Within that kiss was the sanctuary Liria needed. The security of Thaxvarien's love and the steadiness of his devotion enveloped her in a cocoon that refused to let anything negative past its walls. The present drifted away with all its fear, andin its place rose Thax. Wingless and still flying. He was hers. Her future, her heart, her life. Together, they could overcome anything.
“Liri,” Thax whispered as he eased out of their kiss. He leaned onto an arm and took her hand to place it on his destru's mark—a pale blue star that shimmered as actual stars do. “I am so happy to be yours.”
“You've made me happy too, Thax. Now, make me a little happier.” Liria grinned and gripped his ass to pull him closer.
Chuckling, Thax reached down and stroked her sex, his fingers finding her bud and teasing it before delving into her to bring forth the slickness he was after. Only when Liria was writhing and wet did he angle his shaft into her core and slide inch by inch, in and out, until they were one.
Sighing in delight, Liria wrapped her legs around Thax, hooking them over his ass so that she was angled perfectly to receive him. Thax responded immediately, driving deeper into her as he propped himself on his forearms. Liria looked up, and for a moment, she saw the spread of black wings above him. But then they were gone, just a ghost clinging to life. Thaxvarien's sacrifice had been great, but she had seen him through it, and now they were bound so tightly that nothing could tear them apart.
“I love you,” Liria whispered in Thax's ear. “I love you.”
“Destra,” Thax moaned and increased his speed. “I love you.”
They kept repeating those words like a chant to each other, exchanging love verbally and physically, even though they both knew each other's hearts intimately. There was no doubtanymore. Liria was certain of their love and destiny. She arched her back, sliding into the rising pleasure, and clawed at Thax's shoulders.
“Thax!”
“Not yet, Liri,” he panted. “Just a little longer. Hold on to me.”
Liria moaned as she fought the sparkling climax. “Thax.”
“Liri!” Thaxvarien's hips pounded against her, his thick flesh slamming through her channel to awaken all those sleeping pleasure spots.
She tingled with ecstasy. So close. “I can't wait any longer.” She lifted her hips to rub herself against him, and the climax burst upon her.
“Liri!” Thax called again and locked up, pressing into her, holding firm.
Inside her, Thax's cock kicked and released, warming Liria as she shattered into rapture. Her legs shook, her fingers tightened in his flesh, and she clung to her destru.
Thaxvarien shuddered with her, sliding his arms behind her to bring them closer. In a tight embrace, they came together, celebrating their unusual marriage in the best way. Just the two of them. That's all they needed.
Chapter Nine
Rinna
“Sources damn it!” Chief Rinna Jass growled and tossed down the metal ingots she'd been trying to converge. “Something is messing with my convergence!”
“How is that possible?” Laroc was sprawled on their joined cots, looking delicious in only his pants. His golden-brown wings spread behind him, trailing onto the ground, and his long, red hair hung down his hard chest, playing peek-a-boo with his nipples. His legs hung off the end of the cot so his boots wouldn't dirty their bedding, and it made him look rakish. One powerful arm propped him up, biceps bulging.
“What?” Rinna dropped the misshapen ingot.
Larocran grinned, his eyes twinkling. The rest of him, as fabulous as it was, faded for Rinna as she stared into those amazing eyes—deep blue centers merged into gold edges, the gold striations feathering with the blue. And the gold was metallic. So, when Laroc's eyes twinkled, they really twinkled.
It felt odd to be sharing a tent with him while working. But lots of soldiers shared rooms in the fortress, so what was the difference? The general's assistant preferred it. It meant they only needed one tent instead of two. But that wasn't the sourceof Rinna's unease, was it? It was Laroc. He had saved her. Only her. When the Nethren had invaded, Laroc was the only one to realize they were absolutely fucked. Instead of trying to be a hero, he found Rinna and got her to safety. Maybe that made him her hero.
Rinna would have stayed and fought if not for Laroc. He forced her to see the truth—that the battle was already lost. He probably would have carried her out if she had fought him. That's how intent he was on saving her. If not for Laroc, Rinna would be imprisoned by the Nethren or dead. Probably the latter.
No lover had ever shown her such devotion.
“That's enough for tonight, sweetheart.” Laroc held his hand out to her. “You've been working nearly nonstop for a week. It's time to get some rest.”
“If I don't converge this device, we'll never get into the fortress.”
Laroc bent his fingers, motioning her over. “Rinna, come here. You're too upset to converge. That's why it's not working. You need a good night's sleep.”
“You do not have sleep on your mind.” Still, she sauntered over to the Aethari warrior.HerAethari warrior.
Laroc sat up and then stood up to tower over her. “I have you on my mind. As always.” He pulled Rinna into his arms and folded his wings around them. “Rinna, I . . .”
