A lovely blush colored her complexion as they both remembered how she woke with his face between her tights. Not that she ever complained.
“Never.” Rune grinned, secretly pleased with himself.
There was something about her scent and taste lately that turned him into an aroused beast. And with it came an overprotective urge to hide her away from any outside harm.
An amusing thought, since she was much stronger than him.
“I starved for you while battling Titans in the depths.” His smile faded. “I crave you all the more knowing soon you will leave me.”
Her eyes softened. “Only for a season.”
“A season too long.” He glanced down and sighed. “Do you enjoy torturing me?”
She smiled slyly, well aware of how the candlelight accentuated every mouthwatering curve of her cleavage. Drawing her arms around his neck, she kissed him languidly, deeply.
Enough to send a ravaged fire through his veins.
Rune exhaled sharply, then, with visible restraint, set her down. He summoned his ceremonial armor, placing a crown embedded with red gems on her head. “Let us get on with this banquet, deadly little flower. I will deal with you later.”
Her smile was sharp.“Promise?”
They left their chambers together, shadows drifting at their heels.
The sentient castle seemed to breathe through the stones as they strode along its corridors. Wargs slipped from the darkness to flank Rune, the Vareth’s low purr rumbling as it prowled beside Alora.
The air thrummed with magic within the grand hall.
At the foot of the throne, the Dominions bowed as one when they entered.
The throne room had been adorned for the feast. Long tables of black wood gleamed like oil, laden with dishes steaming and strange: meats still sizzling, fruits that glimmered as if plucked from fire, shadow wine pouring red as blood into silver goblets.Spider lilies spiraled up the columns like scarlet streamers. Music played on flutes carved of bone, the melody of harp as haunting as the spirits drifting above.
Did you mean for the banquet to fall on Samhain?Rune asked as he picked up a chalice of wine.
Alora winked.I thought it fitting.
Then the air shifted cold.
The main doors opened, and frost spilled across the stones as Jökull crossed the threshold. His face was partially concealed by a mask of bone. Beside him glided Sunnëva, draped in a gown shimmering with gems of ice, her hair glittering with snow. Their crowns of ice caught the light.
For a long, taut moment, silence fell.
Rune’s eyes smoldered red as he met Jökull’s glowing blue gaze, shadows and frost colliding without a word, two powers straining against each other until the hall held its breath.
“Your castle is lovely,” Sunnëva said with a bright smile, breaking the silence. “We were pleased to be invited, weren’t we, Jökull?”
Both stayed silent, their gazes still locked. Rune’s power hummed, rising to answer the imminent threat, and cerulean light sparked around Jökull’s talons.
Sunnëva sighed, unbothered as ever. “If you intend to challenge him, you may as well do it now. Preferablyoutside. He’s a god now and can survive a stab or two. But don’t expect to sleep in the same bed tonight.”
Jökull blinked, then his ice blue eyes softened as they slid to her. “There will be no stabbings tonight, winter rose. At least not on my part.” He removed his born mask, arching an eyebrow at Rune. “I, for one, do not make a habit of stabbing a man in his home, let alone through the back. Wouldn’t you agree, brother? Or shall we discuss the parameters of guests’ rights?”
Rune sneered with a harsh smirk. “Resurrection may have clouded your memories,brother, but not mine. If we are to point fingers, tell me, who betrayed who first?”
“Are we still arguing over that?” Jökull growled. “Your bride was never truly dead?—”
Sunnëva smacked his arm with a huff. “We agreed to be civil, darling. Now come along. Let’s indulge in demon delicacies and dance to this wicked melody. I am in a mood to celebrate.” She spun toward the laden tables, skirts glittering. “Where was my banquet when I helped save the world?”
And Jökull followed after his mate, his piercing expression falling to adoring amusement.
