Page 94 of Caged

“Sylas, I love it. It’s perfect,” I tell him, putting kisses all up his neck and shoving my hands into the feathery depths of his wings.

“Are you sure…” He groans as I touch skin, any concerns whipped away as he nuzzles his face into the skin of my neck and nips at me.

“I’m sure,” I reply. “Now take me to your nest and have your wicked way with me.”

“Your word, myeregri, is my every command.”

I’m lifted up in a pair of strong arms, and as I gaze into his stunning eyes, filled with desire and calm, Sylas plants a kiss on my forehead.

“I thought I was alive, but I did not live until the moment fate found you for me, Alex.”

“And I thought it was all over, until you captured me,” I reply. “Now mate me as if tomorrow will never come.”

“I can assure you, little feather”—Sylas grins at me, his mouth filled with sharp, white, gorgeous fangs—“even if tomorrow never comes, you will, multiple times.”

His mouth hits mine and time stands still. The universe has placed us here, and I am in love with my big bad gladiator who can’t help but nest for me and who knows how to make my body sing.

Sylas might have been caged when I found him, but he has set me free.

EPILOGUE

ALEX

The dappled light casts dancing shadows over my bare legs as the dark plum leaves of the trees sway in the light, warm breeze. It carries the scent of the forest, hazy, woody, earthy, despite this planet not being Earth.

In the distance, water roars through the falls, but the tranquil pool in front of me, the one I’m dipping my toes in, is fed by a delightful drop of rocks through which the water practically tinkles. Everywhere there are bright flashes of color, the neon blues of tiny bird-like creatures, reds and yellows of various flowers.

And nothing dangerous in sight.

The surface boils and bubbles as a predator emerges, water spraying from his huge wings as he beats them hard.

“Hey!” I brush the drops which have hit me from my skin.

Sylas has a smile as wide as one of Trefa’s moons. His feathers rouse, and he shakes them thoroughly as he wades out of the deeper pool and into the shallows, holding the huge appendages wide to catch the sun and dry himself off.

He is naked, of course. My mouth waters as liquid runs in rivulets over his defined muscles, down to the “v” at his waist and onwards.

Sylas is edible. Part of me still can’t believe he is mine.

He flings himself down onto the soft moss at the side of the pool next to me with a satisfied sigh.

“Been chasing kaifish again?” I ask.

He makes a satisfied humming sound. Chasing kaifish is one of his favorite pastimes in the pool we discovered a few nova-weeks after we returned to Chohan. With no Zavaro to worry about, Sylas was far more willing to explore outside the confines of our home, and both he and I are very pleased he did.

This pool is more than anything he could have ever wanted, given he’s never been hugely keen on the shower. Plus, with it full of fish, it satisfies his desire to hunt in a way I prefer. I never did get used to him bringing home carcasses.

“Did I get you wet?” he asks, eyes glittering wickedly.

“You know you did.”

“Perhaps you should get out of your wet clothing?” He plucks at the short dress I’m wearing, made all the shorter since I started showing.

“Is that an order, commander?” I sass him.

A growl ripples his lips, and my dress is gone, literally gone, leaving me exposed to him, save for my knickers.

Which I already know will pose no obstacle.

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