Page 146 of Crown of Slumber

He was mine. All mine.

His frantic gasps were faster now, his body pulsing to the same rhythm as his breaths. His sounds were more wild and uncontrollable until he sounded like a feral creature instead of the calm and collected prince I knew so well.

And a savage part of me loved that, that I was able to make him come undone. I was able to shed that mask, that skin he wore to protect himself. He was completely bare and vulnerable here with me now.

“Oh.Oh.” He thrust again, and I dragged my teeth along that sensitive flesh, closing my lips around him.

“No—No—I can’t—” His body spasmed as he came, filling my mouth. I gulped it all down, letting it burn my throat, letting it pour into me one drop at a time. Gods, he tasted delicious. I found myself gripping his thighs, his ass, bringing him closer to me. He panted, his hips still moving, even when there was nothing left. My touch alone had consumed him, had driven him to madness.

He was mine. Only mine. No one else’s. In this moment, I owned him, and he was proving it to me, letting me take utter and complete control.

The Fenn I knew would never surrender that control to anyone else.

He loved me.

I licked him once more for good measure, tasting that delicious part of him that was now mine and only mine.

When he was finished, I drew back, releasing him from my mouth. I stood, wiping my lips with the back of my hand and facing him, a look of smug superiority on my face. He was panting, leaning against the wall, his expression wary and exhausted.

“You’re cruel,” he rasped.

My smile only grew. “You love me.”

“I do. Desperately. More intensely than a thousand burning suns.”

“Even when the stars go dark,” I whispered, remembering our declarations to each other in the Crescent Glade during the fete.

“My love will shine through the night, guiding you home to me,” he breathed, bringing his hand to my cheek and brushing his fingers along my jaw.

I sighed softly, my breath shaky and ragged. I wanted to lose myself in this moment, in this place between us where I knew he loved me, and he knew I loved him.

“Do you believe me now?” he asked.

I didn’t want to. I wanted to stay here forever, where it was safe. Where I would never be betrayed again.

Instead, I nodded, my eyes filling with tears. “I trust you, Fenn. Against my better judgment.”

He laughed hoarsely. “I’ll take whatever you can give me. And I’ll spend the rest of my existence earning your trust back.” He hoisted up his trousers and fastened his belt before shooting me a coy look. “You’re filthier than I thought, little firebird. I’ve never come so quickly in all my life.”

My eyebrows lifted. “Gods, you think so highly of yourself, don’t you?”

His grin turned feral. “You have no idea how long I can last.How much I can make you scream. We’ve only scratched the surface.”

In spite of the situation, fresh heat bloomed in my core, and my toes curled from the sultry promise of his words.

He chuckled. “Let’s find your dragon and go home.”

We left the tea room, making our way down the hall where I’d last left Mal. My face heated as I realized he must have given us privacy for our intimacy. How embarrassingly thoughtful of him.

But as we wound through various corridors and descended several staircases, panic took root in my chest, and I exchanged a worried look with Fenn. “Where is he?” I asked.

He shook his head, his gaze dark and intent. “I don’t know.”

My eyes lit up. “The nesting grounds.”

We took off down the stairs, racing out the double entrance doors and into the blindingly bright sun. My feet followed the familiar path leading to the forest, a habit from years of visiting my precious dragons.

But when we reached the cover of trees, none of the dragons were there, save for one: Mal. He was galloping around the clearing, wings bounding with each movement as he leapt and darted this way and that. It would seem playful—he often behaved this way when he had too much energy to get out—were it not for the figure standing on the opposite end of the clearing, her hand raised as wisps of white magic darted from her fingertips to Mal.

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