“I love you, Alandra. I’ll never forget what you’ve given me, or what you’ve given up for me.”
“Now that was really good.” She kissed me with tenderness, then more passionately as I hardened inside her again. “So soon?”
“Not soon enough.” I moaned as she levered off me.
“How about if we do it this way?” she asked, going down on all fours as she glanced over her shoulder. “It’s much more masterful like this, my prince.”
I grinned. “Trying to control me, hmm? We’ll just see about that.”
Chapter 35
Alandra
Hours later, totally spent, I smiled and stared down at my lover, my mate, and stroked his cheek. His eyes were closed, and though he’d told me he wanted only a moment to recover before we joined his family, he’d fallen asleep.
Rising from his side, I stretched and patted the shadowed grass that even now, despite the bright moonlight, refused to accept the moon’s beams.
I’m definitely going to love it here.
Hearing a trickle of water nearby, I cast a small protective spell around Aerolus, using his power now as easily as I used my own. I walked into the cool stream and washed away the sweat of our lovemaking, as well as the lingering sensation of having nearly died.
“I just wanted to thank you for what you did,” I said quietly to the source of my and Aerolus’ well-being. “And I appreciate the privacy you allowed us.”
No one responded, not that I’d expected anything. But with Aerolus’ elemental magic in addition to Tanselm’s incredible core of energy increasing my latent magic, I could feel that other presence who had helped before.
With a smile, I added, “I just want you to know that I owe you my life, and his as well. I won’t forget that, but I won’t speak of it either. Since by your silence, you seem to expect silence in return.”
I stared at a small patch of Darkness that didn’t seem to belong to the shadow of the forest in which it dwelled.
True love should never be denied, echoed in my mind.
The Darkness seemed to thicken before it vanished.
I let out the breath I’d been holding. Not nervous, but very thankful for the chance at happiness I’d been given.
After returning to Aerolus’ side, I nudged him awake. “I’m sorry, my prince, but we need to let your family know you’re okay. Before we get any unexpected visitors.” I glanced wryly at our nudity.
He yawned and smiled up at me, that grin hitting me right in the heart. On a breath, he spelled us clothed in ugly jeans and clingy T-shirts from the mundane world we’d escaped.
I grimaced but had to laugh at his challenging expression.
I readied my magic to meet his dare when the sound of racing footsteps approached.
Aerolus placed me protectively behind him.
I thrilled at the act and hugged him from behind. “I’m so glad you love me.”
“It wouldn’t kill you to return the sentiment, you know,” he growled from the side of his mouth.
Upon seeing his family nearing, we both relaxed.
“Thank the Light. You two are alive and well.” Darius — I could tell from the red eyes — breathed a sigh of relief and reined in his horse. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you for hours.”
“That’s odd.” Aerolus frowned. “You should have been able to feel us here.”
“Yes, we should have.” Marcus stared at us, his grin widening. I suspected he’d noticed the rosy glow of satisfaction on my face. “I knew when I felt that certain spark you were okay. But damn, Brother, you had us severely worried.”
“I did?”
