Page 118 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
A pure predatory gleam enters his crimson eyes. “I don’t want to fuck some temple maiden. I want to fuck you.”
My cheeks scorch at the declaration. His gaze falls to my lips and I glimpse the same hungry lust I’m feeling reflected in his eyes.
I pull him down and crush my mouth against his. My fingers tangle into his hair and I kiss Svenn with all the urgency I’ve held back until now. He closes his eyes and leans down, pressing himself against me. I nip his lower lip as I deepen the kiss, letting him know how much I want this, how much I want him. Svenn makes a sound devastating close to a growl, sending a delicious tingle racing down my back, straight to my core.
The universe implodes at our kiss. Maybe just my universe. I lose myself in the way he strokes his tongue against mine. I forget about the battle tomorrow; I forget I saw my uncle taking Asterdust, I forget the Aeonians’ secret plot, I forget everything but the wonderful taste of this man kissing me. There is only me and him.
I break the kiss, breathless and utterly consumed. “I want you, Svenn. I want you,” I whisper to his lips.
Those words must have had magic in them because he kisses me harder. The man devours me and I can’t quite stifle a whimper. We’re deep in enemy territory and yet I feel completely at home, pressed up against him.
I’m hardly able to believe it. That I can be happy. That I can have this with Svenn. Despite everything, the horrors that await me tomorrow, I have him.
Svenn is my mate.
I pull away from his mouth to tell him. The words are at the tip of my tongue. But a frisson of fear goes through me when I try.
There is a slight draw in his thick brows. “Rhianelle, what’s wrong?”
Each time he says my name feels like a gentle caress on my skin. I gather my courage to look into his eyes, but I’m still terrified to say it out loud. I hide my head in the crook of his neck and fiddle with a battle piece on the table.
He touches my hand with a surprising gentleness. “Are you nervous for tomorrow?”
I shake my head, but I think he detects my restlessness.
“It’ll be all right, sweetheart,” he promises.
Svenn gives me another soul wrenching kiss that sends butterflies straight to my stomach. It doesn’t matter how many times we do this, I’ll always want more.
He takes my face in his hand, pressing his brows against mine. This gesture is far more intimate than our kisses.
I stare at him for a little longer. “Svenn?”
It feels like I’m rushing this, but I can’t keep this secret to myself anymore.
No more self-doubt, no more hesitation.
“You’re my mate!”
Chapter 18 Svenn
Mate.
Balthazar’s stupid necklace translates it as a friend.
Despair mounts in my chest.
I’m a fucking friend?
Then slowly, as lazy as the demon himself, the magical pendant slips another meaning into my head.
Soulmate.
The thought never occurred me. As if an infernal thing like me is worthy of having something so divine. It doesn’t make sense.
I take a moment to breathe and look at the girl in my arms. Her chest heaves with emotions at the enormity of her revelation.
“You’re my mate,” she repeats, her voice breathless. She blinks up at me. “I’m sorry I don’t know what it is myself. The mating bond is rare among elves.”
