Page 86 of Red Queen

I capture her mouth with mine, pouring all my passion, all my need into her. She meets me with equal need, devouring me, branding me as hers for all eternity.

In this moment, nothing else exists—not the people around us, the looming threats, the battles to come, the wounds of the past. There’s only us and the wild, untamable love that binds us, two souls forged in blood and flame.

And I know this is the woman I live and die for without question.

I pull back from our passionate embrace, my gaze locked with Eleanna’s. Her waves fall like a waterfall over her shoulders, and I can’t resist threading my fingers through the silken strands. She leans into my touch, a soft sigh escaping.

“You’re my everything,” I murmur, the words raw and honest.

Eleanna’s expression softens, and she brings her hand up to caress my cheek. “And you are mine, Alexandru. Despite our history and unconventional reunion, you’ve proven yourself to be a man of honor, loyalty, and deep love. I’m proud to stand by your side, as your queen and your partner in all things.”

Emotion swells within my chest at her heartfelt declaration. To hear such words from a woman as remarkable as Eleanna fills me with a profound sense of joy and purpose. I declare then and there to spend the rest of my existence cherishing her and our unbreakable bond.

I need more than words. If we die, I want to go knowing I properly claimed her. I sweep Eleanna into my arms, and carry her inside the castle and up to our shared bedchamber. I set her down on the plush furs and silks.

I take out the ring I’ve carried with me and stand before her, clutching it tight in my hand. The ancient gold band thrums with power and magic against my palm.

“This once belonged to my mother.” I take her hand in mine. “This ring is a symbol of our future together, my Queen. Of my eternal loyalty, my deepest respect, and my unending love for you.”

Eleanna’s eyes meet mine, a spark of emotion flaring in their depths. Deliberately, she takes the ring and slides it onto her finger. The metal gleams against her moon-kissed skin. A perfect fit.

I cover her mouth with mine, our kiss saying more than mere vows ever could. The kiss is a seal, a pledge. A thing to cling to. When our kiss ends, she presses her forehead to mine.

“Oh, Alexandru,” Eleanna whispers, her sweet breath mingling with mine. “Somewhere along the way, amid all our battles and sex, I wanted you, too. Irrevocably. Unexpectedly.”

I kiss her again. For these precious seconds, I’m not a battle-hardened general. I’m simply a man, hopelessly in love with a woman who owns my heart. Our bond goes beyond desire, beyond duty.

I trace the tattoo of a raven on her calf with a single finger, an almost reverent touch upon the emblem that speaks volumes of her heritage. “Your lineage, my Queen. It’s as ancient and noble as the blood that flows through your veins.”

“Bloodlines,” Eleanna muses, lifting her hand to the light, watching the ring I gave her gleam in the dimness of our chamber. “They tether us to history, don’t they?”

“Oh, yes, they certainly do.” My voice is soft, laced with the weight of centuries. “The Sagori family’s legacy is one of power and resilience. Much like their future queen.”

Her laughter flutters as she looks at me. “And what of the Amanar ancestral line? Do you not boast of generals and kings among your ancestors?”

“Generals and warriors, yes. Kings...that’s yet to be seen.” The corner of my mouth twitches up in a half smile as I toy with strands of her red hair. “But we’ve always been warriors, protectors of the realm. It’s why I’m here now, with you.”

“Protecting? Or seeking power?”

“Both,” I say. “Power ensures protection. And with you, Eleanna, we could unite the vampire clans, strengthen the bonds between our kind.”

She nods thoughtfully, her gaze distant as if envisioning the future we might forge as one. “It won’t be easy. Vampire courts are... complicated. Alliances shift like sand, and loyalty can be as fleeting as life itself.”

“Which is why we must be cunning and united. Our combined strength will deter even the most ambitious from challenging us.” I run my thumb across her lower lip, feeling thesharp thrill of her fang beneath it. “We’ll redefine the politics of the immortal realms, not the other way around.”

Her eyes flash with a fierce determination. “I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge, Alexandru. You know that.”

“I do indeed, my Queen,” I say. “It’s one of the many things I admire about you.”

“Flattery? From the great General Amanar? I’m shocked.”

I chuckle. “It’s not flattery if it’s true, Eleanna. You are a force to be reckoned with. The vampire realms will tremble before your newfound power.”

She leans in closer, her breath ghosting over my skin. “Our power, Alexandru. We are in this together, are we not?”

“Until the end of time itself,” I say, cupping her cheek and brushing my thumb over the smooth, luminescent skin.

Her eyes soften, a rare vulnerability shining through. “I am not used to having someone to lean on. It’s...an adjustment.”

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