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Her cry was loud, raw, pure. She nearly collapsed forward, but he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her up. Reuban began to move, each thrust angled to go as deep as possible, dragging out slowly beforetaking everythingagain with authority.

Her moans were helpless now—half sob, half chant.

And fuck, heloved it.

He covered her body with his. “You feel that stretch?” he growled against her neck. “You feel how you open for me here, too? How you’re mine ineveryfucking way, angel?”

His hand slid up her chest, grabbing her breast roughly, thumb flicking her nipple until she gasped. He fucked her harder, deeper, each thrust pushing her closer to the edge again.

“Tell me,” he ordered around thick breaths. “Tell me who owns you.”

She choked on her own breath. “You—”

“Louder.”

“You, Reuban! You own me, I’m yours!”

He tightened his grip as power filled his balls.

“Fuck—say it again!”

“I’myours—King, master—I’m—”

He found her clit again with brutal fingers and she cried out, back arching hard against him. “Come,” he seethed, his hips moving like a piston as he ground three fingers on her clit. “I wantallof you.”

Her scream was near silent when she detonated, muscles locking as their bond ripped through her likeholyjudgment. Reuban thrust once—twice—and exploded inside her, his groan long and guttural as he came deep in her ass, wave after wave, hips jerking as he forced her to take every drop.

****

Larena collapsed and Reuban fell with her, both sprawled over the bed, him covering her, still deep inside. He didn’t move. He just held her.

She felt their bond pulse once. Then it settled. Like it had fed. Like it had beenanswered. And the universe was now silent, save for the two bodies marked with sweat, exhaustion and ragged breathing. Heavy, warm, and pressed against her back,her savior’s arms wrapped around her waist like a man afraid she might dissolve if he let go.

There were surely no words to speak. Not yet. Of all beings, divine ones knew to be quiet in the aftermath of a sacred event.

After a long moment, Reuban shifted, pulling out of her slowly, breath catching like it hurt to leave her body. He didn’t leave her though. He laid beside her, then turned her gently into his arms, cradling her like she was something rare and beloved—like he hadn’t just wrecked her like a battlefield.

She blinked up at him, dazed. Barely aware.

“Did I…” she started, voice hoarse, raw from cries of submission. “Did I give you what you needed?”

She wasn’t sure why she asked. She knew the Bond had been sated but needed to hear it from his perfect mouth. No, not needed. Wanted. Longed. Craved. As Kross had said, her want was greater than her need with him.

His fingers brushed her cheek, and she looked up, finding his eyes open and watching her. Her half mortal. Real. Reuban,theman.NotjusttheKollaboratorKing.

“You gave me more than I asked for,” he said, voice rough and low.

“And less than I deserve.”

That made her blink in confusion.

He drew in a slow breath and leaned closer, lips near her temple now. “You gave me peace. And that’s the cruelest mercy of all.”

She swallowed. “Do you… hate me for what I did.”

“No,” he whispered. “I hate how much I still want youbecauseyou did it.”

Silence fell again, thicker now.