, “I love you.”

I blink. “Oh?”

“Mmm…”

I smirk and nip at her shoulder. “I love you, too.”

26

Kelly

Things are so much better with Angurus in charge, as I knew they would be. I trust my mate to be as fair, kind and generous with my people as he is with me, so I know he is the perfect choice to lead our people.

He professed when we first met to be a hard-headed, stubborn, careless man but I saw the real him and I knew my people would feel the same—that Angurus was a benevolent ruler who we could look towards for guidance and help.

Even though they work hard in the mines, Angurus insists that the villagers work no more than six hours a day, four days a week. He’s very stubborn about this schedule and allows everyone plenty of time off to spend with their families.

If they’re sick, he makes sure that they don’t go to work and that they’re taken care of. Agatha is promoted to Head Healer and has two apprentices now, who she’s teaching to heal the villagers as well.

No one is starving anymore, either. Everyone gets equal shares of grain rations and we now have a few villagers who tend to the taura and the capra, which we’re allowed to use for milk and meat now.

Angurus gets help from the villagers to build us a manor. We build sturdy, solid walls around the village to protect them and he even hires some of the villagers as his servants.

We settle in and begin leading the town towards a brighter future.

“Mistress,” my handmaiden, Amanda, speaks up. I look up from where I’m leaning out the window of my room. I’m not used to having my own servants but as Lady of Angurus’ Mercy, I have my own household staff.

“Yes?”

“Lord Angurus is requesting your presence,” she says, curtsying.

“Thank you, Amanda,” I bow my head and wave, dismissing her. Angurus taught me how to manage the household, according to his own dark elven customs. I had to get used to being a Lady but I confess, deep down, I don’t mind it as much as I protest.

It’s certainly not what I expected when I set foot in that cave all those months ago. I was merely looking for a cure for my sister, not to fall in love with a dragon. Still, living a life as a Lady, ruling over my village with my mate is quite a step up from tirelessly working the mines watching my sick sister suffer under the orcs.

I smooth out my skirts, checking myself over in the tall looking-glass next to the mirror before departing.

Angurus is in his study, pouring over land surveys, mine operation reports, and building requests.

“Did you know that none of the village children attend school?” he asks, looking up at me. I tilt my head, staring at him. Of course I know that.

“This needs to be remedied at once.” He holds up a sheet of parchment. “I would like to arrange for one of the more educated villagers to tutor the children every day. No more working in the mines. We will pay their parents a stipend, enough to keep them from worrying about any lost wages.”

“You are so kind,” I praise him. “Far more kind than you let yourself believe. I think that is an exceptional idea. I have the right person in mind as well—April McMahon is one of the smartest girls in the entire village and would be the perfect schoolteacher.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll have the schoolhouse built at once and Mistress April will be in charge of the children if she is amenable.”

I smile a wide grin, throwing my arms around his neck and give him a quick kiss. “Thank you! I love you very much, Angurus the Terrible,” I tease.

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