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Strong fingers grabbed his jaw, pushing his head roughly to the side, exposing the long column of his neck. A possessive growl was his only warning before Erus closed his mouth over the flesh and pierced the skin with his canines.
Flooded with an intense energy that felt like pure sunlight, Orrin cried out, his back bowing up from the mattress as his orgasm ripped through him. His stomach clenched, his inner walls convulsed, and a river of semen poured from him to fill the space between them.
His mind shattered along with his body, leaving him floating somewhere outside of time and space. He heard his mate roar. Felt the heat that filled his depths. He was also vaguely aware of the taste of copper when Erus claimed his mouth again and plunged his tongue inside. Yet, it all seemed to be happening in his periphery, distant and slightly distorted.
Slowly, as their bond cemented and the threads of fate twined them together, the pieces of his broken psyche came together and reformed. Remnants of the male he had been still remained, but when he returned to reality, it was with the knowledge that he had been fundamentally changed.
“Mine,” Erus whispered into his mind as he nuzzled against the mark on his neck. “Only mine. Say it.”
A soft, satisfied smile stretched his lips. “Yours.”
Chapter Five
Erus had arrived in the small mountain town of Echo Falls, Colorado, to pluck the thorn from his side that was Orrin Nightstar. It had never occurred to him that he was walking into a trap set by the Fates—the little, meddlesome bastards.
All it had taken was one look, however, and he had been hopelessly and irrevocably lost. In the few short days he had spent with the prince, his ardor had only grown. Despite being so old he couldn’t even remember his actual age anymore, he could hardly recall life without his asteraki, and he didn’t want to.
Orrin was beauty and grace with just a touch of insecurity. He held himself to rigid standards and unreachable expectations, but any judgment was internalized. No matter the circumstances, he never turned anyone away. Even when visibly exhausted, he always had a smile and a kind word for everyone who requested an audience with him.
In fact, Erus felt he was a little too accessible, and offered himself too freely to his admirers. Sure, some of that stemmed from jealousy. Given his way, he wouldn’t let a single soul within a hundred yards of his mate. Mostly, however, he worried that Orrin pushed himself too hard.
He understood the pressures of being a royal, and he respected that the elf took his position seriously. Still, there had to be some balance, and as far as he could see, Orrin didn’t even know the meaning of the word. Even on his supposed vacation, he continued to give up his time to others, always keenly aware of how he presented himself to the world.
Not necessarily a bad thing, but Erus much preferred him in fuzzy socks and oversized clothes—his clothes, to be exact—with his hair braided over one shoulder. Rather than a mask of regality, he loved when his mate was clingy and needy…and a little whiney. Especially when he was cold. He liked watching Orrin eat instant noodles straight from the cup while he burrowed into a blanket to watch cartoons.
On their second night together, Orrin had been so startled by the horror movie they had been watching, he’d accidentally thrown an entire mug of cocoa halfway across the room. His stammering and blushing as he’d rushed to clean it up had been the most adorable thing Erus had ever seen, and a memory he would keep always.
And he wanted more of that.
“What’s on the agenda today?” he asked as he carried the room service tray over to the small table in front of the balcony doors.
An opaque layer of condensation had formed on the small glass squares, and sunlight sparkled in the morning frost. Though it obstructed their view of the forest and mountains beyond the room, the way the golden rays refracted over his mate’s skin was quite lovely.
“There is a murder mystery scavenger hunt this afternoon, and a concert on the south lawn tonight.”
Uncovering the dishes, Erus placed Orrin’s in front of him, along with silverware and a bottle of water. The spinach and tomato omelet looked and smelled amazing, but it didn’t seem like enough food. Especially when compared to his own plate, which had been stacked high with pancakes, eggs, sausages, and hash browns.
“Are you sure the concert is a good idea?” Not only did the logistics pose a serious security risk, but even with the sun shining, the temperatures weren’t predicted to rise above freezing all day.
“Yes.” He bobbed his head as he speared a slice of cantaloupe from the fruit bowl with his fork. “I’m sure.”
“You sound confident.”
“I am.”
Erus arched an eyebrow. “Can I ask why?”
Sitting with his legs crisscrossed and his feet tucked under him, Orrin leaned back in his chair and casually nibbled the end of the fruit. “Why aren’t you?” he countered. “You won’t let anything happen to me, right?”
Sassy.
And accurate.
He would annihilate anyone who even thought of harming his little star. Then, he’d travel to the Underworld and make sure their afterlife remained a literal hell.
“Oh, there’s also an art exhibition in the ballroom.” Shifting forward, Orrin rounded his eyes and slid his bottom lip out into an irresistible pout. “Will you take me?”
They both knew the answer, but he nodded anyway. Erus also took back every thought he’d had earlier. His mate could be as prim and proper as he wanted while in public. In fact, he encouraged it. This sweet, playful demeanor was just for him, and he intended to guard it jealously.
