Amelia rolled her lips together, and her eyes crinkled with amusement. “They’re warm and sturdy, and they’ve lasted me years.”
“The dresses?” he asked, already knowing the answer. He’d thought they were horrible, but what did he know?
“They fit perfectly, and I needed dresses that fit.”
He reached around her and wound her braid around his fist to tilt her head back. “Tell me, were the dresses pretty?”
Her throat bobbed. “No. They’re terrible, but I wear them, more so now than then. They didn’t go to waste.”
Amelia would banish Ora from the palace, and once Ora was thoroughly devastated and his mate had claimed her victory, he would kill Ora for what she’d done. She’d tortured his mate for years and made him the conduit.
A branch snapped, followed by a loud chuff, and they whirled around to find the culprit. A large lelker passed through the rainbow trees, its giant black head bobbing with each step. It was similar to an elk in the Human Kingdom, except horns ran the length of its neck like a horse’s mane and its body was larger. All thoughts of Ora fled as the rush of the hunt took their place.
“What is that?” Amelia whispered in a panic.
“A lelker.” Rennick slowly removed her bow so as not to make too much noise. “Are you ready, little mate?”
“Yes.” Her voice shook, and it took her several tries to nock an arrow.
Rennick stalked the beast with his gaze, waiting for the perfect opening to move closer, but something in his chest smarted. A quick glance at his mate made him do a double take. “Are you crying, love? You’re in no danger.”
“I’m fine.” The arrow trembled in her hold.
He’d seen her talent with a bow; her apprehension didn’t make sense to him. Did she think he cared if she wasn’t a perfect shot?
She lowered the weapon with tears streaming down her now pale face. “I can’t do it.”
He rubbed her back reassuringly. “It’s okay if you miss. I won’t think lesser of you. I miss from time to time.”No, I don’t.
“I don’t want to kill it,” she blubbered and swiped at her face. “I hate hunting, but you like it, and I wanted to do something you enjoyed, but I can’t do it. I thought I could, but I can’t.”
Her words stole his own. She’d tried to do something that tore her to pieces for him? A protective rage filled him, and he grabbed her arrow and snapped it in half. The sound sent the lelker skittering away.
She’d chanced the scorn of others to wear the awful things he’d sent her, kept a doll that terrified her, and had agreed to kill a living creature, knowing it would destroy her, all to make him happy.
He’d never wanted anyone in his life more than he wanted her right now.
“It is taking everything in me not to fuck you here in the snow,” he said roughly. “That you would do that for me… I love you.”
Her gaze met his. “I love you too, Rennick. I’d do anything for you.” She glanced at the broken arrow between them in the snow. “I’d try to, at least.”
The explosion in his chest undid him. He slammed his lips to hers and picked her up. “Wrap your legs around me, love.”
Her ankles locked behind his back, and he yanked at her skirts, swearing when he felt wool leggings underneath. “I need to touch you everywhere.”
She removed her bulky scarf and pulled back. “Don’t let me fall.” Reaching down with both hands, Amelia gripped the crotch of her leggings. She tugged relentlessly at the fabric until it gave way and exposed her bare skin.
He groaned. “No underwear?”
“Move me down a little.” Confused at first, he dropped her body lower, then he understood when her hands made quick work of undoing his pants to release his painfully hard dick.
He raised her to align himself with her entrance. “Hold tight.”
“Wait,” she gasped. Rennick held still. “What about the plug?”
He’d researched before retrieving her, learning everything there was to know about sex, and from what he’d been told, fucking her with the plug in should heighten things for both of them. “Wait and see,” he purred before he seated himself fully inside of her.
She scratched at his shoulders. “It’s—I—Rennick.”
