Page 25

“Then, let’s get to it,” Eldric says, squeezing his hand into a fist. “Enter our home, friends, and then Tharion, enter your woman at once and don’t leave until she is impregnated with your powerful seed.”

“Yeah,” I say with a gulp. “Or maybe we can have like a drink first?”

“Come, Ravena,” Tharion says, grabbing my hand. I follow him to the tree and he just walks into the trunk, disappearing.

I plant my feet and pull back, wincing as I’m about to be smacked face-first into the thick trunk. His hand pulls me forward and I gasp as I enter the magical home. My forehead doesn’t hit the rough bark. It just magically glides through it painlessly and I’m suddenly inside an adorable warm home.

A stone fireplace is roaring on one side, filling the air with the comforting scent of wood smoke mixed with the smell of the freshly baked bread on the wooden counter in the kitchen that is probably still warm to the touch.

I love it in here with the soft golden light from the tiny glass lanterns hanging from all the twisting branches that make up the ceiling overhead. Thick roots curl out of the walls and form shelves filled with clay pots, jars of honey, dried herbs, old books, and little treasures collected from the forest.

A round wooden table sits beside the kitchen with four mismatched chairs tucked around it, one of them draped with a knitted green blanket.

The walls are smooth wood with little patches of moss growing here and there, and cute little mushrooms growing in the corners like nature decided to decorate the place herself.

In front of the crackling fireplace is a ridiculously cozy-looking bed that’s large enough for both of us. My body shivers wondering what’s going to happen under that soft quilt and those fluffy pillows. Vines curl around the wooden frame, dotted with tiny white flowers that open and close lazily like they’re breathing.

Everything feels so warm in here. So quiet and safe.

Nobody can reach us in here. Not Korrick. Not my father. Not Lord Fuckface. Nobody.

It’s the kind of place you could disappear into for the winter and forget the rest of the world exists.

“Wow,” I whisper, slowly turning in a circle as I take it all in. “Can we live here?”

He steps up behind me and wraps his big arms around my waist. “I’m pleased you like it,” he says in that deep growly voice. His chest is pressed against my back and I can feel the vibrations of his voice teasing through me, filling me with want and need.

I turn in his arms and step on my toes. He growls possessively as he leans down and kisses me.

I love this mouth. I could kiss it all night. But I think there’s another reason why we’re here…

“That tree guy outside was certainly direct,” I say, laughing nervously.

Tharion grins as he looks down at me. “Nymphs are quite active. It’s not a coincidence their species’ name is in the word nymphomaniac.”

I laugh with relief. “So… There’s no rush then?”

He shakes his head as he looks at me softly. “That is not why I brought you here, Ravena. I brought you here to keep you safe.”

“Not to ravish me?”

His nostrils flare as his silvery eyes flash with hunger. “I brought you here for safety, but while we’re here, we can do whatever you desire.”

“Maybe a little bit of… ravishing would be fun.”

A growl rumbles out of his throat as he leans down to kiss me once more.

We find some fruity wine in the kitchen and help ourselves to a bottle. He’s quite easy to talk to and we end up talking for hours in front of the fire, drinking and snacking on some delicious crispy chips we found in the cupboard.

“What were your parents like?” I ask as he opens another bottle. I better slow down, it’s starting to make me all giddy. And it’s starting to make me bolder and less shy. I drape my legs over his as I lean on the bed and drink, never taking my heated eyes off his gorgeous face.

He offers to fill my glass with the wine, but I shake my head, so he fills his instead.

“My father was a stern man,” he says. “My mother was very kind.”

“Both gargoyles?”

“Yes. They’ve both been petrified in stone for the past thirty years or so. I’ll see them again someday.”