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Scooping me into his arms, he descends the stairs with a brisk pace.As he carries me, I can’t help but shudder as I note the damage to the palace.

He did this.

Because I was gone.

From what I glimpsed through our bond, he almost destroyed all of Zerra.Judging by some of the repairs I see in progress, the royals have already started rebuilding what has been broken.

The man cradling me in his arms has a terrifying, godlike power, yet I’m not afraid of him.I see him for what he is: dangerous and beautiful, violent and imperfect.And mine.Above all, mine.

“And you are mine,” he says roughly as the archway of our quarters dissolves and closes behind us.“Nothing and no one will ever tear us apart again.”

It’s a beautiful vow, one that’s fitting for the start of a new life.

Epilogue

Elsie

Dawn breaks over the horizon, illuminating our room with the first light falling through the window.A soft pink sash runs over the purple glow of the remnants of night.A few stars are still sprinkled across the sky.

Turning on my side in our bed, I stretch out and yawn.Aruan is awake in an instant, staring at me with that beautiful silver gaze I love so much.

He brushes a hand up my naked hip.“You’re awake early.”

I burrow closer with a smile.“Zinnia will come bouncing in here before the sun is up.”

His lips curve seductively.“That gives us a few minutes.”

“Is that so?”I raise an eyebrow.“And what do you intend to do with that time?”

“This,” he says in a deep, low voice as he rolls me onto my back.

“You’re insatiable,” I murmur, but my belly heats and my skin breaks out in goosebumps from anticipation alone.

He moves down my body with soft kisses, and then he works his way up with gentle nips on my inner thighs.I gasp when he spreads my legs wider and buries his head between them.His mouth feels so good and his tongue even better.I thread my fingers through the thick strands of his hair, holding on as he brings me to the edge without mercy.Like an explosion.Fast and devastating.

I go over as he shifts up and enters me.He interweaves our fingers and lifts my arms above my head to press the backs of my hands to the bed.Our gazes remain locked as he rocks inside me with a lazy pace.

The pleasure builds again but not just in my core.My heart swells with emotions I can’t contain.My soul threatens to burst with happiness.Our connection is perfect, our love complete.It goes so much further than lust, although the desire never diminishes.Sometimes, when I look into his eyes like this, I’m scared that it’s too perfect, that someone or something will rip it away and that I may lose it all.But then I wrap my arms around his neck, like now, showing both of us I’m never letting go.

He kisses me with so much tenderness it makes me want to cry.As always, he knows what I’m thinking.

His promise feathers over my lips.“No one can take this from you, Elsie.”

Yes.Because it will always be a part of me, no matter what happens.

He seals his oath with another kiss.“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“I know,” I whisper, moving my hips to his rhythm, allowing myself to fall into the warmth and protection of his strong arms just as I’m falling apart for him.

Again.

His lips curve against mine, the smile audible in his husky words.“I love you, Elsie.”

I give him the truth as I cling to him while aftershocks are the non-verbal proof of what he does to me.“I love you, Aruan.”

He comes with me, a physical reflection of our complete harmony.Of his love and devotion.Foreheads pressed together, we catch our breaths.

And not a minute too soon.