Page 29

Satisfaction and need battled inside Rhaego. He’d settled his fever for the moment. Touching her and marking her pleasure center with his musk had allowed him to retain some of the control he’d nearly lost when she’d stroked his horns.

But he still ached all over. His cock and horns throbbed, balls heavy and begging for release. Even the scent gland above his shaft had roused, and that shouldn’t activate until just before the heat.

Every dark urge called for him to sink into her. But she affected him in a way no one else ever had, and that scared him. Her channel was tight, and though she’d taken his fingers well, he worried what would happen in the throes of fever.

If waiting cost him nothing but an achy cock, he’d gladly pay that price to ensure the first time they lay together, she screamed in bliss and not pain. His gaze caught on the tears in her sleeves from his rough treatment, and his anxieties were confirmed. He didn’t remember pulling her dress that hard.

Aurora’s breath was still deep and unsteady as her pleasure dissipated. Rhaego reclined next to her, head propped on his hand. Should he keep his gaze respectful or drink in the sight of her flushed, quivering chest and rumpled hair?

Her lids drifted open, and she smiled, head tilting so she could stare at him, pleased. What would happen to his sense of self if she honored him with that satisfied grin every day? Would he totter around with a bloated ego?

“You are certainly good at that,” she breathed, turning onto her side to mirror his pose.

Rhaego swelled. Alas, his ego would suffer under her praise. “I’m at your service whenever you’re needing.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Her grin turned mischievous, and she shuffled closer to him. “But first…” Her fingers brushed across his chest, then traveled lower. His fever flared, roaring in excitement.

He snatched her wrist to stop her, mind already urging him to pin her palm above her head. What if he lost himself, rolling onto her without properly supporting his weight? What if his claws extended in the heat of passion and scraped her luscious skin? “Not tonight,” he grated. A raging pulse of fire sprouted in his horns as if his fever were throwing a tantrum.

“What?” Aurora balked, looking equally appalled. “That’s not fair.”

Rhaego let out a pained laugh. How in the universe had he found himself in a situation where he was turning down the female of his dreams? A Goddess-imbued, Goddess-sent vision, who tasted like sunshine and treated him like some sort of hero. It boggled the mind. Yet here he was.

He replaced her hand at her side. “I need to numb myself to you first.”

Her face scrunched, the first real sign of irritation he’d seen on her. “For how long?”

A hint of a whine lit her words. His bride was impatient to touch him, to give him pleasure. Rhaego faced the sky, calling on the stars for strength.

“Okay, okay,” she groaned. “How about just a kiss, then?”

His head snapped up. It wasn’t wise. But he had to allow her something. He could only resist her pleading for so long before he broke. And he was oh so curious about kissing. “Quickly?” he forced himself to ask.

She nodded eagerly, scooting closer.

With a firm hand on her shoulder, he stopped her movements. “And no other touching.”

Aurora pouted at that, brows slanting angrily, but at length she sighed, “Fine.”

His heart hammered as she lifted, closing the distance between them. Her breath hit his lips first, excitement shining in her eyes as her mouth hovered just above his. She closed her eyes. Rhaego didn’t understand why. But then she set her lips on his and he knew.

Rhaego sank into the new sensation, eyes slipping closed without thought. Her soft lips moved against his, almost massaging, and he mimicked her actions. His claws burrowed into the blanket they lay upon at the dangerous sigh she released. Panic built as his fever swelled, mind growing fuzzy, but she broke away just in time, a gentle smile lighting her face.

Rhaego tried to recall how to breathe.

“See?” She beamed. “Everyone’s safe. Everything…is…” Her gaze froze, hovering somewhere over his head. He spun and flinched as large fluttering wings tickled his cheek and zoomed away.

They both sat up, but another flash of white made him squirm.

“They’re all landing on you.” Aurora was covering her awed grin with her fingers, gaze darting about.

“It’s, uh…” Rhaego’s shoulders lifted to his ears, his face heating in embarrassment. “It’s my musk. This happens sometimes.”

Aurora’s lips sealed to keep her grin contained. “Like moths to a flame,” she murmured.

“Normally it’s just a stray insect here and there, but…” He flinched as another set of wings swooped right before his eyes and landed in his lap. “You wrung more musk than normal from my glands tonight.”

Mouth dropping open, Aurora lifted her hands where three pristine sictiana had settled. Their pale wings flapped, then relaxed against their backs, displaying beautiful iridescent designs. “Does this happen to all Tuvastans?”

Rhaego shook out his hair, causing a small eruption of sictiana to take flight. “Some more than others. The composition of our musk decides it.”

Aurora brought the sictiana to her eye line. “Huh. Like mosquitoes.”

She lifted her hand, twisting so it pointed in the direction of the sheet, then blew gently, persuading the sictiana to fly away and join its flock. He peered at the sheet, then did a double take. A swarm of insects, sictiana and others alike, rested on the pale fabric.

Rhaego rose, offering a wide-eyed Aurora a hand so she could do the same. She didn’t let go after she got to her feet, and his belly somersaulted. They approached the sheet, hand in hand, and stopped, stunned by the incredible collection of creatures.

He watched, chest full and cock aching as Aurora studied the insects long into the night. She’d even bashfully asked if she could use his musk as a lure so she could hold them and see them more closely. Eventually her lids grew heavy, but she refused to allow him to bring her home, instead planting herself on the blanket and curling against his chest.

Rhaego had never slept with a female before, and he didn’t quite know whether he was to remain still, allowing her to use him as she would a pillow. But when she saw his uncertainty, she smiled and pulled his arm around her, nestling more firmly into his chest.

Heart too large for his ribcage, he forced his eyes to remain open for as long as he could, never wanting to forget the sight of Aurora sleeping in his arms, safe and trusting. What if he lost this?

What if he failed to get her out of Tuva?

Or…what if he never tried? If he didn’t try to escape, he couldn’t fail. If he didn’t fail, then he wouldn’t be banished or caught and sent to some prison ship. He could finish out his marriage with his bride and live out his life happily with her right here in Tuva.

Guilt soured his throat. This was exactly why he had no marks yet. Thoughts like that.

Only that morning Verakko had relayed Marsol’s worsening condition. He’d been plucked from his mission in Zentithro after suffering a fit of panic. He’d yelled and fought off his team in a sudden frenzy, trying to escape into the ocean, presumably to swim directly to Diana.

They’d caught him—barely. His enhanced strength and speed earned after gaining his marks had made his capture difficult. They’d needed three males to subdue him, and when he’d roused, his memory of the event had been vague. Suffice it to say he’d been removed from duty and placed in confinement under watch. It was a bleak situation and would only degrade the more time went by. He was stable for now, but how long would that hold?

Why would the Goddess grant Rhaego his mate if he so easily abandoned Marsol and Diana? The mission he felt sure she had set him on. And why would Aurora ever give her heart to a loathsome creature who’d do such a thing?