Page 76 of Shadows of Ruin

More and more, the shadows stroked, building her to her peak.

“Please, Kade,” she whimpered. “Please.”

“I know.” I couldn’t look away as she writhed against the wall. “Stay with me.”

My grip remained unyielding, threatening to crack the marble. Fates, the need to touch her, to be inside of her, overpowered my senses. As if detecting my slip in control, the shadow finger left her and she gasped in anger.

I could feel how close she was to finishing. Her rage snapped me back to the present, and before she had time to revel in it, I directed the shadows to plunge inside of her once more, this time shaped more like me, filling her in the way I so desperately longed to. Her moans deepened as she arched her back, straining against the hold the shadows had her in.

“Yes, yes, yes.” Her cries were like air, and I needed more. I needed to hear her come.

A few more pumps, and Lana screamed my name, riding out her pleasure on my shadows. I sent a torrent of them around her to muffle the sound from anyone too close to the gardens. This wasmine.

Her pleasure, her satisfaction radiated through me, through the shadows. All of it, mine.

My cock painfully strained against my pants, begging to be set free. I would have to find my own release tonight. The sound of her coming would be my muse. A sound permanently ingrained in my brain.

Back fully in my control, I released the shadows from her hands and moved her undergarments and dress back into place as she stood there, panting.

Smoothing the fabric of her dress, I could see she struggled to gather her thoughts. I watched as her walls built back up in her mind.

I wanted to keep her here with me, in an unguarded moment, even if that desire revealed how selfish I was.

“Distracted?” I asked.

She left the wall, walking toward me and hesitantly placed her hand on my chest. Warmth spread over me, radiating outward at her contact.

I leaned down, unable to stop myself from placing a kiss on the top of her head. She leaned into me, so slightly I didn't know if she realized she’d done it, but I clung to that feeling. Just as I would cling to this memory.

“Happy birthday, Little Rebel.”

She dropped her hand and took a step back, lips parting and then shutting again.

“Good night, Kade,” she whispered.

She retreated back toward the ballroom, and I walked forward, collapsing against the very wall I’d held her against, desperate to revel in the scent of her.

We would be okay. I’d make sure of it. We’d go to Cassandra, figure out what to do here with the prophecy, and then?—

Then I’d take her to her kingdom, win it back, and spend the rest of my life proving I loved her.

Fates, Ilovedher. More than anything and in ways I didn’t even think possible. Which meant nothing would stand in my way of giving her whatever she needed.

I put my hand over my chest, vowing silently to myself. I’d use the monster inside of me in any way, every way if it meant making sure this world would be safe for her again. Safe for us.

No matter what.

Chapter 22

Lana

Flames licked at my skin, singeing my hair and pushing me backward.

“Lana!” Ian’s scream echoed around me.

The damp stone walls trapped us both here.

Andras chuckled. “She can’t help you.”

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