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Arianna’s gaze snapped back to the female and the most devastatingly beautiful sound escaped Arianna’s lips. The female, to her credit, fell to her knees and pressed her forehead against the thick rug. Arianna hardly seemed to notice. She stalked forward, magic crackling through the air in response to her anger.

Relief spread through him. Relief that Arianna knew their game and relief that she hadn’t doubted him for even a second.

Possessiveness Rion recognized spilled from the other end of their bond and Rion gently wrapped his fingers around Arianna’s forearm.

She allowed him to pull her away, but that cold feral gaze didn’t budge. The female was shaking now but Rion wasn’t certain he cared, not as Arianna shifted her eyes to meet his.

The deep cerulean wasn’t of this world. It couldn’t be. Not with the way they made his knees want to buckle.

Arianna’s fingers flexed. Rion knew that emotion, too. Rage. The need to tear apart whatever stood in your way.

He kissed her instead.

Her response was slow, as if she were emerging from a daze. He knew she wanted to tear that female in half, but he also knew she’d regret it later.

Slowly, one small step at a time, Rion guided Arianna back into the hallway. Móirín’s guards lined the far wall, their weapons drawn. He ignored them and didn’t bother to acknowledge Talon either. Not right now.

The pair stepped further into the hall, Rion still walking her backward with his lips coaxing her to obey.

Yours, he tried to convey with every touch of his hands. I’m yours.

Arianna stopped and pulled back slightly to meet his gaze. She loosed an uneasy breath, but when she tried to look behind him, Rion took her chin between his fingers and held her steady.

She studied him, that feral possessiveness refusing to fade.

It was absolutely intoxicating.

Arianna grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hall. He didn’t fight or ask questions as they ran down the stairs, twisted into another hallway, then slammed open the door to their room.

Rion promptly shut the door with his magic and twisted the lock right as she dove for him.

Her kisses were deep, desperate, as if she’d never tasted him before. Her hands were in his hair, running down his neck, tugging at the fabric of the shirt separating their bodies.

Rion ripped the damned thing off and buttons flew across the room.

Then she was pressed against him, her body flush with his, stealing the very air from his lungs. He wanted to tear her dress off too, but knew it would likely land him in a heap of trouble come morning.

He pulled the first layer down, then his fingers ran over the strings of her corset. He found the knot, pulled it, and began unlacing.

Her lips found his neck, tongue gliding over sensitive points that had Rion praying to the gods this would never end.

Her skin against his. Her hands holding him steady and unraveling everything he’d become all at the same time.

She nipped his throat and he moaned against the contact of her teeth. Only her. He’d only ever let himself be vulnerable like this for her.

His hands gripped her hips and they were moving toward the bed. He was done with the wall. Done with clothes, too, as he cast the last bit of offending fabric aside.

They fell into silk sheets and plush pillows and then he was gone, lost to sensation and touch and pleasure beyond his wildest dreams.

Rion drank her in, drowning in this moment in a way he’d never allowed himself. They had loved, but this . . . this was primal and when a moan escaped her lips and her nails bit into his skin, Rion swore he’d never get enough.

Her ankle locked around his leg and before he could think, Arianna flipped him onto his back. His hands never stopped roaming, memorizing every inch of her bare skin. He was drunk on the feel of her and never wanted to sober.

Gods. Gods this wasn’t real.

Her teeth nipped at his throat harder, more demanding, and his heart threatened to burst. She trailed those kisses down his chest and back up before clamping her teeth at the base of his throat. Hard.

So close. She was so close to breaking skin but then she froze, her entire body going rigid.