Page 104 of The Storm of the Empire

I would gladly wear any brand of his.

I closed my eyes, losing myself to the perfect rhythm of our bodies as we sealed our bond and became what the Goddess intended us to be.

Soul bonded.

Our magic filled the room and came alive between us as the strands of our souls fused together as one. And with the power of my lightning crackling between us, I came on a cry.

He pulled out of me then, and I whimpered at the loss. But he lifted me up until I straddled his lap and our bodies were pressed together. He let me sink back down onto him, holding me in his arms so we stared eye to eye. I gasped at the new depth he reached inside me, but I didn’t take my eyes away from his.

My eyes locked with his, I rocked over him, grinding my clit into his base, and I almost lost it right there, but I knew he was still holding back, and I wouldn’t leave him behind this time.

He thrust up into me, driving us to move faster.

Sweat beaded between us, and we moaned our pleasure to each other.

His thrusts became more deliberate, measured, and they drove into the place inside me that other males didn’t seem to touch.

We were perfect together, made to fit in every way.

He shuddered, giving me everything he had, moaning my name and finally giving over to a shattering release. I thanked the Goddess for making him to be mine, and then I kissed him deeply as I came.

There were things left unspoken between us, but as we lay tangled in each other, nothing felt out of reach.

We would fly home tomorrow, and everything else could be dealt with then.

How, I didn’t know. But that was tomorrow’s problem. Tonight, I had my mate in my arms.

THIRTY-FOUR

LUKA

Ifelt on top of the world when we stepped foot back on the landing platform at the palace, but it all came crashing down. We tried to go right to Nyx with what we’d seen but were stopped by armed guards.

Either the King was with him in Kol’s room, or something else had developed.

“Where have you two been?!” Jaxus confronted us, waving the guard to stand down.

“We went to inspect Damona Island ourselves,” I informed him, unsure why it was an issue.

“Why?” he demanded.

Hazel side-eyed me.

“Are we required to ask now before we leave the kingdom?” I dropped my voice, holding his gaze. “Because last we spoke, I was to do whatever was needed to see this through and get to the bottom of why herbs the priests had made your mate sick.” I didn’t care what they’d found or hadn’t. I wasn’t about to let him give me attitude.

Jaxus glanced at the guards and moved us further down the hall to give our conversation more privacy. “With the way the king reacted when we sent flights to Damona Island and it proved fruitless, we are under extra scrutiny,” he growled.

“Well, we have more intel.” Hazel stepped forward.

“What are you talking about?” Jaxus glanced between us, frowning and stepping closer. His nostrils flared, and I realized he was scenting us. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Really? You two?”

Ohhhh.

“Yes. I’m her ryder,” I said with a measure of pride. It was still sinking in, but I would not deny it to anyone.

Jaxus raised his brows at Hazel. “And the rest? You haven’t told him?”

“I hadn’t gotten around to it yet, no.”

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