Page 18 of The Shadowbound King

But I was also well aware that I sensed him because he allowed it. When Rane Laruthian didn’t want to be seen, not even the most skilled tracker could detect his presence. His stealth was his gift—and a talisman against the darkness that crept over Autumn. According to our lore, his ancestors had sprung from shadow itself, in a time when Autumn’s magic was balanced and thriving. Light was a powerful force, but its strength was also an inherent weakness. When it burned too brightly, it devoured itself.

It needed the darkness. The children of the shadows protected the light. And Rane protected me.

But just like the land, we were plagued by imbalance.

The air in the Grove was cool, its thick grass dappled with sunlight. Water splashed in a large, multi-tiered fountain. Hedge-lined paths cut winding trails to stone benches that flanked statues of revered warriors of old. The Grove’s walls rose tall and imposing around the secluded sanctuary, ensuring privacy. But that wasn’t their primary purpose.

They existed to protect the Edeloak, the heart of Autumn’s power. The massive tree dominated the center of the Grove, its branches casting a thousand shadows on the ground. Orange, yellow, and red leaves fluttered in a gentle breeze. Here and there, some of the leaves withered. I kept my gaze away from them, and I didn’t look at the patch of brown grass that spread at the tree’s base. Moss covered the ancient oak’s branches, some of which hovered just above the ground like long fingers poised to dig into the soil.

I skimmed a hand along one thick, round bough before facing Rane.

He stopped, his expression shuttered. “I know what you’re going to say.”

“Do you?” I folded my arms. “Why don’t you enlighten me.”

“Don’t be like this. Walto’s daughter is a prize, and you know it.”

The anger that had brewed under my skin since the herald announced his return surged to a boiling point. “You seem to know everything I’m thinking and feeling. Why even have a conversation, my lord?”

His jaw tightened. “You use my title to put distance between us. Is this the start of a punishment? You’re angry that I crossed the Edelfen, and now you’ll force some kind of public separation to ensure the whole court is aware of your displeasure.”

In a blink, I gripped his shirt in both fists. Hauling him onto his toes, I let my anger fill my voice. “The only member of this court who needs to worry about my displeasure is you. Iordered you to stay away from the Covenant. You went anyway, conspiring with humans and bringing Walto’s daughter into our midst after I specifically told you to put her out of your mind.”

Resentment glinted in his purple eyes, but he didn’t fight my hold or try to pull away. “I didn’t conspire. I bargained.”

“It doesn’t matter. I toldyou not to go.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty, for seeing an opportunity to save your kingdom and pursuing it.”

The anger boiled over, and I shook him. “Damn you, Rane, you reckless, disobedient fool. Don’t you get it? Nothing is saved if I loseyou.”

His eyes widened. Then his mouth was on mine, his tongue hot and demanding. But I wasn’t interested in capitulation. Gripping his shoulders, I spun him and slammed his back against the Edeloak. Swallowing his grunt, I thrust my tongue hard against his, taking control of the kiss.

For a second, he resisted. Then he gave in with a sigh, opening under me so I could take what I wanted.

And I wanted everything. The worry and fear of the past two days flooded me, urging me to push him harder against the tree. To pin him and, yes, punish him. If I did, that meant he was real. If I could hurt him, I hadn’t lost him to the nameless, faceless monsters neither of us could ever really conquer. We could only battle them…and lose a little bit of the war each time.

Blood roared in my ears. More pounded to my cock, which pushed painfully against the fastening of my trousers. I drove my hips into Rane’s, grinding our dicks together.

He groaned into my mouth. He was just as hard. Just as desperate and ready. As if he wanted to prove it, he clawed at my back. Slid his fingers into my hair and hooked a leg around my hip. Sucking at my tongue, he rutted against me.

The scent of bellclovers floated in the air, and I knew he’d dislodged the blooms in my braid. I’d have to punish him for it. But not with the separation he’d spoken of. Never that.

I cupped his jaw as I deepened the kiss, stroking so hard and deep he couldn’t spit me out. Our panting breaths and mingled groans warred with the sounds of the wind dancing through the leaves. My dick leaked in my trousers as I rocked my hips, dragging my shaft up and down his.

It wasn’t enough. Then again, it never was with him. Always, I craved more.

Stepping back, I yanked him away from the Edeloak. “I want your mouth,” I growled, shoving him to his knees.

His hands shook as he fumbled my trousers open and freed my dick. He winced when I tangled a fist in his hair, then moaned when I gripped my shaft and thrust it roughly into his mouth.

Perfect, wet heat surrounded me. Head-spinning pleasure tightened my balls, which swayed as I widened my stance. Rane licked and sucked, swirling his tongue up and down my dick with masterful skill. The feathers and vines around his throat rippled with his movements. Black hair slid over his shoulders as he sucked at my cockhead, his purple eyes heavy-lidded with lust. Bracing a hand on my thigh, he moved his mouth to my sack, nuzzling one heavy globe and then the other. When precome swelled at my slit, he drew back and licked it away.

“Suck,” I ordered, driving my hips forward and forcing my shaft deep into his mouth. My cock nudged the back of his throat, gagging him. He coughed but recovered quickly, hollowing his cheeks as I began plunging between his lips. Holding him steady with a fist in his hair, I quickly fell into a bruising rhythm.

It was too good. I wasn’t going to last long. His fault. I’d punish him for that, too.

Gripping his hair in both hands, I fucked his face, driving hard and deep. His eyes watered. His grunts vibrated up my shaft to my nuts, whipping my pleasure higher.

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