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We walk out onto a large, flat surface between two dams. My aunt waits outside, her white dress billowing in the wind that has suddenly picked up.

She embraces me before offering Aruan her wrist. He presses his wrist against hers in the customary greeting. By now, the wind is so strong that it’s pelting my face with sand.

“Quickly.” Evolet grabs my hand. “It’s the eastern wind. We’d better get inside.”

“What’s the eastern wind?” I ask as she drags me toward a cavernous entrance.

“It’s strong enough to blow an Alit away.” She rushes us inside. “And when it does, those unfortunate men and women are never found.”

The entrance seals behind us, which I presume is Evolet’s doing.

“We’re safe now.” She blows out a sigh. “I’m glad you got here in time.”

“I know the wind patterns,” Aruan says. “I timed our arrival.”

Evolet pats his shoulder. “Did you show Elsie around?”

“Yes, but I’m sure she’d like to explore the surroundings at her leisure later.”

“Is that why we landed on the beach and not in the palace?” I pose the question to Aruan. “Or did you just want to see me covered in snake slime?”

Evolet laughs. “You met the Slitheax. Good. Once they know you’re one of us, they won’t be tempted to crush your bones in a death hug before swallowing you alive.”

I repress another shiver at the memory of their tongues on my face.

“They’re actually a very peaceful species,” my aunt continues. “They only kill to feed.”

Okay. That doesn’t make me feel better.

“Everyone is eager to meet you.” Evolet leads the way, taking us into a maze of underground tunnels that are lit with the same pulsing light stones as in Lona. “But I’ll let you freshen up first.”

She shows us to spacious quarters with stone furniture and murals of dinosaurs, some rising from the water and others flying over the land.

She motions at the bed, which is elevated and not sunken as in the Water Palace. “I took the liberty of setting out some clothes for you.”

I look at the long, white dress and matching shoes. “You didn’t have to.”

“Of course I had to.” She waves a hand. “You can’t exactly travel with a trunk through a portal, can you?”

Oh. I didn’t think about that. There’s a tunic and pants for Aruan too. Something lacy sticking out from under the dress catches my eye. Curious, I go over and pull it out. It’s a type of thong. And something that resembles a strapless bra.

Aware of Aruan’s stare, I tuck the flimsy garments back into place. “You have underwear in Marikanea?”

Evolet shoots me a puzzled look. “Every kingdom on Zerra has underwear.”

My mouth drops open as I turn an accusing gaze on Aruan, who only shrugs with a wicked smile.

Evolet, quick to catch on, says, “Oh, I see.”

I don’t take my eyes off of Aruan. “It seems I still have a lot to learn about Zerra.”

“Well.” Evolet clears her throat. “Take your time to clean up.” She wrinkles her nose. “You have a distinct odor of Slitheax. I’ll wait for you outside.”

I prop my hands on my hips when she’s gone and the archway is sealed. “You deliberately made me walk around naked under my clothes.”

“What can I say?” Aruan crosses his arms. “I like you naked under your clothes.”

I saunter over. “Now that I know, I’m going to get a trunk full of underwear.”

“That could be one way of taking revenge.”

“Oh, absolutely.” I stop toe to toe with him. “Have you ever seen a woman in underwear, Aruan?”

His gaze darkens, predatory intention sparking in his eyes. “There’s only one woman I’m interested in seeing, and that’s you.” He closes the hairbreadth of distance between us, putting our bodies flush together. “Preferably without clothes.”

My growing arousal makes me brave. “There’s a reason underwear is considered sexy.”

He rolls the word off his tongue. “Sexy?”

“Sometimes, hinting at something that’s just out of reach is a more powerful magnet than outright flaunting it.”

“Do you think if you hide your perfect body, I’ll want it more?”

“Maybe,” I tease.

He grips my chin and tilts back my head. “Then you don’t know me very well, mate.”

“Is that so?”

“I always want you. Nothing can make me desire you more.”

“Right answer,” I whisper, going on tiptoes and locking my arms around his neck.

His mouth is on mine before I have time to breathe. I give in to the kiss, just for a moment, and then I pull away, inviting a growl that tears from his chest.

“My aunt is right outside.”

He aims for my lips again, whispering a promise over them. “I’ll be quick.”

“I smell like snake spit.”

“I don’t give a dragon.”

“Aruan,” I exclaim when he grabs my shirt and rips it down the middle.

With one swoop, he lifts me into his arms. “I’ll fix your clothes.”

“That’s not what I meant.” I wrap my legs around his waist. “I do mind.”

“What? This?” He flicks his tongue over my nipple before sucking it into his mouth.

I throw my head back as pleasure coils through my core.

“See?” Wickedly, he nips my contracted nipple before moving to the other one. “There are advantages to not wearing underwear.”

“Wait.” He’s distracting me, making me forget what I wanted to say. “I do need a shower.”

Carrying me to an archway, he says, “And my mate will always get what she wants.”

Our clothes disintegrate on our bodies only to be reassembled on the bed, perfectly clean.

I shift my hips, enjoying his hard length that’s pressed between my legs. “You’re any housewife’s dream.”

“Housewife?”

