It was Dain’s voice paired with the comforting sparks crawling across my skin that pulled me out of my head and brought me spiraling back to reality.His scent of male musk tinged with black cherries filled my senses, wiping away the memory of his blood and the sharp metallic notes that still filled the air. Every soft word he whispered in my ear was accompanied by the heavy thud ofhis heart. The sound was growing louder, stronger as it beat in his chest and pumped blood to the rest of his body.The sound was one I always wanted to hear; one I knew would relax me until the end of time. It was relief so pure I knew I’d be on the floor if it weren’t for his steadying hold on my body. Already, I could feel the ragged pain of a sob as it climbed up my throat and seized in my chest.“You did that, darling.” He murmured, flexing his arms around my torso. There was the smallest fraction of pain as he held me closer, but it was a reminder that we were alive—both of us. His husky laughter tic
The promise he wove in between each syllable was steeped in darkness, wrapped in a strength I wasn’t sure I wanted to fight. When my shoulders slumped in defeat, he trailed his fingertips over the skin of my lower back.His eyes twinkled and voice grew dangerously low when he said, “…good girl.”I wasn’t prepared for the rush of euphoria that tickled my stomach and made my head feel light and airy. On any other occasion, I would’ve narrowed my eyes and replied with a snarky comment I knew would garner a reaction, but it was different now that I could feel his emotions.Each one was a star dangling in the night sky. Some were larger and burned much brighter than others, but all were important.As the blush staining my face deepened, adoration swelled in his chest.Countless times I wondered why he stared so intensely, spearing me with his eyes as he refrained from blinking. It had been unsettling at first, and then infuriating. Now, I understood. From the very beginning, he was memoriz
The meaning of his words rang in my head like a symphony of bells, familiar yet the voice that spoke them felt unreachable. I couldn’t remember where I’d heard those words before, but vividly I relived the final moments I spent with the White Bull, along with the words I spoke before casting it out.“It was my choice to throw the White Bull out, that’s how I did it.” I murmured to myself, glancing up in time to see Dain’s lack of reaction to my realization. It didn’t surprise me that he already knew, not in the slightest. “If I’m so strong, then why did it take me this long to get rid of it? Why couldn’t I just choose to throw it out at any time?”“That’s a question only you can answer, as it’s different for us all. I couldn’t let go of my need for vengeance, just as Apollo couldn’t face the atrocities he’d committed and the lives he’d claimed. In the end, he helped me let go of enough rage to free myself. I like to think my forgiveness for his hand in my family’s deaths is what freed
He wanted to mark me now. Like, right now?I gaped at him, my eyes unblinking and heart fluttering in my chest like the rapid patter of a hummingbird’s wings. Even as I processed his words a second time, I couldn’t uncover the reason behind my stunned and slightly panicked reaction.It made no sense why I stood here, red in the face and on the verge of hyperventilating. We’d been planning to mark one another tomorrow during the mating ceremony. Not only was it tradition, but it would let Nadia know that the bond between us was very much real.The thought of Dain marking me, sinking his canines into my neck while hundreds of people watched, was nerve-wracking to say the least, but up until now I saw it as a task in need of completion—a necessity to help us win this war. We’d be connected on a soul-deep level, able to feel and communicate with each other whenever we needed. It was an advantage that could change the tides should Nadia decide to show.Standing in his suite, with only the
He held onto me for dear life, like a man stranded in the middle of the ocean with nothing more than a makeshift raft keeping him afloat.I was what he needed—what he’d been waiting so painfully long for, the thing that kept his head above the waves, and allowed him his first breath of fresh air.With his forehead pressed against my own, and our chests rising and falling in sync, he smiled. It was full of joy and anguish, dripping with awe so pure that I wanted to freeze this moment and cement it deep within my memory.Never would I forget the way he looked at me, like I were the Moon Goddess herself fallen from the sky, and never would I forget the sweet words he whispered before he claimed my lips with a hunger that would rival my own.“I have wanted many things in my long life, darling, but you are the only thing I would die without.”I understood now why Dain had regretted not marking me sooner, before the Bull managed to slip into my thoughts. Nothing bad or evil could exist with
So, this is what it felt like to be a Queen.The feeling that spread through my limbs, gifting me an addictive sense of power that went straight to my head, had nothing to do with ruling an entire land of people, or enacting laws that would spread change like the currents of a rippling tide.It came from the King whose legs I knelt in between, the one losing every ounce of his sanity from something as simple as my lips wrapped around his cock.Even as tears sprung to my eyes and dribbled down my cheeks from the ferocity of his thrusts, I knew I’d never have enough of this. The burn in my throat was a dull pain, nothing in comparison to the pleasure that tickled every nerve ending, both his and my own.His large hands were tangled in my hair, holding my face still as he used those powerful thighs of his to thrust himself into my mouth. There wasn’t a single complaint he made. Even when my teeth lightly grazed his silky skin, he gave no reaction. Well, not one that would indicate pain.
