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“I’m always greedy for you.” The words were out before I could think.
“Good.” He slammed me down with enough force to make me cry out. Pain twisted in the pleasure, making my eyes go wide. “Then you understand how I feel.”
I nodded, arching in his lap.
“You understand that you are my heart. My soul. My goddess. My queen, looking so fucking perfect on my throne that it’s taking everything in me not to come right now.”
“I understand you’re my mate, my king.” It was a fight to get the words out. “You’re more than my soul. You’re my home when there’s not a shred of me left.”
“You’remine.”
That might have been my favorite title of all. “And you’reholding back.”
The words snapped the last of Cole’s control. He thrust up againstme, pounding me as I met him with each thrust. Pleasure built in my body once more. A slower build than before, but even more potent.
Cole came with a roar, his gaze fixed on me. I tipped over the edge, but I didn’t let myself close my eyes or throw my head back. No, I wanted to see him as he finally let go. Here, he looked perfect on his throne. Instead of the imperial, inscrutable ruler, he was my mate, coming apart while inside me.
The forces of the universe could do their best to rip us apart. Could try to destroy us.
Let them try,I dared them. What was between us was powerful enough to defeat any enemy.
Chapter XXXVI
Our appearance at ourown ball was rather brief. We wore our crowns, our finest clothes, and danced across the hall, opening the dance floor. Food from the kitchens piled high at the edges of the hall, which, after the first dance, was where Cole dragged me. With our weeks in the library leading up to the final trial, I hadn’t had much of an appetite. A hungry mate, Cole informed me with a growl, was unacceptable.
Of course, once we left the dance floor, people were eager to approach us. I greeted each with a warm smile. These were the ones I had fought for. This was a celebration that had been earned with blood and death. Our people deserved to be part of our triumph, so we spoke to as many as we could in the span of two hours before disappearing without making excuses.
Perks of being the monarchs of a realm—no one calls you on your bad manners.
Because as much as I wanted to surround myself with my subjects, now that they were safe from danger, my longing to be with my friends overruled that. We changed before leaving.
“If you keep looking at me like that, we won’t be going anywhere.”
“Daphne would never forgive me,” I grumbled, not tearing my eyes from Cole.
The King of Hell was in jeans.
And he looked damn good in them.
In the castle, when I’d first come to the realm, he’d worn fairly neutral, timeless outfits, while the castle had provided the more modern cuts I was familiar with. Since moving to the castle, he’d worn more formal clothes befitting his station.
But jeans suited him just fine. What’s more, Cole didn’t care half as much about upsetting Daphne by being late as I did.
I forced open a portal between us. We landed where Daphne had told us to—Moon Rock. Or at least, that was what it had once been called. With the Moon Goddess’s tyranny revealed, the land had been recast as Pack Point, in honor of the fact it was where the three territories converged.
No one noticed our arrival right away, which gave me time to take in the sight. It wasn’t something I had ever thought was possible in this lifetime. In my last reincarnation, it had been my dream.
The packs mingled freely among each other. I could taste the differences by scent—the familiar scents of Moon-Ghost, the earthy, breeze-coated scents from Wind-Blood, and the faint motor oil scent that clung to the Fangs. But looking at them, that was all. Some packmates clumped together, especially with Moon-Ghost having been the enemy just a day ago, but wolves craved acceptance. The shifters would follow the strongest wolf they trusted, and as long as they weren’t betraying some loyalty to do it, the pack divide wasn’t impossible to overcome.
My best friend had done all of this. Pride burned bright in my chest. While Cole and I had fought a war between Hell and the heavens, she had taken on countless challenges in the land of the living. Becausewhile I had always wanted to leave,herdream had been to stay and make a better world for everyone. It wouldn’t be easy. A successful party was one thing, but a lifetime was another. But if anyone was up for the challenge, Daphne Rourke was.
“Find her. I’ll be here,” Cole assured me.
I flashed a smile at him. “I thought you would want to keep an eye and make sure no one bothers me.”
Cole raised a brow at me. “My mate can take care of herself. If anyone makes any untoward advances, despite you being painted with our blended scent and my mate mark, I have no doubt you’ll put them in their place.”
I grinned at the pride in his words.
