The last time we saw each other, I was in a much differentattitude. It’s written over Vann’s face as his gaze passes from me to Estela, and he attempts a smile.
“I am glad you and your mate have made it home safely,” he says, fracturing the quiet.
I nod. “Is there anything more that you wished to speak of? Do you not desire to present yourself to the women and see if your crystal sings?”
He shakes his head. “It won’t.”
I hum at that response. It is the same generic thing he has told me time and time again. A new thought dawns.
“Won’t? Or can’t?”
My suspicion is confirmed when his eyes widen. Dread curls low in my stomach.What has my brother done to himself?
“Firelocksis looking well. I saw her with Joso while she spoke to Estela,” I say slowly.
A stone wall builds itself up across his face. “Yes. They are… sharing their time.”
His tail knocks a pebble across the room, causing the women to glance at us with confused expressions.
I frown. “I am sorry.”
Vann shakes his head. “I should help the others. Go, sleep if you can.”
As soon as he is gone, I turn back to Estela. All of the air is sucked out of the room as I look at her, acutely aware that we are nearly alone.
Ulla stiffens, as if sensing the change. I know she can’t hear the beats of our hearts and the way they synchronize to the mating song, but she quickly excuses herself and hurries out.
Then it truly is just the two of us in the room.
Human and Enduar.
Husband and wife.
King and queen.
Mates.
We draw together like the moon and the tide.
It is not enough to simply hold her hand. I scoop her up into my arms, and she gasps. Every movement, from the way that her lips part to the way that she instinctively curls into my chest, is perfect. I lock it away like precious gold for a time when we might be parted again.
“Let us go to bed,” I say gently and whisk her out of the room.
Chapter 24
Richterite
TEO
As I sweep my mate away from the rest of the world, the walls blur before us, and we make our way into the king’s suite.Our room, as she called it while we were traveling. My blood is thrumming through my ears, and my cock strains against my breeches, waiting to be reunited in all ways with my woman.
Sleep is the furthest thing from my mind.
No sooner than my door opens and closes, her small hands push against my chest. She’s breathless, too.
“I need to bathe,” she pants.
I nod, thinking of what happened in the spring, and walk to the bathroom. She sucks in a sharp breath when she sees the tub in the corner.
