Page 25 of Fire & Ice

I moaned as he grabbed my hair, pulling my head back. He leaned over me, and his lips brushed my shoulder blade, then his fangs sank into my flesh.

I cried out as he drew blood, the pain mingling with the pleasure, sending me spiraling higher. He licked the wound to seal it.

"You like that, don't you, my queen?" he crooned in my ear, nibbling on my earlobe as he thrust into me again. Every nerve ending in my body was on fire.

"I do," I admitted breathlessly.

"Why?" he demanded as he pumped into me, hitting that special spot each and every time.

My body was trembling. I was teetering on the edge of my orgasm, but I wanted to answer. I wanted him to know just how much he meant to me.

"I'm yours, Beau. Every piece of me belongs to you." I panted, my nails ripping deep into the sheets.

"That's right, Tempest. You belong to me. Every part of you. Mind. Body. Soul." He growled. He was so primal in that moment, our connection so strong, so deep, that it felt like he was right inside my mind. It was exhilarating.

"Yes," I moaned, arching into him.

"Let go, Tempest. Come for me." He commanded, his voice rough and demanding.

I hung my head, my body quivering as I came hard for him, my body bathed in warmth as I came undone. I screamed my ecstasy.

"Fuck, yes! So good. So damn good! You're mine, Tempest." He growled, slamming into me a final time before he came.

Chapter 26

Tempest

My heart thundered in my chest as King Lucas and Queen Tatiana stood before the court, their expressions severe. Beau and I stepped forward, our wrists bound together by a thick rope wound into an intricate knot. The King pulled out a dagger from his cloak, its blade gleaming in the candlelight. He drew it down the right side of our necks with precision, and the scent of royal blood filled the air.

The court held their breath, a strange tension building between us all. Then Beau and I leaned forward and clamped onto each other’s neck, drinking deeply of each other’s elixir until a smoky fog slowly began to fill the room. It rolled and churned like an ocean wave, obscuring our vision until it settled into a wet gray blue mist that engulfed us in its embrace. Fear and excitement coursed through me as we united in this sacred Mating Ritual.

Part one of the mating ritual was underway—the Merging. We drank from each other, slow and deliberate sips that were both sensual and fierce at the same time. Queen Tatiana joined hands with King Lucas to bless our union. As we drank, a bright glow seemed to shimmer around us, and our bodies clung to one another. I felt a strange tingling sensation as our gifts started to mix, creating something new and unexpected—like fire and ice embracing.

The Queen's voice faded away, leaving behind an almost tangible silence in the air. Beau and I pulled apart from each other, the taste of each other’s blood still lingering on our lips and running down our chins. We gazed into each other’s eyes, lost in the moment as the ritual completed. The court's silence was abruptly broken by the King's commanding voice as he catapulted us into the final phase of the mating ritual—the Reckoning. "Attack!"

Almost immediately, guards started charging us from different directions brandishing swords and spears. Acting quickly, I waved my hand and a wall of fog rose around us creating an impenetrable barrier between us and the attackers. As the fog swirled around us like a protective embrace, all sound seemed to fade away as if we had stepped outside of time itself.

One guard with the gift of wind blew a powerful gust of air, attempting to throw off our defense. Beau was thrown back by its force, but he quickly regained his balance and retaliated with his own power. A blast of ice shot out from his fingertips, freezing the guard in place. The rest of the guards charged towards us, but they were no match for our combined powers. I summoned a flame to my hand and hurled it towards them, sending them scattering in all directions. Beau used his ice powers to freeze their weapons and feet, making it impossible for them to continue the attack.

Suddenly, an unseen power combined our gifts into something new—a potent mixture of fire, ice, wind, and fog. The swirling energy seemed to take on a life of its own, sucking all the oxygen from the room. The energy was so strong it threw back all the guards as they flew through the air. Bolts of lightning flashed like quicksilver serpents, enveloping every guard in a thick coat of ice that then shimmered through the air, and as they each hit the ground, the ice that had encased them imploded. Under the impact of the invisible force, each guard was sent sliding across the marble floors, unable to see, hear or breathe.

Beau and I stood in the center of the room, our eyes locked in a fierce gaze. We had just fought off the Royal Guard and survived the final part of the Mating Ritual.

The intensity of the moment was palpable, and we both knew that our journey together was far from over. As we stood there, our breaths heavy and labored, I felt a sense of pride and strength wash over me, knowing that my parents along with the other council members and palace guests were watching from the rafters above.

As the fog dissipated, there was a moment of stunned silence before the King and Queen stepped forward, beaming with pride. "Behold your next King and Queen," they proclaimed. "Beauregard and Tempest!"

The King and Queen raised their hands in affirmation, declaring Beauregard and I as their official successors. The crowd roared with approval as they celebrated the new dawn of the Southern Empire.

Chapter 27

Sara

Night was receding quickly from around the palace and in its place, a darkness began to settle inside my broken heart. I watched from the upper terrace as Beau and Tempest completed the Mating ritual, all but officially crowned King and Queen. Jealousy coursed through me and all around me as the crowd cheered and celebrated this mistaken union.

How could Beau do this to me?

Suddenly, something surged within me—an uncontrollable power that I didn't understand. Vines began to grow outside the palace walls, dancing around each other in a wild display of nature's power. The guards spotted them immediately and started to approach cautiously. It was then that I realized I had commanded these plants with my gift!

---