Page 69 of The Sword & the Stone

"I don't believe in love," he continued, his gaze never leaving mine as we swayed together, our bodies brushing with each movement, sparking energy across my skin. “It terrifies me."

The confession hung between us, raw and honest, stripped bare of all pretense. I felt the rapid thrum of his heartbeat where our chests pressed together, and saw the war raging behind his eyes. Fear grappling with longing, the desperate need to maintain control.

"Why does it terrify you?" I asked softly, my fingers toying with the silken strands of hair at the nape of his neck.

Lancelot exhaled shakily, his breath warm against my cheek. "Because I don't know if I'm strong enough to survive losingmyself in you. Losing myself to this...this madness. Because that’s what it feels like, Arthur. When I saw Keir’s hands on you, it took every ounce of my willpower not to crush him into fucking dust. Just watching the way he smiled at you made me sick. I’ve never felt so possessive over a female in my life."

Gently, I cupped his face in my hands, my thumbs brushing over the high planes of his cheekbones. His skin was warm and smooth, as if he’d shaved the stubble earlier in the night. "Lancelot," I murmured, my voice soft. “Give yourself time. I’m not asking for you to love me. Not yet. Not if you’re not ready for that step. But I would like to explore this…thing between us."

His grip tightened, his strong arms enveloping me as he drew me impossibly closer. Our bodies molded together, fitting perfectly. Around us, the dance floor had transformed into a sea of swirling silks and shimmering wings. Laughter and music mingled with the heady scent of sex and magic.

But at that moment, the rest of the world fell away. There was only Lancelot, his golden eyes burning into mine with an intensity so raw that it stole my breath. Slowly, reverently, he raised a hand to brush a stray curl from my cheek, his calloused fingers lingering against my skin.

"Arthur," he whispered, my name falling from his lips like a prayer. "I’m going to kiss you now.”

The kiss was rough, demanding, a clashing of teeth and tongues that sent sparks of desire racing down my spine. Lancelot's hands gripped my waist, his fingers digging into my skin as he pulled me flush against the hard planes of his body.

A broken moan escaped me as his tongue delved into my mouth, tasting, exploring, devouring. Everything faded away until there was nothing but the heat of his touch, the drugging slide of his lips against mine, the intoxicating scent of his skin.

One of his hands slid up my back to tangle in my hair, his fingers twisting in the curls as he angled my head to deepen thekiss. I clung to him, my nails raking down the powerful expanse of his back, feeling the muscles ripple beneath my touch.

Suddenly, with a great whoosh of air, Lancelot's wings unfurled from his back, stretching out to their full, magnificent span. The golden hooks at the top glinted menacingly in the lantern light.

Lancelot's wings beat powerfully, stirring up a gust of wind that sent my hair whipping around my face. He broke the kiss, his eyes glowing. "Hold on tight."

I barely had time to wrap my arms around his neck before he launched us into the air with a mighty thrust of his wings. I gasped, my stomach swooping as we soared higher and higher, the ground falling away beneath us.

We hovered for a moment, suspended high above the Seelie Court. From this vantage point, the revelry below looked like a scene from a faerietale. The towering trees with their luminescent leaves stretched out in every direction, their branches adorned with glowing lanterns that winked and shimmered like captured stars.

Bonfires dotted the landscape for miles and miles, their flames flickering in mesmerizing shades of blue, green, and violet. Sparks drifted lazily upwards, mingling with the fireflies that danced through the balmy twilight air. The drumbeat pulsed through the earth like a heartbeat, the haunting melodies of the faerie musicians intertwining with peals of laughter and moans of pleasure.

I couldn't help the breathless laugh that bubbled up from my chest as I clung to Lancelot, my body pressed tightly against his.

With a powerful beat of his wings, he propelled us through the sky. The wind rushed past my ears as we soared over the forest below. I tightened my grip around his neck, marveling at the strength and grace with which he navigated the air currents.

The landscape shifted and changed beneath us. The towering trees gave way to rolling hills blanketed in a carpet of wildflowers that shimmered lavender. Sparkling streams cut through the lush valleys.

I happened to glance over his shoulder, and my eyes widened as I spotted several familiar figures following closely behind us, their wings propelling them through the sky like massive birds.

Lancelot chuckled, feeling my body stiffen, hearing my sharp intake of breath. “You didn’t think they’d let you out of their sight, did you?” I couldn’t help the laugh that spilled out of me. I should have expected the others to follow.

In the distance, I spotted a lone structure rising from the crest of a hill, its weathered stone walls covered in a latticework of ivy and flowering vines. As we drew closer, I realized it was an ancient watchtower, its once-proud turrets now crumbling with age and neglect.

Lancelot angled his wings, bringing us in for a gentle landing atop the tower's flat roof. As my feet touched the moss-covered stone, I exhaled a heavy breath. The world felt different up here, secluded and private.

"What is this place?" I asked, spinning in a circle, my dress fluttering around me.

Lancelot's wings folded gracefully behind him before vanishing just as the others were landing beside us, their bare feet silent.

Lancelot's eyes took on a distant, almost wistful quality as he gazed out over the hills. "This was once a watchtower, used during the old wars. Whenever the enemy was near, the sentinels would light a signal fire, alerting the camps to raise their defenses."

He ran his hand along the weathered stone parapet, his fingers tracing the ancient grooves and cracks. "It's been centuries since it was last in use. There’s been a tentativetruce between the two courts ever since Excalibur was taken to Albion."

I stepped closer to him, my hand coming to rest beside his on the cool stone. The tower may have been old and crumbling, but there was a certain wild beauty to it, a sense of timelessness.

"Let's go inside," I said, my voice soft in the stillness of the night. "I want to see what's become of it after all these years."

He nodded, as he led the way towards a narrow archway near the far edge of the tower, with a dark staircase that led down into the structure. The others followed close behind, their presence a comforting warmth at my back.

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