Page 73 of Shadows so Cruel

Shadows rose around Malyr, swathing us in more darkness than the night ever could. They did not slither, did not attack. They merely streamed into me, faster and faster, demanding my void to open, to stretch, to grow.

I held tighter to his chest at the intensity of it, the superb sensation of being filled so deeply, and looked up at those eyes, widened with wonder. “Now I know. King of Darkness.”

His eyes slipped to my lips. “Queen of Light.”

Sudden heat seeped through me, bringing a quiver to my muscles. “What?”

“What do you think you have just become, little white dove, hmm?” His fingers trailed the line of my jaw, down to the pulse point at my neck, every point of contact burning into me. “My bondmate. My future queen.” His lips brushed against the corner of my mouth. “My wife at last.”

His wife.

A mix of joy and trepidation churned within me. It was a delicate balance, the urge to succumb to his skilled words and the need to protect my heart.

I chose the latter.

“Thank you, Malyr,” I said and stepped out of his embrace, bringing our dance to a stop before I struggled a swallow down my dry throat. “I think I should… should go back to my room now.”

His fingers clasped my wrist. “Galantia, I…”

When his voice faded, I held his gaze, my lungs not daring an inhale as I waited. What for, I didn’t dare contemplate. For him to tell me that he loved me? Maybe.

“I…” Malyr looked at how Sebian slipped off the rock and came over, then his gaze returned to me with a nod. “Yes. It’s a cold night. You should head inside.”

Sebian wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into the warmth of his body as he spun us toward Tidestone, then glanced back at Malyr. “You coming?”

“No,” he said and turned toward the ocean once more. “I think I will stay a while longer.”

ChapterThirty

Galantia

Present Day, Tidestone

Something pierced my heart, pulling it up through my throat before it punched against my esophagus. I startled awake to a whimper, blinking through the orange haze the glowing embers cast over my room. What was that noise? Gods, why was I so hot?

“Shh, you were whimpering in your sleep, so I decided to wake you.” Sebian’s frown hovered right above me, his body tightly pressed against my side in the bed we shared, his fingers caressing my arm through my black shift. “Your void is drawing from my shadows.”

Was it?

Another yank at my heart and I lifted my palm to press where a thousand daggers stabbed into the organ, right there in my chest. “It hurts.”

“Come here…” Arm wrapped around my waist, Sebian pulled me on top of him, his body bare, save for his cotton trousers. “Let’s see if we can get your void placated, hmm? I’ll pour more shadows into you.”

They trickled into me, my veins flushing with maddening heat. Arousal seared through me, scorching my spirit and setting my soul ablaze as a wave of desire swept all sensibility aside. Oh gods, what wasthis?

My mind clouding, I rocked my pelvis against him, curling my fingers into his hard chest at another pained whimper. “Something is wrong with me.”

“Nothing’s wrong with you,” he groaned, lifting his pelvis, his cock already growing hard beneath me. “This is perfectly natural for our kind.” He slipped his hand around my thigh, fumbled my undergarments down, and let his fingers explore my folds. “Fuck, you’re dripping wet. How’s that void doing?”

“Still hurts,” I cried out, even as I kept rocking my clit on his stomach, more fervently when Sebian reached between us and shoved his trousers down enough to free his hard length.

“Shh… I got you.” Hands to my hips, he guided me down on his cock, slipping into me with such ease, filling me so perfectly, it ripped a long moan from my throat. “Take what you need.”

I pushed myself upright, shifting my hips as I straddled him. He pulled my shift over my head, or maybe I did… it was hard to say. My mind fogged, my senses drowning in the caress of shadows and pleasure where they intertwined at my core. Mmm, Sebian felt so good between my legs, the way his hands kneaded my breasts, letting my nipples harden to aching points.

“That’s it, sweet thing,” Sebian crooned, his features distorting with pleasure. “Make yourself feel good on my cock.”

My body moved on its own accord, pushing against him and feeling his hips rise to meet each of my demanding thrusts. My breaths came hard and fast, every muscle in my body shaking as the sensations in my core grew more intense.

---