Rooke was my dark prince, Varian my knight in shining armor, but Ryland…he was the monster who stood guard against the darkness, who slaughtered our enemies and protected his lair, utterly ruthless, completely unwavering in his devotion. “Come here, Ryland Storme. I have a reward for you being such a good boy and waiting.”
One crook of my finger and he was there, pushing into my mouth, filling my senses with his salty musk as Rooke and Varian thrust in and out. Then I was swept away in a wave too enormous to resist, not that I wanted to.
This climax obliterated me, wiped me clean, sent mespiraling into the heavens, spinning between the stars as I shattered into a million glowing pieces, like I was becoming those stars in the sky.
One by one they followed me, tumbling over and over, nothing but breath and clenched muscle and glorious release.
After, in the moments we lay tangled together, not knowing where one of us started and the other ended, I realized this would never get old. Ever.
“That was fucking…” Rooke flopped backwards on the bed. “I don’t have the fucking words, but it was…” He closed his eyes. “Like a fucking epiphany, every time.”
We arranged ourselves on the bed like usual, me propped up against Rooke’s chest, Varian in my lap, my fingers already sifting through his long hair, while Ryland stretched out beside me, hand cradling my belly. Always touching, always there.
No fighting, no war.
No bad days.
Just the work of rebuilding a new realm, of making things better.
At first, peace had seemed so strange, but now…I blew out a sigh. This was far more fun than running for our lives. “You know, I’ve never really asked.” I lifted my fingers from Varian’s head. “The day we left the Citadelle, when Torin took you aside…what did you two talk about?”
Rooke cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. “Now that’s…maybe something we should discuss later, princess.Privately.”
“Aw, look,” Ryland jostled us. “The prince has a secret.”
Rooke glared at him, his arms tightening.
“Fine.” He kissed my cheek, “she told me I am not, afterall, the last of my line. That in many years, my son will inherit this realm, and become a beloved prince.”
I twisted so I could see his face. “You have a son?”
“Not yet, princess,” he laughed, burying his face into the crook of my neck with a soft laugh.
“Well…notquiteyet.”
EPILOGUE
ARIEL SANDRUSH
The tavern at the darkened end of a ramshackle Tempeste back alley called itself The Golden Chalice, pretending it was respectable. Or even a tavern.
This shithole was neither.
Smoke clung to the rafters like tar, the air tasted like cheap liquor and bad decisions, and every unsteady table held some kind of threat—usually hidden behind a toothless grin. Like most cities, the lower tiers of Tempeste didn’t sparkle the way the palace did. They were covered in centuries of grime and always looking for an easy score.
Exactly how I liked it.
Places like this were a hunting ground for people like me, cooped up for too long, playing at being respectable, trying to keep my promise to my sister, living her best life at the other end of the world.
Getting railed by three gorgeous Fae males on a nightly basis.
I sighed.Who knew Lyrae had it in her.
Tavion Montgomery—my accomplice for tonight—lounged across from me like he owned the place—white hair tied back into a severe tail, broad shoulders hunched over his cards, blue eyes sharp as he scanned the room forthe umpteenth time. Instead of his fancy blue cape and embroidered vest, he was in a filthy shirt and plain gray trousers, freshly streaked with dirt I’d tossed at him on our way here.
Not that he was happy about that, but at least he fit in.
Kind of, given he was Queen Anaria’s mate and a wolf who could devour anyone inside this room in one toothy chomp.
