Page 77 of Faeling (Monstrous World #4)

Ravenna awoke gradually to a delicious warmth against her back. Still half-asleep, she snuggled back into the warmth—and opened her legs to her azai ’s seeking hand. A pleased purr rumbled against her cheek as Vallek leaned over her from behind.

Cracking open one eye, Ravenna found the world still dark and quiet.

Their tent was cool and dim, and no noise emanated from outside.

Although plenty of rooms were available throughout the palace and Fallorian itself, the orcs had chosen to make camp within the outer hypostyle hall and the crystal pavilion.

Covered in dust and echoing with the abandoned lives once lived there, the room held an eerie quality.

Even Leita and Thalia chose to make camp near the orcs. The new Fae Queen refused to enter her predecessor’s apartments, not until everything had been cleared away and destroyed.

That work had already begun over the intervening three days, and Ravenna was content to stay out of it. Leita had Allarion and others to rely on now, and so Ravenna saw to much more important matters—the care of her mate.

Vallek slept for the better part of two days, only rising when they woke him to force broth down his throat.

Ravenna worked with Fenna to care for his wounds, and as her own strength and magic returned with some rest and food, she used her magic to speed up the healing.

The claw marks scoring his chest had already closed, four pink lines left behind.

Though she couldn’t totally prevent scarring, Ravenna decided she could stomach them fading into silvery lines.

For now, she had to fortify herself for the sight of them. The marks of her own folly, carved into her mate’s skin. It wasn’t a lesson she’d soon forget.

There were only a few things that took her from his side, one of which she allowed only Oberon to join her in.

With a bucket of warm water, a brush, and the strength of her back, Ravenna scraped and washed away the bloodstains in the blossoms pavilion.

The stones didn’t want to give up their color, but with her magic and tears, Ravenna cleansed them.

Oberon stood guard, ensuring no one would see or disturb her. She needed to do this alone, to rid this place of the last vestiges of her parents’ pain. Ravenna had never had bodies to bury, and so this was their funeral, their last rites said by the daughter they’d died for.

It was there, her hands scrubbed raw and her cheeks hot with tears, that Ravenna finally said goodbye.

That she was sorry. That she was wrong. In the rust-tinged water, she saw for herself the sacrifice Maxim and Aine had made.

Their spilled blood wasn’t just sacrifice, though.

Not just tragedy. It was love, a love so pure and strong, it defied a tyrant and her awesome power.

Ravenna had known but never truly appreciated the strength of that love.

She cherished it now, held it close to her heart, alongside where she kept the bond with her azai .

As she washed away the dark stains, she understood now what her father had tried to teach her—that they would live on, with her.

That she was everything to them, all their hopes and dreams, and that she had been worth it.

All the sacrifice, all the tragedy, every challenge and risk—it was all worth it, for her.

Such a gift was precious, and as Ravenna stood from the cleaned floor, she thought she understood now. Such a gift wasn’t to be squandered.

She left that place with Oberon, her heart rawer than her hands. She climbed into bed with her healing mate and curled herself around him. Another gift she would never take for granted.

On the third day of his rest, he managed to stay awake for about an hour and eat something more substantial.

Ravenna was grateful; after days of captivity and then needed rest, his face had gone gaunt with hunger.

His fae captors had hardly remembered to provide drinking water, let alone food.

Any chance she got, Ravenna was there pushing food into his mouth.

He bore it amiably, and seeing him awake did wonders for the berserkers’ morale. Mattias and several of his sergeants visited, just to reassure themselves of his recovering health, before Asta and Fenna shooed them away.

Once they knew their king was secure and recovering, the berserkers took their strange circumstances and surroundings in stride.

The dead were seen to, their bodies placed in coffins that Leita promised would keep them safe from decay during travel until they could be properly interred in Balmirra.

Over thirty of the two-hundred berserkers had been lost, with another forty wounded.

It kept Fenna busy, but Ravenna was more than happy to shoulder the burden of Vallek’s care.

It wasn’t a burden but penance. She needed to see for herself that he was healing.

If his lascivious purr and wandering hands were any indication, he was indeed recovering well.

