“How do you even know?” I asked.
“I’ve been taking portals back to Malovia to check. Surveying the country here and there, trying to determine Droga’s weak spots.”
I forced my arms to remain at my sides, because if I didn’t, I’d wrap my hands around his neck. “You leaving the estate on a consistent basis is going to lure them straight here!”
“You don’t win wars without intelligence,” Finlay threw back at me.
“Yes, and it would seem you don’t have any.”
Finlay gave a short breath. “I know my past actions have been a bit careless—”
“They’redangerous!”
“— But this needs to be done. Emma’s still weak. While she’s recovering, we need to be utilizing situations as best we can. Gaining Pruska back is more important than uniting the Crystals of Harmony.”
“There’s nothing more important than uniting the Crystals of Harmony. You know that,” I said flatly.
“Yes, but that isn’tworking. We’ve hit a dead end,” Finlay insisted. “We must try another way. This is our chance! We can liberate the city!”
“And do what?”
“Fill it with refugees!” Finlay burst. “There are fae outside Dolinska’s borders waiting for a chance to revolt, and raise the flag against Droga! Pruska could become our stronghold!”
“Even if we managed to conquer the city, Droga would flatten it once we took it, like he did with Dolinska,” I insisted. “Think with your head instead of your prick.”
“You don’t understand. Pruska can be seen as a beacon. This is our chance to restore hope!” Finlay said.
“Or get ourselves killed,” I replied. “The answer is no. Perhaps there will be a time to utilize Pruska, but it is not now.”
“There won’tbea better time,” Finlay rattled. “The city is exposed now!”
“Then go liberate it yourself,” I said sarcastically. “None of us will be there to help you.”
Finlay swore under his breath, and left me there. I shifted immediately and headed outside to get a good run in. I needed to cool off before associating with anyone else. If Droga didn’t ring Finlay’s neck one day, I would.
I was pouring sweat when I got back from my run. My fur felt suffocating, so I shifted back and went upstairs to our bedroom to take a shower.
I was sitting underneath the steam of water in my shower chair when I felt Emma’s cool hands stroke my bare chest. She pressed her breasts to the back of me, and I let my head fall against their soft weight.
“Hello, you.” I lightly grasped her wrist.
“Hello me.” She twirled around me until she was standing naked before me, allowing the water droplets to cascade down her pale skin. The beads of moisture on the ends of her pink nipples looked delicious.
Being intimate had been somewhat of a challenge lately. We’d both been too stressed to be in the mood, and even if we wanted to, Emma was usually too sick to try. This wasn’t the intoxicating honeymoon period of being unable to keep our hands off each other like I’d been promised before our marriage. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d had sex.
Looks like that changed today. I was a lucky wolf.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“Like I want to fuck you from sundown to sunup.”
That was forward. “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“I know my limits. I’ll stop if it gets to be too much.” She sat on my lap and began stroking my dick, which had gone rock-hard in a matter of moments. “Besides. I think I want you to do most of the work. Claim me, alpha.”
I was more than willing. I kissed her breasts, licking the moisture off of her with my tongue. She moaned, and continued to stroke me as I moved my fingers inside of her. We fell into a rhythm that was comfortable and known, me massaging her clit with my thumb as she continued to squeeze my cock.
It nearly felt like a relief, this. Even if the world was falling apart, we could always get lost in each other.