“There will never be laundry or dishes to do.”

“Laundry? Dishes?” His voice is gruff. “Is this your ‘sexy’ talk?”

He walks into a cubicle and pulls a leather cord that hangs on the wall. In an instant, warm water cascades over us.

Blinking drops from my eyes, I stare at the holes in the ceiling through which the water is pouring. “How do they heat the water?”

“That’s what you’re thinking about?” He pushes me against the wall, holding me up with his hands on my ass cheeks. “Now?”

I shrug. “I’m curious.”

“Insatiable.” He chuckles. “They warm it in cauldrons over a fire.”

“In every room?”

“They produce pellets from dried grass and pulp from hard wood trees that burn for a long time.”

“Like coals,” I muse.

Using the wall to support my back, he slips one hand between our bodies and enters me with two fingers. My inner walls flutter from the stretch, my belly tightening with pleasure.

“We don’t have much time,” he says, “so I want you to keep your eyes on me, and don’t you dare look away.”

I try to focus on his face as he presses a thumb on my clit, but the pressure is enough to bring me to a quick release.

“Aruan.”

“That’s right, my sweet. Show me how you come apart for me.”

The words push me over. I clench around his fingers, coming hard and fast but still needing him.

I bite my lip to stifle my sounds. Keeping his fingers inside me, he kisses me as if this is our last day together.

It’s wild and uninhibited, two people drowning in lust and not coming up for air.

The aftershocks of my orgasm pulse through my lower body, ripples of ecstasy like the flapping of butterfly wings.

I trail my hands over the smooth planes of his chest, tracing the hardness of his muscles and the deep grooves. When he finally lets me breathe, my lips are swollen, and my skin is chafed from his stubble.

Leaning my head against the wall, I grip his shoulders. “I need more than your hand.”

“If you want my cock, just say so.”

“You want a verbal confirmation? I want your cock inside me, Aruan. Now.”

The silver of his eyes darkens. “Then take it.”

He wants me to admit what I want, to show him I need him, so I do it.

When he pulls out his fingers, I grip his cock and guide the head to my entrance.

The moment I part my folds with the tip, he doesn’t constrain himself any longer.

He takes back control, spearing into me with a single thrust. The punch of his hips moves my body up the wall, but I couldn’t care if he breaks me in two as long as he doesn’t stop.

I thread my fingers through his wet hair, holding on as he pounds pleasure into me. The sensations are overwhelming, and exactly what I asked for. What I want. What I need. Like he demanded, I keep my eyes open, showing him everything he does to me.

The pleasure builds slowly this time. I already know it’s going to hit me like a wrecking ball before he ups the pace. I hold on for what it’s worth, knowing he’s going to destroy me. Again and again.

He wraps an arm around my middle, bracing me for the final blow, and splays the fingers of his other hand over my chin and cheeks.

Holding me in place, he kisses me until I taste blood on my tongue—his blood, I realize, where my teeth have cut his lip.

I tilt my hips, chasing the friction I need. And then I’m there.

He thrusts deep one last time, setting off my climax as well as his own. Like he promised, he pulls out. Every line on his face draws taut with pleasure. He lets my face go to grab the root of his cock, painting my breasts and stomach with hot ribbons of cum.

I breathe hard in the aftermath, unwilling to let him go, already feeling empty without him inside me. He breaks away first. With a last peck on my lips, he lowers me to my feet.

Rubbing a thumb over the stubble burn on my chin, he asks, “All right?”

I only manage a nod.

The water is already running lukewarm. He makes quick work of washing us both with a bar of soap that smells like cinnamon milk and leaves silky bubbles on my skin. Once he’s rinsed us, he pulls the cord again. The holes in the ceiling close up, some kind of panel moving over them.

Instead of using the bath sheets left on a bench, he uses his evaporation trick to dry us. We dress in the clothes Evolet supplied, and exit the quarters. Thankfully, my aunt isn’t there. She must’ve gotten tired of waiting. Instead, a young boy of about ten is sitting cross-legged on the floor.

He jumps up when we enter the hallway. “I’m here to take you to the celebration.”

I look at Aruan. “Celebration?”

“I’m sure your aunt would like to celebrate your return.”

I’m nervous again as we follow the boy through a maze of tunnels.

On the way, I notice ventilation holes that let fresh air in from outside.

We stop in a huge hall painted with the same type of murals as in our quarters.

The walls between them are lined with black polished stones that serve as mirrors.

Our images are reflected back to us from around the room, creating the same effect as a hall of mirrors.

The wall on the far end dissolves. The boy waves us inside.

I pause at the threshold. Another hall, twice the size of the mirrored one, is filled to the brim with people. They’re all wearing white, staring at us with welcoming smiles and friendly expressions.

Something gives in my chest. I breathe a little easier.

At the same time, nostalgia overwhelms me, the feeling sweetly painful.

I always felt a bit like an alien in Cleveland, as if I were different, but I always thought it was just because I was constantly dying.

That definitely differentiates you from the living.

Yet here, it’s as if a puzzle piece that’s been lost for ages has finally been found again, and this is the moment when that piece slides into place.

For the first time since I ended up on Zerra, I feel like I’m home.