Her smile unspooled as she felt her nightgown rucked up past her waist, allowing one big hand to tease the undersides of her breasts and the other to slide along the length of her thigh to her knee, which he hooked to draw up over his.

Exposed to the darkness and his hungry touch, Ravenna bit her lip as pleasure sparked low in her belly.

“You should eat something,” she murmured. “And you need to rest.”

“Later. After.” He nuzzled the crook of her neck, nipping at her throat.

Ravenna lifted her head, mouth seeking his. Their kiss was slow, deliberate, just like his fingers between her thighs. He circled round her clitoris as leisurely as his tongue swirled round hers, an intimate dance of sighs and teasing touches.

She wasn’t sure he was recovered enough for this, but who was she to deny the king.

Her heart fluttered to think he needed and wanted her so much, he reached for her in the middle of the night.

The truth was, she needed him just as badly.

To feel him against her, skin to skin, reaffirming the bond that had been strung thin by distance and danger.

She moaned into his mouth when one large hand rolled a nipple and the other teased the hood of her clitoris.

It felt indulgent to lay like this, curled into the curve of his body, his hands bringing her such pleasure with just a few touches.

He knew her body well by now, knew how to draw out her pleasure, and it seemed that’s just what he meant to do, keeping his pace steady.

Ravenna played along. She would indulge in whatever he wished, however fast or hard or wicked. He deserved to have his way—for now. If that meant soft lovemaking or swats across his knee, he would have it.

The hot bar of his cock nearly burned her backside, throbbing in the cleft between her cheeks. Beads of spend leaked across her lower back as he gently rocked up and down, his hips finding an unhurried rhythm.

Clutched to his front, there was little she could do but lay there and receive his attentions. No doubt that was his aim, another show that she was his to have and please. Ravenna smiled against his lips, whispering, “I love you, my king.”

Vallek rumbled deeply in approval. “My beautiful mate.” A hand slid up her front to gently hold her neck and take the weight of her head.

“My fearsome queen.” Braced in his hold, she met his passionate kiss, twining their tongues as his purr buzzed against her lips.

“My love for you frightens all who see it. Never did a king love his queen more than I love you.”

Her cheeks hurt from smiling so wide, and she couldn’t help a little wiggle of pleasure. Fates, he made her feel like a blushing maiden, talking like that—even with his hand between her thighs and a finger pushing inside her.

He swallowed down her moan as he began to work her, preparing her for the greedy cock at her back. Skimming her fingers down his flank, she found the side of his shaft, caressing it in light touches.

His purr grew into almost a growl. “You won’t rush me, sprite.”

“No, never.”

His huff spilled across her cheek. The hand at her throat tightened just a little, a warning and a distraction. Reclaiming her mouth, he thrust his tongue inside just as two fingers began to plunge inside her.

Pace still measured, he worked her methodically, mercilessly. His hand was soon soaked in her slick, his fingers making wet noises as they shuttled in and out, in and out.

Ravenna began to tremble, pleasure clenching almost painfully in her belly. Gripping the meat of his hip, she held on as he moved them, unable to do more than receive and enjoy.

When he next lifted his head, allowing her a breath, he whispered at her ear, “Come if you need to. I’m far from done with you yet.”

Shuddering in his arms, Ravenna shook her head. “N-no. Together.” She couldn’t explain further. She just needed to do this together.

Nuzzling her temple, he rumbled, “You would defy me?”

“Sounded like a suggestion—not an order.”

His dark chuckle was a rich sound in her ear. “My good girl, how could I ever deny you?”

Her muscles gripped him tight even as he pulled away.

A mewl of protest escaped her, replaced on the next breath with a gasp of delight when his cockhead teased against her cunt.

Reaching behind her, she dug her hand into his thick mane, needing to hold on lest she fall apart just as he slid inside.

Their few days apart had been awful, interminable, and meant a pinch and stretch she hadn’t felt in a long while. Vallek was patient, moving in little rolls of his hips, each bringing him a little deeper.

Scraping her nails along his scalp, Ravenna bore it, head thrown back on the pillow. He hooked his chin over her shoulder, his warm exhale reaching down to tease her erect nipples.

“That’s it, sprite, just like that, now. Just a little more and I’ll be home.”