‘Because I was afraid that when you looked at me, you’d see your tormentors,’ I murmured, savouring the warmth that blossomed in my chest. ‘I’m not as strong as you, my love; I only hope to be strong enoughforyou.’
Sana blushed, then she buried her face in the crook of my neck. My heart melted at the innocent gesture. This strong, bold woman was showing me her vulnerability, trusting me completely. Even in the darkest of times, Roksana’s light shone brightly.
I ran my fingers through her short hair, letting the wet strands curl around my knuckles, then leaned forward to kiss a fading bruise on her shoulder. One day, Sana would tell me her story. And I swore an oath to wait until she was ready, to simply be there for her however she needed.
‘They’re just bruises, and they’re already fading,’ she said with a tentative smile. Emboldened, I kissed a half-healed cut on her arm, and the smile grew. As if my touching it erased its pain from her mind. ‘I like it when you do that,’ she murmured, unaware of the turmoil in my heart.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t fight this battle beside you, that you faced this alone. It breaks me to see you hurt.’ I swallowed, the truth bitter on my tongue.
‘I have no regrets.’ Her subdued but determined words pierced the core of this darkness. ‘If we don’t defeat Tangra, many others will suffer as I did. If I could stop it, why would I not?’
Those weren’t the words of a dark sister or my lover. Those were the words of a queen. Cinared’s words came back to haunt me, but he was right; we didn’t deserve her.
‘I’m so sorry, my love,’ I whispered, unsure what to say.
‘No, I don’t want your pity. I refuse to let Tivala dictate how I feel. I’m stronger than he’ll ever be, stronger than any pain he can inflict.’ She cupped my chin, and for a long moment, I stared into her hazel eyes as the emerald fire of her power burned within them. ‘Look at me, Reynard Erenhart, the real me. Do I look like a victim to you?’
The power in her gaze was breathtaking, the strength in her voice humbling. Pride unfurled in my chest. ‘No, my queen. You could never be a victim.’
The title came effortlessly. Roksana didn’t deny it. Instead, she slid her hand over my chest, scratching the skin. ‘Then let me forget their foul touch. Make me feel good again. Chase away all memories but yours. Can you do this for me?’
‘Whatever you need is yours to take.’ I held her hand, kissing the inside of her palm. ‘Can I take you to bed? I want to kiss every inch of you… And as skilled as I am, I can’t breathe underwater.’ Teasing her was risky. The last thing I wanted was to diminish her pain, but my heart whispered that Sana needed to smile again.
‘You’re telling me there is something the great War King, the Beast of Dagome can’t do?’ she asked, her soft chuckle my reward. I stood up, lifting her effortlessly from the bathtub.
‘There are many things I can’t do,’ I said, cradling her with one arm while the other reached for a towel. ‘I can’t resist you; I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop wanting to please you. If I had a tail, it would wiggle like certain enamoured.’
Sana’s eyes grew large, and her body shook with laughter. ‘You’re impossible,’ she said, laying her head on my shoulder. I blessed the fates for the foresight to listen to my heart, because with each gentle chuckle, her body relaxed a bit.
The bed bent, bouncing slightly when I sat down and patted her damp skin with the towel. Sana tensed again when I touched her breast, but I continued my gentle caress.
‘Am I hurting you?’ I asked, my hands wrapping around their fullness. Her breasts fit snugly in my palm, and I had to close my eyes, counting barracks inventory in my head when my cock stirred.
‘It feels nice,’ she answered, surprise colouring her voice. ‘I like you teasing them.’
She was testing herself, but the gods were surely testing me, laughing at my misery. She felt so good that my cock was painfully hard, but I would rather chop it off than push too boldly.
Still, she wanted me playful; that I could manage. I squeezed her breast, observing her reaction. Sana’s eyelashes fluttered before she commanded, ‘More.’
I brushed my thumb over her nipple, and the rosebud perked, tightening under my questing touch. Sana’s head fell onto my shoulder. Her lips touched the column of my neck as a moan slipped out, and the need to tell her what she meant to me overcame any sense or reason.
‘You are my heart, Roksana. When they told me you were gone, my heart was ripped from my chest, leaving an empty shell behind,’ I murmured, my hands tracing the curve of her breast, playing with hard, perky nipples.
‘Rey, I… Please, I don’t want to ask, but…’ She wiggled on my lap, and it was my turn to moan.
‘I will give you everything you desire, no asking required, but promise me one thing,’ I said, equally eager and terrified by what she wanted.
‘Yes?’ Her eyes opened, half-lidded and touched by desire.
‘If it’s too much or you want to stop, you’ll tell me. No explanation needed, just tell me. Promise me, Viper,’ I said, moving us to the centre of the bed.
‘I promise,’ she said, reaching for me and pulling me on top of her. I groaned. It was such sweet torture, one that wiped awayeverything else. All I could focus on was this woman. Her hands in my hair, dragging through my wet strands, the little nibbles when her teeth grazed my skin.
My mouth closed on her nipple, tongue flicking out teasing, tempting, and Sana cried out, but instead of pushing me away, she grabbed my hair, pulling me in. The world turned golden as my teeth nipped her skin, and I stilled, unsure I could keep the berserker on its leash. I wanted her so much that my control was fading. The sudden flash of an idea made me reach out to my dragon.
Cinared,I called out, feeling his hesitation at intruding through our bond.Can you hold back the Wild Magic? Can you silence it for tonight?
Why?he asked, and I showed him. A roaring inferno filled my mind, his fury at her pain even greater than mine. For a heartbeat, I thought I’d made a mistake until the primal rage in my core eased.You did well asking for my help.His voice rumbled in my head, and any trace of wildness vanished, leaving a surge of protectiveness and ironclad control.Heal her and bring her to me in the morning.
