“Yes.” Aurus leans down so we’re face to face. “Yes, that’s it, my love.”
Love.That’s what this is. Emma was right. It does feel just like coming home. “I feel it,” I whisper.
“I feel it too.” His large hand covers mine. His fingers stroke mine with infinite gentleness. “I thought you didn’t want the bond?”
“It’s not so bad,” I admit.
“No?”
“I can live with it,” I say breezily, deciding I’ve had enough of this touchy feely stuff. “Now, let’s go.” I push at his heavy shoulder. “Your people are waiting.” I want to make sure the Beta ladies—Juno, Lenah and the rest—are all okay in the city.
“Yes, little queen.” He straightens. “But afterwards…” His cock prods my side, hard and heavy. He could club a Chitin with that thing.
“Absolutely.” I grin. “We’ll go and change, and then the first one to the skimmer gets to drive!” I take off towards the entrance to the palace, Aurus’s roar following me.
“No! Kim! Stop!” He tries to run, but his huge erection must be slowing him down. “You little—”
The last of his shout is drowned out by my cackle. I enter the palace and run round the corner but I can still feel him through the soul bond: his frustration, his arousal—and, even deeper than his strong desire, his love.
He’ll be with me, always. And I’ll be with him.
Forever.
EPILOGUE
Kim
“My queen.”A deep voice rings out over the sand.
I turn from the practice dummy I’ve been whaling on.
Aurus is striding across the arena towards me. “I thought I’d find you here.”
“Hey there,” I call, setting down my sword. I need a break, anyway. My arms are trembling from the exertion of practicing my side cuts.
I wrench off my helmet and cock my head. My short hair is probably sticking up all over the place, but that’s okay. Now that Aurus is used to my shaggy pixie cut, he seems to adore it. “Have you come to best me?”
“Perhaps later…” His gaze wanders down over my form, and hungry flames flicker in his eyes.
In the hours after the Chitin attack, Aurus and I were truly a team. We flew all over Aurum, giving aid, directing the Alphas. I got to visit with the former courtesans, who are happily living in their new houses in the city. Aurus introduced me to the kingdom’s magistrates and his people as their new queen.
Weeks passed, and slowly the kingdom and palace life returned to normal. I was afraid Aurus would go back to his old ways. One morning, I woke up alone and thought my fears had been confirmed.
Then the doors opened and Aurus was standing there, presenting me with proof of his devotion: a whole array of weapons and fighting gear—even including a Kim-sized set of armor, modified especially for me. When I wear it, I look like a mini Alpha. The first time I put it on, Aurus thought I was so cute, he burst out laughing. I used the distraction to my advantage, and whacked him with a wooden training sword.
I almost won that fight. I’m getting better at sparring, now that Aurus is training me. I spend most of my free time practicing.
My favorite pastime, of course, is sparring with Aurus before bed. We do it naked. I have no idea who wins those matches—mostly because, after my fourth or fifth orgasm, I no longer care.
“Are you sure?” I press. “If you win… I’ll do a sexy striptease. If I win, I get my very own skimmer.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then you have to best me, fair and square…” I start stripping off my armor. Maybe I can distract him with my body, and win that way.
For a moment, it works… then he blinks, and shakes his head, visibly getting himself back under control. “I have news.”
I lay down my breastplate. “Good news?”
