“Obviously.” Sabine inspects her black nails.
Beth looks down at herself again. “So, I’m not a changeling?”
“Oh, I don’t know what you are.” Sabine shrugs. “But you’re alive, aren’t you? And thanks to me, immortal.” She waggles her head.
Beth gasps. “You … you planned all this?”
“I just set the prophecy into motion.”
“Why?” I try to read the witch, to get some idea where she’s going with all this. Is she a threat?
“I like having you around.” She shrugs. “We’re …” she seems to taste the word. “Friends.”
“We are,” Beth agrees, even though I’m not convinced.
“Glad we cleared all that up.” Sabine claws up the doorframe, jumps to the beams in the ceiling, then spider-walks down the hall.
“What in the Spires—”
“Beth!” Taylor shrieks as she runs into the room and topples us both onto the bed.
I quickly stow my cock and yank down Beth’s dress. Taylor doesn’t seem to notice, thank the Ancestors.
“You’re alive!”
“You made me alive!” Beth laughs. “And look, no scars. And look—” she points to her face for some reason. “Immortal!”
“No shit?” Taylor hugs Beth even tighter. “I can’t believe it. It worked!”
“You’re a real necromancer now.” Beth is still laughing, her joy infectious. “I guess I’m an undead monster or something, but I rather like it. Feel how soft my skin is!”
Taylor runs a finger down Beth’s arm. “Wow. I need to get me some of that.”
“You are perfect, little one.” Leander strides in, takes one look at me, then pulls Taylor from the bed.
“What?” she complains. “I was just inspecting my handiwork—”
“I believe they were in the middle of something.” He gives her a pointed look.
Her cheeks redden. “Oh.” She lets him lead her from the room. “Oh, sorry.”
“You don’t have to go,” Beth calls.
I pin her to the bed. “Yes, they damn well do.”
She giggles as I kiss every inch of her, taking my sweet time and using my tongue in all the right places.
When I’m done, and she’s breathless again, she lies on me, her fingers tracing my name over and over on my chest.
“Am I an Elliden now?” she asks.
I purr at the thought. “You are mine in all ways, and if you choose to take my name, it is a particular sign of honor for me.”
“Then give me it.” She taps my chest. “I want it.”
“It is yours, my beloved.” I kiss her crown. “And I shall set a public mating ceremony for all to see.”
“Really?”
