“A small ache,” she admitted, her breath hitching as his knuckles skimmed the delicate line of her cheek.
Alarik, standing just behind her, let out a quiet hum, his voice rougher as he whispered, “Enough to regret it?”
She turned to meet his eyes, her pulse kicking at the challenge in them.
Regret?
A slow, knowing smile curled at her lips.
“Not even a little.”
His eyes darkened, heat flickering behind them like banked embers. He bent toward her, lips grazing her ear before his teeth found her earlobe, tugging with just enough pressure to send a sharp jolt of pleasure to her core.
Reiya barely swallowed the sound threatening to spill from her mouth—something soft, breathless, utterly wanton. A warm flush crept down her neck, her entire body betraying just how little recovery time it needed before hungering for them again.
And Alarik seemed to know it.
His lips were warm against her skin as he murmured, “Keep looking at me like that, and all three of us will miss the picnic.”
A thrill shivered down her spine, thighs pressing together on instinct.
A low chuckle sounded beside her.
She turned just in time to see Kaelen’s smirk—lazily arrogant, utterly devastating. He leaned in, brushing his fingers beneath her chin, tilting her face just enough to catch the heated glint in his golden gaze.
“Miss the picnic? Sáel, if you keep looking at us like that, we won’t be leaving the bedroom at all.” His thumb traced the delicate curve of her lower lip, amusement curling his mouth. “Though I don’t think you’d mind.”
Reiya was caught between a laugh and something far more dangerous. She barely had a moment to react before the grooms arrived with their horses, leading them forward with a respectful bow. She straightened, forcing herself to gather the fraying edges of her composure.
One of the grooms moved to assist her, but Kaelen waved him off. His hands were soon on her waist, warm and steady. Without hesitation, he lifted her onto the saddle. She barely had time to catch her breath when he lingered—just for a second, a slow, grounding pressagainst her hips, a quiet reminder of last night that made her quiver all over again.
Alarik adjusted the reins, his fingers brushing against hers. “Comfortable?”
She nodded and caressed his cheek. He turned his face and planted a kiss on her palm.
As they stepped back, the heat of their touch still clinging to her skin, she realized something else.
Shelovedbeing theirs.
The transition from palace to desert was nothing short of breathtaking. Where Turasid’s halls were cool with shadowed opulence, the open sands burned with raw, untamed vastness. Heat shimmered across the dunes, turning the world into an endless mirage, the sky a blistering stretch of blue so bright it stung the eyes.
Reiya rode Shivanar alongside her Alphas, the mare’s movements fluid and sure, every stride an effortless glide over the shifting sands. The wind carried the scent of sun-warmed leather and desert spice, reminding her of how far she’d come from Aethonia’s salt-kissed shores.
Ahead, tents billowed, their cream-coloured fabric lined with intricate embroidery in gold and dark green—an unmistakable mark of the royal presence, even here in the endless sand.
A long low table had been arranged beneath the shade, cushions forming a plush seating area atop an elaborate rug. The scent of ripe fruits, fresh breads, and spiced lamb curled through the air, mingling with the slow-burning aroma of firewood and cardamom.
As Reiya dismounted, Kaelen and Alarik were already there, offering their arms to help her down and escort her toward the gathered nobility.
The king stood surrounded by his courtiers, his broad grin evident even from a distance.
“Princess Reiyana,” King Azarion greeted, extending his hand. “Today, we gather in celebration of your presence.”
Reiya inclined her head, her gold bracelets chiming softly.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said. “It is a pleasure to meet the faces of Asadia.”
The king turned to the assembled nobles. “This afternoon, we welcome Princess Reiyana Elidris of Aethonia, the future Tazahrina of Asadia. She has crossed vast lands and seas to stand among us, and she does so with grace and strength worthy of her title. She joins our family not only as a bride, but as a partner in the future we build together.”
