Page 62 of A Sky of Emerald Stars

“But maybe one day,” I mused to the ceiling. “When wars are done and kingdoms are saved and I put my knives down for good—”

“You’ll never put your knives down for good.”

“True.” My smile broadened. “But maybe I’ll use them more for whittling than stabbing by then.”

“I like this future.” Navin tugged me closer to him.

“If we survive to claim it,” I said, meeting his eyes. He looked at me with such open adoration, and I knew in my bones this face he wore wasn’t a mask. I shook my head. “You can’t look at me like that when the Songkeepers return. Not until we’re far clear of them.”

His hands paused their roaming. “I’m sorry for what will happen today,” he murmured into my hair. “I’m sorry for who I will have to be when Rasil returns. But if it means getting you out of here and safe from him...”

What had once been a simple diplomatic mission had now quickly spiraled into an elaborate plan. I had Silver Wolves wanting to capture me, Onyx Wolves wanting to marry me, humans wanting to use me, and a court that still needed me. I was attempting to trick people on all sides now, worst of all myself.

“It’s nice to know I’m not the only one with a little bite,” I said instead of voicing all my tangled thoughts. Navin’s hand squeezed the flesh of my hip in acknowledgment. “I just wish I didn’t have to pretend. I’d love nothing more than to carve that arrogant smile off your husband’s face.”

Navin coughed out a surprised laugh. “I don’t think we’d get far past his samsavat if you did.”

“Can’t you control it?”

“Only the one who created it and his bloodline can,” Navin said. “The song of control is meaningless without the song of creation—a song I don’t possess. Besides, I don’t make a habit of getting close to things that could eat me.”

“And yet you fell for me,” I murmured, my whole body shaking from his laughter.

“True,” he said, warmth in his voice as he trailed a finger up my back. “Once we get to Sankai-ed and find Maez, we will get you new knives and you will feel much better.”

I chuckled, twisting more to my side and hooking my knee over his thigh. “I feel naked without them.”

“I prefer you naked.” Navin’s fingers trailed over the curve of my ass. “Does it feel different?” he mused, looking up at the ceiling. “Being with a human?”

“Not as much as I thought it would,” I murmured. “This frenzy.” My voice fell to a whisper. “I can’t stop wanting you.” Navin sleepily pulled me tighter against his bare chest and kissed up my neck. “I’ve only ever seen it in mates.”

“Mates.” Navin’s lips paused and then he pulled his head back to stare deeply into my eyes.

“I know that’s only a Wolf thing—”

“The Songkeepers believe in something similar,” he said.

My eyes flared. “What?”

“It’s when one soul sings to another.” He swept his thumb across my lips, his eyes wandering from my mouth to meet my gaze. “I’ve wondered for a long time...” He swallowed as his voice grew thick. “My heart hears only your song.”

We moved at the exact same time, our mouths colliding as we pulled each other closer until we were flush skin to skin. It didn’t matter. Songs. Mates. Words were meaningless to this feeling, like he and I merged somewhere into one. My mouth claimed him along with my soul. No matter how unlikely, no matter how ludicrous, he was mine and I could never turn back from knowing it.

Navin’s hand slid between us, and he started circling my clit, but his words, this knowledge of who we were to each other, it was too much. I pushed his hand away and he immediately moved it to my thigh, squeezing it as our mouths worked over each other.

I hitched my leg higher, angling my hips as I wrapped my hand around his silken hard cock. I lined him up to my entrance and he slowly pushed in. Each inch made my head fall back farther, my moan a broken rasp. It had only been one night, but Gods, I already loved when he was inside me. It was the most open and real we ever were with each other, our bodies always able to perfectly communicate in a language all their own.

Navin’s hands kneaded my ass, pulling me farther onto his cock. He brushed my loose hair off my face, his hand sweeping around to the back of my neck and pulling my forehead to his. We moved in perfect unison, my hips rolling in time to his thrusts as our hooded gazes met. We paused, breathing each other in, feeling where we connected.

“We have enemies coming at us from every direction,” Navin panted. “But I am always on your side, Sadie. Always.” His fingers tightened their grip on me. “Even when you want to stab me.”

My chuckle ended on a moan as he started moving again. “You’re mine, Songkeeper,” I groaned as he thrust into me deeper. “Always.”

With those claiming words, we picked up the pace. My hips rocked, tilting into that perfect angle that I knew would make me come undone. The tip of Navin’s cock grazed over the spot over and over, faster and faster, until our skin was slick and the air was filled with our carnal sounds.

With one final pump of his hips, we came together, my body clenching around him, pulling his release from him. Lightning skittered through my veins, my entire body fluttering as my orgasm roared through me. Wave after unending wave, I fell into that euphoric oblivion.

Navin’s lips slowed as he breathed in my last panting breaths,our muscles finally releasing as we collapsed into the soft bed. I swept back my bangs clinging to my forehead with sweat as Navin traced circles over my belly and up the center of my chest.

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