Page 16

Brave, Beautiful Mate

brIAR

R onan's kiss starts gentle, almost hesitant. But as I press closer, threading my fingers through his hair, something inside him snaps. The kiss deepens—desperate, hungry. His arms wrap around me, pulling me flush against him.

The library responds to our passion. Books flutter on their shelves, and the magical symbols carved into the walls begin to glow. I barely notice, lost in the feel of him—his mouth on mine, his hands sliding under my sweater to find bare skin.

"Briar," he groans against my lips. "We should stop..."

"No." I kiss him harder, pouring everything I feel into this moment. "No more holding back. No more fear."

His control shatters. In one fluid motion, he lifts me onto the nearest table, scattering papers and books. I don’t care. All that matters is his touch, his taste, the way our magic intertwines, blurring the lines between us.

Clothes fall away, each new inch of skin revealed drawing gasps and moans. His mouth traces patterns down my throat, across my collarbone. When he takes my breast in his mouth, I arch off the table with a cry.

The castle's magic surges around us, responding to our desire. Light blooms in dark corners, and the air pulses with energy. But I barely notice, consumed by the feel of Ronan's hands, his mouth, his skin against mine.

When he slides into me, I sense our connection on a soul-deep level. It's as if we’re merging, our magic binding us together.

We pause, breathless, staring into each other's eyes as the reality of our actions washes over us. Then he moves, and my thoughts scatter.

His mouth crushes mine, tongues tangling with urgency. My hands grip his shoulders, feeling the play of muscles under his skin as he moves above me. His hips thrust, sending shockwaves of pleasure through me, and I meet his rhythm, moving in perfect sync.

The table creaks beneath us, the ancient wood groaning in protest, yet neither of us cares. Our clothes are a tangle on the floor, forgotten as we surrender to our desires. His mouth trails down my body, branding every inch of my skin with kisses and bites that make me arch and moan.

"Ronan," I gasp as his mouth closes around my nipple, sucking gently.

His hand slides between my thighs, fingers finding my core and stroking my clit with firm, relentless circles. My back arches off the table, my hips lifting to meet his touch as pleasure coils tightly within me.

His hands grip my hips, tugging me closer to the edge, and then he's kneeling before me.

"I need to taste you," he growls, his voice hoarse with need.

"Ronan," I whisper, not sure what I'm trying to say.

He pushes me gently onto my back, his mouth trailing lower. Then his tongue delving between my folds, all words flee my mind.

He's savoring me with long, slow licks. I cry out, twisting my hands in his hair as he feasts on me with a desperation that matches my own.

I grip the edges of the table, knuckles white, as pleasure rolls through me.

My hips bucking against his mouth. My fingers tighten in his hair, holding him close as he pushes me closer to the edge. My head tips back, eyes closing as I surrender to the pleasure.

"Ronan," I gasp, "please!"

"Not yet," he says, his voice low and dangerous. He slides two fingers inside me, curling them in a way that has me seeing stars.

His mouth never relents, licking and sucking at my most sensitive places. The pleasure is nearly unbearable, but I can't stop myself from grinding against his face, seeking more.

He pulls away suddenly, and I whimper in protest. But then he's kissing his way back up my body, and the feel of his bare skin against mine sends a new wave of desire coursing through me.

He's lifting me, fitting my legs around his waist. I wrap my arms around his neck as he thrusts into me again.

The pace is slower now, but no less intense. He kisses me deeply, swallowing my moans. Our bodies move together in a timeless rhythm, and the magic that connects us surges higher.

"Ronan," I murmur.

My lips brush his ear, and he shudders, his grip tightening. Then our mouths fuse in a kiss that's hungry and demanding, tongues dueling as our bodies move in perfect rhythm.

I feel him stretching and filling me, the sensation so intense that my magic responds, sparking and crackling around us.We're connected, our bodies and souls entwined, and the ecstasy is nearly overwhelming.

The Keep reacts. The air shimmers with magic, books fly off shelves, and the chandelier shakes overhead, sending dust motes dancing. But I barely notice, lost in the sensations flooding my body.

"More," I gasp against his lips. "Don't stop."

He groans, his pace quickening, and I know he's as close as I am. Our eyes lock, the connection between us blazing like an inferno. The table groans beneath us, the wood threatening to splinter, but we don't stop.

Our kisses turn desperate as we move together, our skin slick with sweat, our hearts pounding in unison. I can feel the magic building, coalescing into a force that surrounds us, binds us, until it explodes outward in a wave of power that rocks the castle's foundations.

"You're mine, Briar."

Our climax hits like thunder, magic erupting outward, shaking the entire castle. Books fly off shelves, windows rattle, and somewhere in the distance, I hear wolves howling.

My back arches as I cry out his name, nails digging into his shoulders. His teeth pierce my neck, marking me, his breath hot against my skin as he claims me as his mate.

My inner walls clench around him, drawing him deeper as wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me. His mark burns on my skin, a brand that proclaims me as his and his alone.

It seems to last forever, the world reduced to pure sensation. The air around us crackles with energy, and I can feel the bond between us growing stronger, binding us together. And I know I would follow him anywhere.

We collapse together, breathless. Ronan's weight pins me to the table, but I welcome it. I never want him to move.

Gradually, I become aware of our surroundings again. The library has transformed. Every magical symbol glows, casting rainbow light across the walls. Books hover in mid-air, their pages fluttering like birds' wings. The very air sparkles with magic.

“Look,” I whisper, awed.

Ronan lifts his head, taking in the changes. His eyes widen. “I’ve never seen it like this.”

He gathers me in his arms and carries me to his master suite, both of us forgetting to put our clothes back on. He lowers me onto his bed.

