He presses a kiss to my forehead and gives me a gentle push toward the bathing room.
As I glance over my shoulder, watching him exit the bedroom, my heart softens even more toward him. Yes, I am eager to be claimed by him, that much is true, but I could also stand to freshen up, take care of my human needs, and then eat a hot meal.
Tears sting my eyes because this feels so similar to our first night together, the one we spent in the suite back in Ellonnar.
And yet so much is different.
We both finally know we’re mates, and there are no secrets between us anymore. I’ve glimpsed all of him, and he’s glimpsed all of me. Our hearts seem to beat in tune, and I could not fathom ever being parted from him. Not now. Not after everything we’ve shared. And when I think about what almost happened on our way here today…
My throat tightens.
But we survived. Together. He conquered the shadow figure that has haunted his dreams all his life, the spirit of the dark mage that his parents never warned him about. And I used the key given to me by the Fatekeeper all those years ago to vanquish the black frost and restore the lands that would’ve otherwise fallen into ruin.
Merak.
Gods, I love him.
Perhaps fate guided me into his path, but love is what is keeping us together. Deep in my heart, I know we were always meant to find one another. He once told me I was his other half, and I’m now more certain than ever that he is mine.
I strip off my clothes and hurry to clean myself. Later, after rummaging through Merak’s rucksack, I emerge into the hallway wearing my nightdress and fur-lined slippers. The suite is so warm that I don’t need a robe. Following the scent of roasted meat, I head toward the kitchen… only for Merak to step into my path wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.
I feel my eyes widen, and I’m suddenly parched.
Gods. The blue light from sconces dances over his sculpted chest, and his damp hair is curled around his pointed ears, falling in waves over his broad shoulders and down his back. I’m so entranced by his masculine beauty that I cannot look away. I stare at him, and he stares at me.
“Come, my dearest. Dinner is on the table.” He moves to my side and places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me into the kitchen.
As promised, a hot meal is waiting—roasted chicken and vegetables, seasoned potatoes, mushroom soup, berry cobbler, and thick slices of warm bread served with whipped butter. There’s also a large carafe of wine, a jug of mint-infused water, and frost-apple cider. Oh, and tea with honey. My mouth waters as I take it all in.
Merak helps me into my seat and joins me, gazing across the table with a look of affection as he pours me a glass of frost-apple cider and some tea.
We eat quietly, lost in our own thoughts, giving each other space to think in private, while enjoying the sumptuous meal. But eventually, I feel Merak reaching out to me, his mind tentatively brushing along mine, a loving caress that fills me with warmth.
Our eyes meet, and we exchange a smile.
My heart thumps rapidly, and I push my plate aside, no longer interested in the food. Merak rises to his feet, walks around the table, and helps me out of my seat. He turns me in his arms and simply stares down at me for a moment. The blue light from the sconces flickers across his face, bathing his sharp features in moving shadows. The glow accentuates his high cheekbones and traces the hard line of his chiseled jaw, somehow making him appear even more devastatingly handsome than usual. His black hair falls around his face,and his dark eyes seem almost unreal in the lantern light, glimmering with heat. The blue light catches on his thick, curved horns as well, tracing their rough contours and making them gleam faintly.
Gods.
Sometimes I still cannot quite believe this breathtaking male is mine.
As he holds my gaze, I sense his thoughts, and heat instantly floods my face. He’s having similar thoughts about me. Through the bond, I feel his wonder, his affection, and the fierce possessiveness that I know will always accompany his love. The blue light is accentuating my beauty too, at least in his eyes. He’s admiring my wavy hair, my dark eyes, and the flush in my cheeks. Just as I cannot stop staring at him, he cannot seem to stop staring at me.
Heat pulses between us, a sudden surge of longing that makes my entire body tingle. He emits a faint growl and sweeps me into his arms, unable to wait any longer. He wants to claim me now, and I want the same.
He carries me into the bedroom and lays me atop the soft covers. Breathless desire grips me, and I lean up on my elbows to watch as he loosens the towel at his waist and lets it fall away. His massive cock springs free, thick and long, jutting out almost like a weapon. His eyes glimmer when he senses this thought.
I glance down at my nightdress, then start to remove it, but my hands are suddenly trembling. For one fleeting moment, nervousness flits through me. Not fear. Just… an overwhelming realization of what tonight means.
This is forever.
Merak sits beside me and places his steady hands over my trembling ones, and he gives me a solemn but affectionate look. A look of understanding. He leans his forehead against mine and continually sends me waves of warmth. The nervousness leaves,and I shift my hands beneath his, trying to pull my nightdress off, only for him to take over. He draws the garment up, his hands gliding along my thighs, my waist, and higher, as he draws it over my head. He tosses it to the floor near his discarded towel.
My pulse quickens as he turns back to me, his eyes gleaming in the dimly lit room. The sconces here aren’t as bright as those in the rest of the suite, casting a softer glow that makes the room feel especially cozy.
“Gods, Gwen, you are so beautiful,” he murmurs.
As he looks at me, heat surges through the bond once more, and all at once I cannot seem to remember how to breathe.
