Page 425 of Kingdoms of Night

He removed his crown and hers, placing them on the side table. He sat on the bed and pulled her on top of him, his sharp fingers grazing her skin gently.

He was gloriously monstrous.

She untied his tunic until his powerful chest and flat stomach were open to her kisses. Running her mouth over his smooth skin, she inhaled his scent—crushed leaves and nectar. He groaned and drew her upward for a kiss. He nipped her throat with his sharp teeth and made that unusual sound she’d first heard when he’d transformed. Now, Viridi was a blend of both dryad elf and Thorned One, just as she was a mix of human and dragon. They were different; neither of them fit neatly into a category. And it was perfect.

His tongue lapped over her earlobe and his talons grazed one of her wings, sending blasts of tingling heat through her blood. She couldn’t catch her breath. Her heart beat in every corner of her body, and stars save her, she wanted him so badly she could hardly keep from begging for him to be closer, closer still.

He hummed into the base of her throat as if he could guess what she was feeling and it pleased him. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he lifted her suddenly. She eased her wings open and gasped as he set her against one of the trees, his hands rucking up her dress, his palms hot on her thighs. He kissed her collarbone and lower, every movement a joy and a pleasure like nothing she’d ever felt. With his body crushed to hers, she curled her fingers into his hair as he blessed her skin with kiss after kiss. His hips shifted as he took her weight into his arms and she shuddered. He lay her on the bed, her wings spread wide behind her, and he took one of her legs and began to dust her knee with presses of his soft lips.

Viridi couldn’t get enough of the taste of her sweet skin or her sounds of delight. He lowered himself over her as she tucked her wings slightly. Leaning on his elbow, he drew his hand so very slowly over her curves, savoring her shuddering breath. He felt as though he’d swallowed starlight, his body alight with energy from tip to toe. Then he set his full weight on her and grabbed her leg to hook it over his hip. He spoke into her petal-soft throat.

“You are mine, Dragon Queen Isa. I will spend my days and nights discovering new ways to savor this fated bond between us.”

“You are mine, Dryad King Viridi. I will spend my days and nights allowing you to do just that.” She grinned wickedly and his heart soared.

The prophecy had spoken of her, his mate, the one with fire. Although inadvertently, she had helped him end the dryad’s reign—his evil father’s reign. All along, the prophecy had actually been a message of hope.

“My sun,” he whispered.

He kissed her softly, tenderly, as his body hummed with need.

“My starlight,” she answered.

His cursed life had become a blessing. He would never stop thanking the Source for the adventure of loving his Lady of the Sun.

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