He presses a kiss to my temple. “Everything is alive because of you. Because of what we share.”

The sheets whisper against my skin as Ronan draws me closer, his warmth enveloping me like a shield against the castle’s chill. When our eyes meet, the silver in his gaze seems to flicker, like moonlight on troubled waters.

A muscle ticks in his jaw as he watches me, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin that leave trails of fire. The slight tremor in his touch betrays the control he’s fighting to maintain, even as his body curves toward mine like a bow drawn taut.

Each breath between us feels charged with possibility, with words we haven’t dared speak aloud.

The world outside fades away, leaving us. I can still feel the echoes of our connection, the way our magic intertwined in the library, igniting something ancient and powerful. It’s as if we’ve awakened a force that binds us deeper than I ever imagined possible.

I lean in, brushing my lips softly against his. The kiss begins gently, a tender exploration that sends shivers down my spine. It deepens as Ronan responds, his lips moving with a slow, deliberate hunger that makes my heart swell. I thread my fingers through his dark hair, pulling him closer.

"Briar," he murmurs against my lips, drawing back just enough to meet my gaze. His voice is thick with longing, and the sound of my name on his tongue sends a thrill coursing through me, igniting the fire that simmers beneath the surface. "I should have asked you first before marking you. The choice should have been yours."

"I was always yours," I whisper, tracing my fingers along his jaw. The truth resonates in my bones, in the magic that pulses between us. "From the moment I stepped into this castle, my soul knew. The mark just made it visible to everyone else."

The tension in his shoulders eases slightly, and when his lips find mine again, the kiss feels different—deeper, as if the last barrier between us has finally crumbled.

I lean into Ronan's warmth, savoring the gentle brush of his fingers along my neck where his mark pulses with our shared connection. The sheets whisper against my skin as he draws me closer, his heartbeat steady beneath my palm.

"Tell me about the email," he murmurs, his voice rough with tenderness. "What made you come here?"

I trace patterns on his chest, watching how his muscles tense and relax under my touch. "Something in the words called to me. Like the castle was reaching out." My fingers find a small scar near his collarbone. "I couldn't ignore it."

His hand covers mine, pressing it flat against his heart. "And now? Knowing everything?"

"Now I understand why." I lift my head to meet his gaze, silver-bright in the dim light. "This is where I belong."

The magic pulses between us, warm and alive. Ronan's other hand slides into my hair, cradling my head as if I'm something precious. "The library—you spend so much time there. Why?"

"Books hold stories, but also truth." I press a kiss to his palm. "Each one is a window into someone else's world. Their hopes, their fears..." I pause, vulnerability making my voice soft. "For someone who grew up feeling like an outsider, books were my first real home."

His arms tighten around me. "You're not an outsider here."

"No," I agree, snuggling closer. "Here I'm yours."

The mark on my neck warms at the words. Ronan's breath catches, and his fingers trail down my spine, leaving trails of fire in their wake.

"Stay," he whispers against my hair. "Not because of the curse or the castle. Stay for me."

My heart swells. I push up on my elbow, needing to see his face. The walls behind his eyes have crumbled completely, leaving raw honesty in their wake.

"I'm not going anywhere."

His kiss is achingly gentle, a contrast to the desperate passion we shared earlier. This is about connection, about two souls finally finding their home in each other. When he pulls back, his thumb traces my lower lip.

"I never thought..." He swallows hard. "After taking on the curse, I convinced myself I didn't deserve this. Didn't deserve you."

"You deserve everything." I cup his face in my hands, pouring all my certainty into the words. "And I'm going to spend however long it takes proving it to you."

The smile that breaks across his face is like sunrise after endless night. He rolls us so I'm beneath him, his weight grounding me as his forehead touches mine. The castle's magic swirls around us, responding to our joy.

"My brave, beautiful mate," he breathes. "How did I find you?"

"You didn't." I wind my arms around his neck, drawing him closer. "We found each other."

His answering kiss tastes of promise and possibility. Of walls finally broken and hearts finally whole. Of a future worth fighting for, no matter what comes next.

The mark on my neck pulses with shared emotion, binding us together in ways that transcend mere words. In his arms, in this moment, I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

Home at last.

Ronan's kiss deepens, igniting a spark that travels through me, setting my soul alight. I can feel my heart racing, matching the rhythm of his lips against mine, each movement ebbing and flowing like a tide. Our breaths mingle, filling the space between us with the sweet taste of desire.

As we break apart, breathless, I gaze into his eyes, seeing the reflection of everything we’ve built together. The reality of our love washes over me, and I know that this moment is just the beginning.

“You’ve changed everything,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion.

Ronan smiles, the corners of his mouth lifting in a way that makes my heart flutter. “And you’ve made me believe in something more,” he replies, his voice steady.

In this sacred space, beneath the weight of the universe, I realize that together, we can face whatever darkness lies ahead. Our love has transformed us, awakened a power that binds our souls together.

“Forever,” I promise, pressing my lips to his once more, sealing the vow with a kiss.

A knock at the door interrupts us. Alistair enters, his usual composure slightly ruffled. "My apologies, but..." He holds out an envelope, his hand trembling slightly. "This just arrived."

The envelope pulses with dark magic. Ronan takes it, his expression hardening as he breaks the seal. I read over his shoulder, my heart pounding.

Brother,

Did you think I wouldn't notice the change in the Keep? Your little witch has accomplished what I thought impossible—she's awakened the Arcanum. How convenient for me.

Prepare yourself. I'm coming to claim what should have been mine all along.

Rurik

The letter bursts into black flame, crumbling to ash in Ronan's hands. But neither of us flinch. We're beyond fear now.

"Let him come."