Page 119 of Fae Reckoning

The monsters only threw back their heads, opened their maws until they fully encompassed what shouldhave been their faces, and shrieked that shrill, unholy screech. I shuddered as it rolled and rolled along my skin, seeming never to end.

“Enough,” I shouted.

Their screeching cries halted in unison, at the exact, same, precise moment, as if they were all linked. Their faces shifted ever so slightly to consider me as well as Elowyn.

“You have no power here. No authority. No right to harm anyone. Return to your mirrors at once.”

The monsters didn’t flinch. Didn’t shudder. Didn’t move at all.

“Your darkness has no place here,” Elowyn said into the quiet that had settled through the hall. “Whatever darkness created you, it doesn’t belong in our world. You shouldn’t be here.”

“Go now,” I said.

In perfect, disturbing synchronicity, the monsters tipped back their heads yet again, threw open their gaping mouths, and screeched—like scraping, creaking metal, like the cries of essences long tormented in the Igneuslands, pleading for a permanent death.

West winced and covered his ears, yelling, “I’m guessing that’s afuck you.”

I barely heard him or the whimpering cries of the fae huddled closest.

The strident shrieking went on and on.

Eyes and cheeks crunched together, wishing I could plug my ears, I glanced at El. Her face was bunched up too, her teeth gritted.

“Ready?” I asked.

“No.” She chortled grimly. “But let’s do it.”

Whatever exactlyitwas…

“You take the lead,” I said, while El tipped one ear to press against her shoulder, taking in the monsters who wouldn’t shut the fuck up and really, really, really fucking needed to. My eardrums might be bleeding. Even my eyeballs ached with the need to get away from their caterwauling.

Elowyn released my hand. My mouth dropped open to ask her why she’d do that when we were going to dothis, this nebulous thing, together, but in the next instant she’d woven her hands around my neck. She jumped, linking her legs around my waist, above my laden weapons belt.

Our blades clanked while I hastened to catch her, settling my hands under her ass and cupping it to hold her against me. “What?—?”

Her lips settled onto mine.

At first I tasted the blood that coated our faces. Beyond that, my initial thought was:She’d better not be kissing me ‘cause she thinks it’s our last and she’s about to do something dangerous and self-sacrificing, ‘cause I’ll kill her myself if she does anything to risk herself.

Then her insistent kiss swept me away. It decreased the volume of the grating screeches. It erased the frightened cries of those we were trying to protect. It took away every taste but what was inherently Elowyn. It whisked away even my fear, despite the fresh reminder of all I stood to lose.

The bond-beast inside me, somewhat settled since our frenzied lovemaking in the forest beyond Talisa’s cabin, awoke with a fury. It roared, clawing at my ribcage, urging me to let it free as my arms clenched around my mate so tightly I had to loosen my hold lest I hurt her.

Her tongue slid across mine—hot, wet, and demanding. I no longer registered what I did, only that I feasted on her, on our love, on our bond, on this desperately passionate kiss.

I no longer cared that monsters were bearing down on us, or that we had an audience that was probably disappointed we were making out instead of fighting to save them.

I didn’t care about any-fucking-thing except more, more, more, and ever fucking more of this incredible female who’d chosen me above all others, whose body was wrapped around mine, whose legs were pressing my pulsing dick against her molten center, whose hands were tangling into the strands of my hair that hung loose along my nape.

I wanted her, her, her—I wantedherand nothing else. She was enough. She’d forever be enough.

I heard only her breathing and mine, her moans, which I hastened to devour, my grunted groans and growls that made me sound like a beast even to my own ears. My heart beat in my chest, in my head, in my ears—and not just mine, but hers too. Our hearts beat as one, in harmony.

My bond-beast bayed, howled, and purred, yearning to join with her in every way possible.

My cock was harder than it had ever been, her kiss and body the sweetest ecstasy I’d ever tasted.

She was, now and forever, my olvidian. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, beyond her and the intoxication of her taste, the feel of her all over me. I wanted to climb inside her, to explore and claim every facet of her.

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