Page 21 of Lady of Starfire (Lady of Darkness #5)

Her words turned into a whimper as he palmed her breast, rolling a nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

Her hips ground down against him, seeking any type of relief on instinct as her eyes fluttered closed, and he cursed, knowing they did not have the time to drag this out.

Someone would surely knock on the door soon.

He gripped her hips, lifting her up to position her. Her hands fell to his shoulders, and her entire body tensed. He leaned forward, whispering into her ear, “Breathe, Little Fox.”

He felt her suck in a breath, and when she released it, he pulled her down onto him, eyes falling closed at being inside her again.

She shifted, and it was his turn to hold his breath while she adjusted.

Fingertips brushed along his jaw that had him opening his eyes and meeting hers.

Her lips were parted, panting staccato breaths making her chest rise and fall.

Strands of golden hair fluttered in her face, her fingers flexing on his shoulder.

Holding her stare, he lifted her hips and pulled her back down, her eyes going wider at the movement.

Then she started moving her hips on her own, experimenting as she rolled against him.

He hadn’t planned on this when he had set out to find her, but gods, he would be damned if this was the last time he got to watch her experience new sensations like this.

He reached up, brushing hair back, while his other hand roamed over her soft skin—brushing down her arm, chest, stomach—until it found its way to her center.

He moved his thumb in slow circles, another whimper coming from her as she moved faster against him.

“Here is what we are going to do, Little Fox.” He gripped her chin, forcing her eyes to his.

“We are going to fight for the innocent and the forgotten. We are going to make sure those with the least in our lands are cared for as much as those with the most.” He grunted as she continued to move in rhythm with his thumb.

His circles became tighter and firmer. “And when this war is over, we will continue to do the same from our thrones. You will be at my side. I am going to marry you, Tava Tyndell. When this war is over, you will become my queen at the first opportunity, and we will serve our people together.”

A sob of some sort came from her, and he released her chin to grip her hip and move her faster against him.

Her brow fell to his shoulder, and she buried her face in his neck as she held onto him.

His own hips were moving now, thrusting up to meet hers with every pass, and when he knew she was close, he pressed down with his thumb.

Her cry of pleasure was muffled against his skin, and he held her tightly as he found his own release.

For the next few moments, it was only the sound of their harsh breaths as they clung to each other. His fingers were brushing up and down her spine, and he was dreading the coming minutes when they would need to get dressed and say their goodbyes.

Tava sat up, a hand cupping his cheek and a thumb brushing along his lower lip. “Thank you,” she whispered, “for letting me make a difference for Ashtine and Briar and their children.”

“I meant what I said, Tava. I will never deny you anything.”

“Then I will make another request of you,” she replied, a soft smile appearing. She leaned forward, brushing a kiss against his mouth.

“Anything,” he breathed onto her lips.

“I am going to hold you to what you said. Go be a king to your people and fight for them, but promise you will come back to me.”

Tension hung thick in the air in the sitting room. They were all just …waiting. Callan sat in a chair, staring at the hearth. When the sun had dipped below the horizon, the temperature had dropped rapidly, and a fire had been started shortly after sundown.

They’d all congregated to watch them go, Tava’s hand in his until she stepped through the water portal Briar had created. He’d watched them all go through, and it was Eliza who had gently touched his arm after the portal closed, stepping to his side.

“We will get them back. Scarlett won’t let anything happen to them,” she’d said softly.

“We all know even she cannot make such promises,” Callan had replied.

“She will not fail you.”

Callan had simply nodded, allowing himself to be herded inside and to this room.

Food had been brought in, and Eliza had fixed him a plate herself.

It sat untouched on a side table. How long had it been now?

The exchange was supposed to happen at sundown.

That had been at least three hours ago. Sawyer and Ashtine should have been back by now.

Azrael and Razik were murmuring quietly with Stellan and Arianna at a table. Rayner held a sleeping Tula in his lap where he sat on the sofa. Eliza was on the other end of the sofa, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

All heads snapped up at the gust of wind that tore through the room, a portal appearing in the next moment.

Sawyer came through with Ashtine at his side.

The portal snapped shut behind them. Eliza was already on her feet, making room for Ashtine to sit on the sofa.

The princess looked exhausted, her stomach far more swollen than Callan would have expected, despite knowing Fae pregnancies didn’t last as long as mortal ones.

