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But I pushed him back, and when I sucked at her clit and dipped a finger inside her heat, the next wave swirled around her body as well, and the dragon quieted. I licked faster, softly, the waves thrusting in time with my fingers, and knew I was not alone. The Emperor was here, and maybe her other mates as well, watching in some way. Protecting.

I was grateful for it. I knew our time was limited, but I’d waited my entire life for this moment. When she cried out, her back bowing, and the sea behind us roared, I roared along with it.

“You’re mine,” I shouted, a rush of power filling me.

Overfilling me. It had to be from her mates, with how pure it felt. The moon poured golden light on us, blessing the moment, the first time I gave the one I would worship forever a taste of how much I adored her. She cried out again as I licked harder, my fingers curving up to hold her to my mouth.

“Serak, I need you,” she whispered as I licked higher, letting my fingers rock in and out of her as she tightened around me even more.

“Not until I make you scream again,” I promised. “Not until I show you who you are.”

“Who?”

“My treasure. My love. My future.” I let the next wave carry me higher, until I could kiss her lips again. She gripped my arms as I hovered over her, her silver eyes gleaming at me with something like mischief.

“Serak, are you going to make me steal from you again?” she murmured.

I had no idea what she meant. “Steal my heart?”

Her laugh was even brighter this time as she hooked her legs around my hips, angling her own so that the head of my cock was at her entrance. She thrust upward, and I felt something smooth. Something that stopped the movement, keeping me out.

She snarled and lifted her gaze to the moon.

Then the world stopped for an instant, as if it had reached the end of a journey. As if the universe held its breath.

Then I heard a voice in my mind. Let me help.

SKADI

It was hard not to laugh. If I didn’t know from my own experience what the look of consternation on my little spy’s mate-to-be’s face meant, I would have.

But I could not mock him. I’d felt that same barrier not long ago. Serak had already sacrificed as much or more than any of her other mates to come to this moment. The moon goddess would not close her body to him.

I could not say the same for my brother.

I needed to enter Serak’s mind fully to do what was necessary. Luckily, the seawater rushing around his legs and hers had given me and my brother-mate Lusca enough power to spend.

Consent, I remembered. These strange mortals, and their powerful goddess, were so fixed on the idea. Let me help? I asked.

A faint yes was all I needed to dive in.

Edan, I called as I swam through the surface thoughts and then through the memories of pain and torment in the Alpha priest’s mind. He didn’t reply, so I went deeper, to the very core of Serak.

What I found there did not surprise me at first. His heart beat with a pulse that was her former name. The one she’d carried when she was a child and a young woman. Ratter, Ratter. Ratter, Ratter. He loved her as deeply as the seal man who’d given up his pelt. As the Emperor who’d given half his power as a mating gift.

But there, hiding behind his heart, the core of Serak that called out for her with every beat, was my brother. Wrapped around the heart as if he were trying to feed on it. He was not asleep. Not fully. He was lurking. Watching. Holding still and preparing to… attack? I wasn’t sure.

Edan, what are you doing?

Do you see this, brother? he whispered. Can you feel it? It’s so… warm.

My own newly vulnerable heart panged. Yes. It is his love for her, and hers for him.

Do you feel this strange fire, too? In your core?

I do, I admitted. It makes me vulnerable. It changes everything.

I don’t understand it. What do you gain from it?