Page 46 of The Dragon King

17

KEMREMIR

TWO WEEKS LATER

I take a deep breath of crisp winter air. Snowflakes dance and twirl on their downward journey from the clouds. Tatha tilts her head back, blinking as the fat flakes caress her face before quickly melting. I wrap an arm around her waist, hugging her to my side. Leaning down, I kiss a few melted snow flakes from her cheek. Her fire, cinnamon, and earth scent wraps around me, and I grip her tighter, my purr bringing a chuckle from her lips.

When she angles her head toward my face, I lean back, unable to stop the small frown from pulling at my lips. “Are you sure, Tatha? There’s no rush. We can?—”

“Yes, I’m sure.” Her fingers ball in the fabric of my shirt, pulling me down for a kiss. The moment our lips meet, I’m lost to her. She shifts back, her breath teasing over my lips. “Moneria is a celebration of new beginnings—you are my new beginning.”

My hand slides into my pocket. “I was going to wait until later, but now seems right.” My fingers gently grab the delicate petals of the small flower. Reaching out, I tuck the nesaea flower behind her ear, the tiny white petals almost lost in her vibrant curling hair. Tatha’s fingers tremble as she lifts a hand to caress the petals. “How did you find one? It’s not even close to their season.”

“I had a few seedlings waiting for next summer. A little magic coaxed them to bloom early … for you.” She tugs at my shirt, and I lean down again, nipping at her lips. “Mate.” My tongue curls over her bottom lip. “Heilsi.” I press a gentle kiss to her mouth. “MINE.”

“Always.”

My arms wrap around her small body. Small but fierce. Our kiss deepens, and she melts into me.

“Kem!”

I smile against Tatha’s lips before lifting my head. My Mate turns, but I keep her tucked into my side. Syphe releases Raelyn’s hand as they pop through the dragon magic that allows us to travel between worlds.

Rae sprints toward me, her long dark wavy hair flying behind her. I can’t help but chuckle as her crown cants to the side and starts to slide from her head in her haste. She doesn’t break stride as she pulls the wayward crown from her head and tosses it at the silver-haired male behind her.

Her husband, Asheraht, drops his hand from Syphe’s shoulder, fumbling to catch his wife’s crown. The king of the Seelie fae grins like a fool at Raelyn. She has that effect on everyone. She’s a burning ball of light and energy and kindness.

Tatha looks up at me with a smile, and I loosen my grip enough to allow her to wiggle away. She is only a single step back before my arms are filled with a squealing fae. Raelyn’s arms wrap around my neck, hugging me tight. I hug her back, and she giggles. “I’m so, so happy for you, Kem.”

“It’s good to see you, your Majesty.”

Her head snaps back, and I hold her for a second longer before she drops to her feet. “Oh no, none of that!”

Ash comes up behind Rae, his roguish grin still in place as he bows to me. “You know better, Kem. Rae doesn’t like when her friends actually acknowledge she’s a Queen.”

Rae playfully slaps Ash on the shoulder. Turning back to me, she tucks her dark hair behind her ear, glancing at Tatha. “So, introduce me.”

Before I can answer, my Mate steps forward, bowing low. “I’m Tatha. Thank you for coming, your Majesty. It was very important to Kemremir that you were?—”

Raelyn grabs Tatha’s shoulders, hauling her into a hug. “I’m so honored to meet you.”

Tatha’s shoulders relax, and her arms return Rae’s embrace. “You’re just as Kem described you.”

Ash laughs. “Kem has probably left out a few things.” His hand brushes down Rae’s arm, and she steps back into him, keeping a hold of Tatha’s hand. “She can be a terror. Trust me.”

I laugh, and Raelyn shoots us each a stern look, but her lips tremble where I know she’s holding back a laugh of her own. Jabbing an elbow into Ash’s stomach, Rae tugs Tatha down the stone steps toward the snow-covered gardens. “Tell me everything … how you two met, all this business with Inchel … what a fucking asshole.”

Tatha laughs, lacing her fingers with Raelyn’s as they disappear around a hedge of winter roses, their blooms closed tight against the freezing air.

I turn to Ash, and he holds out an arm which I take in a firm grasp. “Thank you for coming.”

“Are you kidding? Nothing would have kept Rae from being here today.” His fingers comb through his snow-dampened hair. “And well, …”

“Where she goes, you go.”

His cheeks flush as he shrugs. Raelyn and Ash went through a lot before they found their happily ever after. I’m glad I didn’t kill him.

We release our clasped grips, and I turn, leading us down a long walkway to the castle’s great hall. Ash stomps his boots and shakes his head, dislodging the snow before stepping through the open doors. I grab a mug of ale off one of the many tables lining the side wall. “Drink?”

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