Even with his husky command, I couldn’t seem to move.“My fiery little mate feeling shy? Oh no, that can’t do.”Dain’s laughter was warm, but only lasted a few short seconds before he placed his hands beneath my thighs and lifted me off his chest. I had no choice but to hold onto the headboard as he put me in the position he wanted. Bent at the knee’s, my thighs rested on either side of his head, while the most private part of myself hovered inches above his mouth.Feeling his heavy breaths hit my panties, I began to tremble.He made a sound of pure satisfaction deep in his throat, and much to my absolute horror, I swore I heard him inhale deeply. There was nothing rushed about the way he touched and teased me, dragging his fingers along the curve of my ass and down my thighs.“I can’t tell you how much I’ve thought about this moment, how much I’ve anticipated it.” He purred, his eyes twinkling as they peered up at me from between my legs. “I knew the moment you gave me that first tas
Seconds was all it took for him to undo my bra and toss it across the room.The crisp air that rustled the gossamer curtains, floating inside from the balcony, stiffened my nipples into rigid peaks. Its chill was chased away by the heat of Dain’s mouth as he took one in between his lips and licked hungrily.With glazed eyes shimmering with need and adoration, his hands roamed every inch of my bare skin, leaving no part untouched. They glided up the curve of my ass and over the flare of my hips, caressing my stomach and venturing higher to cradle my heavy breasts.He buried his face in them and continued his exploration, right down to the freckles sprayed along my shoulders and the faint stretch marks along my hips.“You’re so fucking soft.” He groaned, the weight of his voice muffled by my breasts, his tone low and worshipping. “It’s cruel we only have tonight. I could spend lifetimes learning your body and never once become bored.”I swallowed the emotion building in my chest and ran
I stumbled over my words, forcing them into the space between us where they hovered like a noxious gas. “What—what do you mean? I killed Nadia…I don’t—” The Moon Goddess cut my rambling short by placing the palm of her hand against my cheek. It was something my mom had done whenever I was upset as a child, and somehow the Moon Goddess’s touch held that same level of comfort. She smiled sadly, but it was an expression of pure love and understanding. “Do not punish yourself, daughter. What was left of Nadia’s essence has returned home and rejoined that of her wolf, but her death does not mean Evil is gone from the world. Us celestial beings aren’t allowed to meet our creations, but this situation…it is unique. I’m afraid I cannot tell you much, but there is one who can.” Jumping at the chance to get some answers, to preserve the peace Dain and the warriors fought so hard for, I asked, “Who? Who can?” “It is time to awaken, daughter. It’s in the world of the living where you’ll find
All I could do was stand there and gape at him. Honesty shone in his eyes like newborn stars, but all it did was leave me confused. I replayed the last twenty-four hours in my head, searching for the moment where I’d won the game between us.When I came up empty handed, I stammered, “I did?”Dain nodded, staring down at me with hooded eyes. “You did.”“How? When?”“As for how, that’s the part where I cheated, I’m afraid. I didn’t admit out loud what I felt for you, but I felt it nonetheless.” He admitted, a sheepish tilt to his lips. “I realized I loved you the moment those doors opened, and you appeared at the top of the steps. I’m not sure I’ll ever forget the way you looked in that gown, which I’ll have to thank Adley for when she returns. You could’ve been an assassin here to put a dagger in my heart and I would’ve gladly let you.”There was an explosion of butterflies in my chest, their wings beating so frantically that the sound of my heartbeat was drowned out.Leaning into Dain
Epilogue – Part OneIn every book, in every movie where a great battle is fought and won, they never show what happens after.I’m not talking about the following weeks or months, but hours and days. I’m talking about when the dust has yet to settle and the ghosts of the dead still linger in the walls, when every gust of wind or insignificant sound sends you freefalling through time. When every shadow bares the face of someone you know—or worse, someone you killed. When all that’s left is this numbing sense of disbelief that tries to trick you into thinking this new reality isn’t real—that it’s all some pitiful hope conjured up by a dying, fear-riddled mind.According to Dain, it’s a time to mourn what was lost while holding those we love near, a chance to silence the ghosts that haunt us by thinking of the future we’d create. When I asked this question, my mate wasn’t the only one with an opinion. In Apollo’s not so humble words, it’s a time to get absolutely plastered and to celebrat
The elongated claws tipped with old blood were hers. I couldn’t forget the sight of her gnarled fingers, which had once been slender and elegant, even if I tried.With a loud smack, she flattened her palm against the stone floor. A second arm shot out of the water, followed by another wet smack.‘That puddle’s not nearly big enough for what she’s trying to do…’ Rayna pointed out, her voice just as sickly as I knew my own would be.Both of Nadia’s arms were bent at odd angles as they rose from the water, but that was the least disturbing thing I witnessed as this day began to quickly unfold. Next to appear were her eyes, the whites much too large to be considered normal, followed by the jagged slash that was her smile. In the memories I’d seen, her smile had been coy and playful, with the same softness as a flower’s petals. This one was of malice and envy, both deeply disturbing and in dire need of some chapstick.Her shoulders rose from the water at the same time but were bent awkward
