Page 8 of Mated

For a second, I was frozen in place, but then my legs moved before I thought more about it. I faced Draxus, my head cocked back as I looked into his lizard eyes.

He just watched me for long seconds before saying softly, “Such a strange but utterly enthralling creature you are, my little human queen.”

He turned and disappeared behind me, but I stayed put, facing the double doors, not afraid but unsure.

I heard the scrape of the metal against metal, and a moment later, he was tracing a clawed finger down the side of my throat, sending a violent shiver through me.

“You will wear this l crown like you were born to,” Draxus said, his voice low and dangerous and rumbling throughout my entire body.

He was in front of me once more, and I tilted my chin up, gazing at Draxus through my lashes. “I want this,” I whispered.

A wicked smile stretched his mouth, his fangs flashing in the dim light. He lowered the crown until it hovered over my head. I could feel the power and weight thrumming from it.

As the crown settled onto my head, a rush of heat coursed through me so fierce and strong it stole the breath from my lungs, and I shivered. The weight was substantial, but the size was perfect.Like it had been made just for me.

I could feel Draxus’s unrelenting gaze on me.

And then, surprising me, Draxus dropped to his knees, his body so tall and big we were still eye level.

“My queen,” he growled.

A jolt of heat and need raced through me. The weight of the crown was both heavy and felt so incrediblyright.

I heard whispers all around me like this castle was a living, breathing entity and approved of this union, singing dark songs of acceptance. The lava flared brighter as if it wanted me to know I was right in my assumption of it.

Draxus rose after a long second and pressed his body close to mine, his clawed hand trailing up my side and stopping just beneath my breast. His touch was possessive and claiming. And I wanted more of it. I wanted to forget about everything, to ignore the fact he wasn’t human. I was no longer in my realm and that I accepted this so easily scared me

“We need to complete this union, sweet queen. And in order to bind us,” he said, his breath hot against my ear, “I must take you the way a male claims his female.”

I shivered—and not from fear.

I knew what he meant. There was only one thing left to seal this union. And God help me, I wanted it.

I met his gaze, feeling strangely strong and powerful.

“First, we’ll bathe,” he growled.

I nodded. “Then you’ll take me to bed, Draxus. Show me how a king of the Dark Realm of Blood Ash claims his queen.”

5

DRAXUS

The air was thick with steam, the scent of minerals and heat wrapping around us like a second skin. The bathing chamber had an ever-running natural spring, heated by the lava that ran beneath the surface of this world.

“Come,” I said, my voice low and commanding as I stepped into the bathing chamber. She took a few hesitant steps forward, and I pulled her in further, closing the door behind us, sealing us in. I kept the leather that shielded my cock, not wanting to overwhelm her any more than she probably was.

Her wide eyes took in the rustic grandeur of the space—lava rock walls, jagged and glistening with condensation from the hot spring.

The floor was smooth, black stone, slick underfoot, reflecting the dim fiery glow of the small fire in the corner. The pool on the far wall bubbled with warm water, the surface rippling and beckoning.

Elowen hesitated at the edge of the bath chamber, her fingers nervously clutching the tattered fabric of her gown. I could see the pulse in her neck, feel the tension radiating from her.She is hesitant. Cautious. Good. She needs to be living in this underworld.

But then I smelled something coating the air, tilting my head back to get a better sniff. It was slight at first, but the longer we stared at each other, the more it ripened.

Her arousal.

“You’re safe here,” I murmured, some primal and unfamiliar part of me wanting to reassure her. I stepped closer until my chest nearly brushed her tiny body. I rested my scaled, clawed hands on her shoulders and felt the slight shiver that ran through her at my touch. “Let me take care of you. Let me show you how a king treats his queen.”

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