He’s still grieving, and he’s still lost a home and people he dearly loved. But because of what we just did, his heart is no longer sundered. Bright, flowing, and glorious, Ström’s energy is indomitable now as I feel us come together with one heart, mind, and body.
Deep inside, I feel how so much of my heart has healed as well, from putting myself in Ström’s agony and letting our powerful love heal us. Because even though I have more wounds to face, particularly concerning Lithava, this incredible union has healed my heart, too.
It glows inside me now, as those infinitesimal runes upon our bodies fade. We’re left in the crackling silence of deep midnight—but no longer as we were.
As an incredible togetherness pours all through us now.
Filling us to our bones and back.
19
TOGETHER
Passion sears all through Ström and me as we lay in an exhausted cuddle in the bed. The crackle of the brazier burning and the soft noises of our kissing are the only sounds in the room now, as we recover from that massively powerful smelting of our hearts, bodies, and souls. But it hasn’t left us, as we canoodle quietly in the aftermath. It’s only gotten sweeter, brighter, and more delicious as I cuddle my best friend, and he holds me.
Kissing me forever as we lay together—as one.
“Well.Where do we go from here?” Ström sings now, as he quotes the musical episode from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
And I love him even more for that.
“Truly? I have zero fucking clue.” I mould into him tighter, and he winds me in his arms. “I don’t even really know what we did there—but it was epic.”
“I know. You healed me, Rikyava.” Ström is serious now as he takes my chin gently in his fingertips, making me look at him. “You took my broken heart for my family and my life and just fucking poured your love and compassion into me until I just fucking… healed. Because I know now that I’m no longer alone. And I don’t have to bear my sorrows alone, either. Ever.”
“Good. Remember that.” I am sweet but firm as I pat him teasingly on the chest.
“Thank you, by the way, for sticking with me even when I shut you out,” Ström says now as we talk in the afterglow. “I shouldn’t have done that. I was just hurting so much and didn’t want to show you, or have it ruin our friendship. Now I know better.”
“I’m glad.” I smile as everything inside me lights. I beam at him, and he beams back, then kisses my lips again.
“And while I’m thanking you for things… thank you for bonding Lærke as our family, even if she wasn’t brought into our Bloodbond.” Ström’s grass-green eyes blaze as he pulls back again, his lips nuzzling my nose. “Even though Mikkel can be a black-hearted bastard and Lærke can be iceberg-cold, they’re both… important to me.”
“I know both twins still love you, even though your relationship was broken when you met Alfhild Fey. And you still love them,” I say now, as this incredible space of sharing moves all through us.
“Yes.” Ström brushes my hair back from my temple, his gaze honest as he watches me. “They took me in and loved me when I just needed to get away from my destiny to be a Jarl-Heir. I wanted to be free, but I felt like my destiny stole my freedom. The twins gave that back to me—before you gave me so much more. Some part of me always knew I’d find a drakaina that truly fit me—and that’s you, Rikyava. I still love Lærke, just because that’s who I am. I’m happy for her now, that she can find her own destiny with someone who can love her. Someone she’ll finally be able to love back, thanks to your marvelous power opening her up again.”
“And yours,” I say, as I kiss him. “Because you know none of this works without your tremendous heart in our mix. And that’s a fact.”
“I do know that now. I do.” He cups my face in his hand as he stares deep into my eyes.
Then kisses me again, as I forget all else.
“Well. This is a cozy little pile. Mind if we add to it?”
Mikkel’s voice is low and rapacious as he and Baldur enter the room. As if they knew what Ström and I were doing and chose the perfect moment to make their entrance, my Third and Fourth Drake move into the room on the heels of our intimate talk, sinking to a seat upon the bed.
Ström’s look is priceless as he lifts an eyebrow at them and sits up now, glowing with renewed eagerness, despite everything. Mikkel’s look is dark and sexy as he crawls over to Ström on the bed.
Leaning in and kissing my Second Drake—deep and lascivious.
It takes my breath away to watch my Second and Third Drake kiss like that. Scalding electricity pours through the room as Mikkel’s indomitable energy joins the game. But it’s not a game; it’s true lovemaking we’re in now, as we bare our hearts and expose ourselves. Mikkel knows that as he pulls back.
Staring deep into Ström’s green eyes.
“Don’t be an asshole and cut yourself off from us again. Ever.” Mikkel stares Ström down.
“Aye, aye, captain.” Ström chuckles, though Mikkel’s meaning, and the intense love that washes through us all with his strong words, exposes the truth of what he’s saying.
