Page 71 of Crown and Dragon

Ragewing said he would like to drop you and Commander Marius at the Starwing Cave while we fly over Goblin’s Pass.

He always wants to see the most barren of places.

Lija laughed.He likes the dramatic vistas.

You don’t mind?

No, because right after we’re going to swim at Steaming Aspen.

Steaming Aspen was a high mountain lake fed partially by hot springs, so it remained unfrozen year-round.Oooh, that will be fun. You’ll have to take me next time.

Will do, rider.

Lija and Ragewing swooped low over the gray pebbles that marked the path up to Starwing Cave, a popular spot for mated Fae to visit on special evenings, and soon Marius and Tahlia were hand in hand on the ground.

They watched their dragons soar into the stars.

“She’s doing very well. I’d have thought she’d be too fatigued for such an adventure tonight,” Marius said. His thumb rubbed the knuckle of her forefinger, and she felt like a fool with how the simple act made her cheeks heat.

“She’s the best.”

Marius chuckled in full then, a rare and lovely sound that she treasured.

“Is this your first time here?” he asked as they walked under a low arch of stone and into the cave.

It was oddly warm for a cave. She parted her lips to answer, but no sound came. The cave sparkled with teal, rose, and golden light.

“They’re butterflies!”

The luminescent creatures fluttered along every inch of the rough stone walls, their light reflected in the occasional puddle of snowmelt.

“They come here to rest before finishing their migration south for the winter. The magma inside this peak runs close to the floor of this cave and so the area remains far warmer than the outside.”

Tahlia let go of his hand and spun, taking it all in. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”

Marius walked ahead of her, then he stopped and gestured to a tumble of smooth rocks. Golden moss cloaked the ancient stones, and runes had been carved into the base of them.

“What is this all about?” She touched one of the runes and a shiver of magic danced up her arm. The threads she sometimes saw with her Weaver magic became clear, connecting the runes to one another, to the butterflies, and to Marius and her.

“They’re blessing runes. Nothing too powerful, but set here long ago by the gods as a gift to Fae couples. Come,” he said, holding out his hand.

She took it and he drew her to him as he sat on one of the mossy stones. She straddled him and bit her lip at how happy he already was to be here with her.

Shifting her hips, she pressed into him. A jolt of sheer pleasure made her gasp. “I see you have more than sightseeing on your mind, Commander.”

He smoothed her hair away from her shoulders and began nibbling her neck. His body was so warm and her core pulsed with want.

“You are an astute observer, Lady of the Skies.”

His tongue flicked over her collarbone, and he gripped her hips, easing her more firmly against him. He raised his hips and pleasure rode across Tahlia’s center. She exhaled next to his ear and he snarled lightly into the space under her jaw.

“I want to see how little movement it takes to satisfy you,” he said, his voice incredibly deep and gruff, as if he was having a difficult time controlling himself.

She was panting, and honestly, she didn’t care how easily he aroused her. It was fantastic. “That’s just mean,” she said breathily, teasing.

He licked her throat in one great sweep, but he refused to move even as she wiggled in the vise of his hands on her hips. Again, he licked her—this time over the hollow in her throat while he growled possessively. The feeling of his tongue, his chest vibrating with his growling, and his cock so hard on her most sensitive spot were too much. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and rocked against him. Desire grabbed hold of her and shook her hard. Exquisite pleasure burst from her core, then outward.

“Now,” she said, catching her breath and trembling, “this time you need to earn that.”

---