Page 63 of Crown of Wrath

I’ve known for a long time that Cole and the Shade were the same person. I’ve known, but I’ve never seen it. Now, the last bit of fuzziness clears and I smile at the man I fell in love with. “Now it’s time for you to haveyourway with me, Cole. And you don’t necessarily need to use shadows.”

He smirks at me, and this time, he isn’t gentle. He bends down and presses his lips to mine with so much passion that there’s no doubt that he’s been just as desperate as I have. This was his dream, too. The two of us, together in ways that no human could imagine.

“I love you, Maeve,” he growls. His voice has returned to normal, but there’s no lack of roughness to it. Those beautiful lips are so close I can feel them move. His head is pressed against mine, and his breath comes in little gasps. Rough fingers move to my throat again, holding me still as he crushes my lips with his.

There’s no lessening of need in that kiss. “I’ve wanted you so badly for so long.”

“Then take me, Cole. I’m not some breakable Wyrdling. Show me the Immortal Prince I’ve never regretted being betrothed to.”

He snarls at me, his eyes staring straight into mine, and I realize just how feral he’s become. The first time that I told him to give in to his desires, he’d smiled and laughed and let go of the weight of everything. Now, he looks like an animal that’s been caged.

This is what it’s like when someone has had to restrain themselves for too long. “Take me, Cole.”

He grips my throat tighter, and then we’re falling through the world for only a moment before we come out thirty miles from Draenyth’s gates to a place I’ll never forget. The riverbank where we bound ourselves together.

I swallow hard as shadows curl around me, not to control me, but to tease me, to remind me I am his. To remind me that this isn’t over. Cole takes a step back and pulls the Cloak off in a single movement and throws it to the ground. The shadows around me dissipate, and I stare at the man in front of me for a moment before he changes.

He puts his hands at my waist and picks me up as if I’m weightless. I wrap my legs around his thighs and feel the insistent pressure of him pressing at my opening. I stare into Cole’s eyes. Not the Shade’s. Not a memory of him. This is Cole Cyrus, and he is everything.

He lowers me onto him at the same time that he kisses me. Like the flames that he controls, he consumes me. He breathes deep, taking my breath from me. Sharp nails dig into my back as he thrusts into me.

I try to gasp, and he breathes it in, not giving me a chance to make a sound. He is everything here, the flame that I’d love to be burned by. As if he’s reading my mind, flames erupt around us, and Cole pulls away, a smile on his face and a fire in his eyes. He pulls me to him, pressing my breasts against his chest, and where I’d been cold for so long, his warmth fills me up.

He moves me up and down, but our eyes don’t stray. I fantasized about the Shade’s touch, but it was this—this feeling of wholeness—that I’d really missed. When our bonded souls matched our bonded bodies.

“I love you,” I say after a gasp.

“You’re my everything.” It’s a declaration, not only to me, but to the very world, as if he’s challenging it to try to take me away from him again. There’s a seriousness in his eyes that doesn’t agree with the bright orange sphere that we’re in.

I put my head on his shoulder as he lifts and lowers me. My body’s exhausted already, and with how bright the fire is, I can’tuse shadows to support myself. I gasp and whimper as he takes me higher than I could have imagined.

My mind blends with his through our bond. I can feel his need building. I can feel the strange blend of needing to protect me and devour me. I can feel everything.

The flames flicker across my skin, scorching me, and I sigh, my breath coming out hot against Cole’s neck. Cole lets out a deep groan, and I shake. Shadows dance within the flames, neither of them fighting against the other.

The pounding of the drum inside me stutters as the rhythm gets too fast. I try to scream, but once again, Cole presses his lips to mine, drinking in my scream and my power. He consumes me as I feel his release deep inside me.

I want him to have everything I have to give. My power. My body. My love. I rewatched my entire life, and the one thing I know without a single doubt is that this man is the only person who will always protect me first, the only person who I can always trust.

And I will give him anything he needs or wants.

Chapter 32

It is important to remember that the five dragons that stayed on Nyth are not the only dragons that ever lived. It is important because each of those dragons has its own strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. Our Great Houses were built on powers of the four that became the Anchors. If, instead of Sidon, another had stayed, our society would be completely different.

~Erevan Morvyn, A History of Magic and Dragons

Maeve

Every muscle hurts. Every joint feels like it’s locked in place. At the same time, I can’t stop smiling. I can feel Cole. I can feel everything.

It’s only been two hours since I brought us back to our chambers, and I still can’t quite believe that the man lying nextto me is real. It’s been so long since I felt him. I’ve lived an entire lifetime in the six weeks I’ve been asleep.

There’s a knock on the door, and my Earth senses reach out to see who it is. “It’s King Aric,” I say.

Cole nods to me. “Impressive how quickly word got to him, but I’m sure he specifically told the footmen outside my room to inform him the moment you woke up. He’s been rather insistent that I help protect his kingdom.”

“We said that we would, didn’t we?” I say, my smile never leaving my face. He shrugs, and I know why he didn’t help Aric. He was sitting beside me.

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