It took everything within me not to flinch at the sound of her voice and how close it truly was to my ear. Only when I felt her icy talons meet my skin did I act.‘It’s showtime.’ Rayna murmured, lending me all of her strength as I willed the floor to crumble beneath my feet.Together, my wolf and I fell.Since I was prepared for the impact, it was easy to call on my magic to lessen the blow. Warm air rushed beneath my gown and outstretched arms, acting as a safety net that slowed my fall and kept me from toppling over. It wasn’t the graceful landing I’d been trying for since Nadia was doing something to block our magic, but it kept me from breaking both my ankles on the way down.I didn’t wait for the dust to settle. The moment I felt solid stone beneath my feet, I took off running.Nadia’s snarl was one of surprise and outrage, strong enough that it made the castle tremble. I didn’t repress my grin or the laughter I spewed into the air, knowing both would entice her to follow—to con
Nadia launched herself at me, and as she did so, her hair and dress billowed out at her sides. The movement was slow and lazy, almost like she was submerged in water and not hovering a solid three feet in the air. Even though her form was translucent, and she seemed to be neither here nor there, I had a sickening feeling she could still do significant damage if I let her reach me.Instinct took over, and for once in my life, it wasn’t telling me to run.I launched the orb in my hand like it were a baseball, and watched as it spiraled through the air, a small halo of light surrounding it. When it hit its mark, square in the center of Nadia’s face, I silently thanked Aidan for teaching me all those years ago. I had hated every second of his baseball phase, but he’d been so passionate about becoming a professional athlete and whisking us away that I couldn’t resist helping him practice. After a dozen scraped knees, a handful of bruises, and one broken arm, we both called it quits.The in
For the longest time all I could hear was the sound of stone grinding against stone.There was a painful burn in my lungs, but I didn’t dare exhale. Instead, I held my breath and watched as the corridors around me shifted. Walls slid left and right, forming new pathways that hadn’t existed before. Many changed angles, creating sharp turns that you couldn’t see coming until it was too late.Some of the windows began to close, melting away as though they’d never been there, while others grew larger. The ones that grew in size turned into arched doorways narrow enough for but one person to slip through.While the castle itself wasn’t a sentient being, every brick and inch of tiled floor was alive with Dain’s magic. I could feel it’s alluring touch within everything I altered and couldn’t help but smile at how eager it was to please me. Even the paintings responded to my call, changing forms until each one was exactly the same.The brash strokes of oil paint shimmered as they changed colo
“My sisters, are they safe?” Aidan asked, his voice low.Even with a side view of his face, I could see the way it twisted into a concerned grimace. With eyebrows knitted tightly together and jaw clenched, he pivoted his head from left to right, peering down each corridor as we crept through another intersection. The sword he clutched in his hand, it’s metal an impenetrable black that shimmered with blood, was raised and ready for use.“Is anyone truly safe?” I asked, eyeing one of the windows warily. It would be all too easy for Nadia or one of her monsters to slip through now that the hallways were conjoined. “They’re hidden away. The fight won’t reach them.”His shoulders slumped as much as they could with the defensive stance he held, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips.“Thank the Goddess. Even though I’d see them when I got back, I’m not sure I’d be able to handle it if they were dead.”He didn’t have to explain why, not when the answer hovered in the space between us.There w
Selfishly, I tried to call on Helios, to summon him to my side like I’d been told I could. It was what he would’ve wanted, it was why we completed the bond in the first place. The issue was that no one told me how to do it.There was a sense of awareness that settled over me, followed by a wave of understanding that told me Helios was very much alive. He was feeling it too, a subtle tug that let him know I was still here. I concentrated on my golden-haired warrior harder, imagining him as a sword sheathed at my side, ready to be used at moment’s notice.I felt that tug turn into a harsh pull, but there was no smile of victory on my face, because the milky-eyed creature at the end of the hall let out a blood-curdling wail and charged.I’d never been afraid of horror movies, not with their make-shift gore and fake blood. The knowledge that the creepy monster on the television screen wasn’t actually real was enough to smother any fear I might’ve felt. As I scrambled to get away from the