Page 47 of Moon Raven Rising
“I should have known,” he says, smiling, then kissing me. “You are extraordinary. It was your magic that ripped me from being stuck in the shadows. Your light shined so bright it burnt it all away, and now? You not only can control the shadows I create. You can conjure them too!” He shakes his head in disbelief; his smile so wide and vibrant, I wish it would stay just like that for the rest of our days. If only we could be so lucky.
“I can,” I whisper, and he wipes the pad of his thumb across my cheek to catch another tear. “I havesomuch I need to tell you, but I need nothing else right now—other than to feel our bond. I need you.” I don’t have to say more. He reaches between us, rips away the remaining scrap of fabric on my body, and drops to his knees. His tongue is sliding through my drenched center with a primal rumble through his throat that vibrates my every nerve ending.
Metal clanks to the stone as he pulls his baldric free and lets it fall to the ground. He pulls his tunic over his head as he takes a breath between achingly slow strokes of his tongue. His hands leave my thighs only as I feel him stand, and I look at him through hooded eyes as he bares the rest of his body to me.
He licks his lips, cleaning my arousal from them with his tongue before he steps in closer. The feel of his warm tip presses at my entrance. I pant with need, grinding my hips and begging for him to come closer. His molten eyes lock with mine as his wings unfurl, and he does not disappoint. He sheaths himself inside of me in one blind thrust. I cry out, but shadows burst from Dax’s hand, and they muffle the noise. With a wicked grin, he lifts one leg and when he slams into me with force, tears stream down my face. The pain of his size and the angle atwhich he holds me, but still I pulse around him. Wanting more. Needing more of him viscerally.
Steadily pumping in and out, he uses his shadows to push my body up. Folding me in half, my knee touches my shoulder, and he pants heavy breaths and words of longing into my ear.
“Oh my Gods!” I cry around the shadows.
“No, not the gods,” he says with a grunt. “But I am ready to be worthy of the title you gave me before.” His voice drops even lower, and he growls into my ear, “Come for your dark king, love.”
I grip onto him so tightly that his blood spills from crescent-shaped cuts as my nails dig into his flesh. He moans my name as he spills heavily inside of me, his wings flaring wide.
His shadows fall away from my mouth, and I suck in all the air I can. Not caring that it’s the dank, musty air of the discarded chamber that surrounds us. Everything is okay while he is here holding me in his arms, but just as the thought comes to my mind, sadness washes over me because I know it’s going to be short-lived.
Lifting his head from my shoulder, his thumb finds the side of my face again, and he caresses the skin there softly, kissing my lips slowly this time. He takes his time showing me his love.
“I’ve missed you.” His breath comes out in light puffs against my lips, and I close my eyes, hating myself for what I’m about to do.
“I’m sorry I left you.”
“Don’t.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I don’t need apologies from you. I have all I need from you right here.” He squeezes me a little tighter.
“Dax—you have to go back to Ravendene. I can’t leave yet.” Shadows billow in his eyes as he leans back, looking between mine.
“What do you mean? I will not be separated from you again, Raelle.” His words spear through my heart.
“I have unfinished business I need to take care of.Pleaseunderstand if there was any other way…” I press my palm over his heart.
“Does this have to do withhim?” He snarls, and I flinch.
“Him?” I ask in return.
“Ambriel and I saw a vision of you getting quite cozy with another man.” He stands, pulling his breeches back into place, and fists his tunic, leaving me bare and looking up at him from my back. He has to be talking about Osiris. Osiris and I have been friendly, eventually, but never cozy. I shake my head.
“No, it—it’s not what you think, Dax. The prince is on our side.” I fumble, as my thoughts spiral through everything I know I need to tell him, but I know I don't have time.
“It looked like he was more onyourside.” My brow furrows at the jealous words, but as I look at him, his eyes drop to my ribs and then snap back up to mine. “It appears that is more indisputable than you claim.” My eyes drop to the spot he is looking at. The black dragon and white raven, in a swirling dance in the sky. Both equal and opposing, darkness and light. Two halves to make a whole in a never-ending circle. The symbol that marks both of us and brings our kingdoms together. I purse my lips because I can understand how he might be feeling.
“I won’t tell you that things won’t get worse, and I’m not going to lie to you. Osiris and I have forged a royal bond, and I have promised him Aldramani’s help. I’ve learned more since I’ve been here. About myself and my magic. Royal bonds, Dax, we can share our magic. You’ve witnessed it and used it yourself.” I cup his cheek with my hand. “Soren is a mutual enemy. Osiris has agreed to work with us to take him down. His kingdom had a deal with the royal family—it’s all a long, old story. Please.Trust me.” He grinds his teeth as he works through everything. I cansee the amount of pain I am causing him, and it hurts me just as much.
“I can’t leave you again,” Dax whispers in defeat, and it breaks my heart.
“We will be working together, Dax. We can attack on two fronts. He will never see it coming.” He is silent for another moment. The echo of footsteps approaching marks us out of time, and the realization brings tears back to swell in my eyes. “Dax,” His name is a plea, as I try to get him to see what I’m trying to tell him.
“We will be ready. Can you communicate like Ambriel?” He asks hurriedly, and my eyes widen.
“Dax, you are a genius!” I whisper-shout, and I wrap myself around him and kiss his lips. His cheeks. His nose. “I must be able to. I will find a way. Be ready. All of you. And stay safe. Get out of here while you can.”
“I will always trust you.” He says, kissing me once more and then sending his shadows to blanket my naked body once more. “Even when I don’t want to, I will honor your wishes. We will be ready, love. Don’t keep me waiting too long. I’m not a patient man.”
“It will be before the winter moon. If I don’t reach you two days prior, something is wrong.” He gives me a firm nod before his eyes snap to the door and then back to me. He steps backward into the shadows, only the twin flames of his eyes glowing back at me, and as soon as Soren stomps into the room, they disappear with a blink.
I can feel his presence. I know he’s still here, hiding in the shadows until he can escape. I take a deep breath and blow it out as I pull shadows back into my eyes and light them from behind, making them an eerie purple. I grind my teeth, hoping that he can endure what comes next without giving us away.
Chapter thirty-eight