Coupled with the fact she was carrying twins, she appeared to be as far along as a woman in her fifth month would be.

She wore a gown the same color as her eyes, angry red marks adorned her wrists.

“How did everything go?” Rayner asked, while Eliza went to get Ashtine a glass of water.

“As expected,” Sawyer answered, watching Ashtine carefully. “Lord Tyndell was there to collect Drake and Tava. Alaric slipped shirastone onto Briar’s wrists before he removed the same from Ashtine. He did not allow them any time together before he Traveled them all out.”

“Cyrus and Neve?” Eliza asked, passing the princess the water.

“Neve was there, but I did not see Cyrus,” Sawyer answered, reaching for a blanket that was draped along the back of a chair. Eliza took it from him, spreading it over the Wind Princess.

“He allowed Neve to tend to me,” Ashtine said in her usual lilt, although even that sounded tired. “Cyrus is in the Underwater Prison. He was left with the Sorceress.”

“Alaric said we had three days,” Rayner said tightly.

“He did,” Ashtine agreed. “In what state Cyrus and Neve were returned was not negotiated.”

“Of course not,” Eliza spat, sparks flaring at her fingertips. Razik had moved closer to her at some point during all the discussion, and Callan watched as he subtly shifted, his arm brushing against hers. She glared up at him, but her fire banked, and she didn’t step away.

“How will he retrieve him?” Callan asked.

“He will leave him there until the trade is to be made, your Majesty,” Ashtine answered.

“But she cannot do magic in there, right?” he pressed, trying to understand the gravity of what was going on.

“The Sorceress is not of this world. She was stripped of her physical gifts when she was imprisoned, but she retains her knowledge of ancient magic.”

“Then why hasn’t she used it until now?”

“Blood is required. It is Blood Magic,” Rayner supplied. His gaze shifted to Ashtine. “Are you saying Alaric gave her blood?”

“Cyrus’s blood,” Ashtine answered.

“If she is released—” Stellan started.

“ When she is released,” Ashtine interrupted. “He will release her when Talwyn is returned.”

“He cannot seriously believe he can control her,” Azrael said. Ashtine remained silent. “He controls every Court but the Fire Court now,” Azrael added grimly.

“That is inaccurate,” Ashtine said.

“What do you mean? Talwyn was leading the Fire Court,” Eliza cut in.

Ashtine shook her head. “When Talwyn attempted to defy him, he found someone new.”

“Who?” Eliza and Rayner both snarled simultaneously.

“I do not know,” she answered, wincing as she shifted on the sofa.

“That is enough for tonight,” Sawyer said, taking a step towards her. He looked to the Shifters. “Can you take us to her room? She needs to rest.”

“We need to go back and relay all of this to the others,” Razik interjected. “It is no slight to anyone,” he added when Eliza glared at him again. “We do not have time to waste.”

“I cannot leave,” Ashtine said.

“We will wait and go in the morning,” Sawyer said, shooting a look at Razik that dared him to argue. Razik crossed his arms, annoyance clear on his features.

“You misunderstand,” Ashtine said, exhaustion and defeat heavy in her tone now. “I cannot leave this continent.”

“Why not?” Azrael demanded.

The Wind Princess reached up and tugged aside the neckline of the gown she was wearing, and Razik swore. Callan didn’t know why. There was nothing there that he could see. Apparently none of the Fae could see it either. Only Razik.

The Avonleyan took a step towards her then paused. “May I?” Ashtine nodded, and he moved before her, leaning down to study …whatever it was he could see. Her head tipped back against the sofa, eyes falling closed. Razik’s gaze flicked up to her face. “Did he say what would happen if you broke it?”

She didn’t open her eyes, but her hands moved to rest atop her belly, and Razik cursed under his breath.

“What?” Eliza asked.

He straightened, looking over at her. “She has a Binding Mark. It has various purposes depending on how it is drawn. I cannot say for sure what this is binding her to—not without looking at a book I have at home—but the cost of breaking it is the lives of the babes.”

“I am bound to these lands. I cannot leave,” Ashtine repeated.

Silence fell again, the magic-wielders all glancing among themselves. Then Sawyer stepped towards her again, gently tugging off the blanket. “That is enough with the questions for tonight. I promised Briar I would look after her until he returned. She is clearly exhausted.”