Page 37 of Magic & Secrets (Twisted Magic #1)

ROQUE SETTLED MY DAMP body upon the bed before dropping next to me. He chuckled at how we bounced on the springy mattress. I couldn’t believe how easily this stubborn beast smiled now. His deeply handsome face was built to wear this joyful expression.

“I have no interest in the feast,” Roque admitted as our bodies pressed together and his heart raced. “I should have fought the Elves in the clearing.”

“Making enemies isn’t a smart tactic. The Elves are proof of the power of diplomacy.

They were the first magic folk to be viewed as a real threat by the Murade.

Some Elves pushed back like the Jaala Elven Tribe.

You know how that ended. The Elven Empire of Elatalora was smarter.

They behaved submissively for decades until finding a common enemy.

The Elves chose to fight against Von Ehlinger despite the obvious benefits of the Murade falling. ”

“Elves made you,” he pointed out.

“Among other magic folk. The time of man fades as the magic within Lavinia grows stronger.”

“What if the Elves decide to join the Murade against my kind?” he prodded.

I smiled softly at his question. “Then, they will die.”

“What if the Bane Shifters are like our makers? The Murade is losing its grip over the Territories. They’re sending settlers to die in Pandorium Forest and countless men to perish at sea. The Bane Shifters haven’t even done that much in a century. We may no longer be the warriors we once were.”

“The Murade’s mistake was refusing to adjust to a changing world. If the Bane Shifters want to remain dominant, you must accept the world is no longer the one you left behind.”

“And what of your kind?” Roque asked, looking around as if someone might be listening to our conversation.

“I don’t know.”

“You must have a theory. You were quick to lead Mali to a plan to use the Murade against the Cult of Ivitithi.”

Sitting up in bed, I took his hand in mine and stroked his palm with my thumb. “My kind were trained to submit to our overseers. It’s all we know.”

“But?”

“I doubt Solme Divige has the same goals as the ones who made my kind.”

“How can we survive when we don’t know what she wants?”

“What do all the ancient ones crave?”

“Sacrifice?” he guessed.

“My belief is the ancient ones desire to live again, whether through worship or conquest.”

Roque’s blue-eyed gaze flashed to me and then to my stomach. “I can’t imagine what our offspring would be like,” Roque said and rested his ear against my belly as if listening for a youngling. “Knowing how we came to be and understanding our powers, I imagine whatever we create might be a monster.”

“You are a very handsome male,” I said, winning an arrogant smirk from my mate. “And the human used to create me was considered beautiful.”

“You are the most gorgeous creature on the planet.”

Stroking his head, I smiled at how relaxed he was right now. “Our youngling could be remarkable. Or just ordinary. There’s no way to know, but I refuse to believe it would be a monster.”

“Is a youngling what you crave?” he asked.

“I’ve never considered it an option. During my training, no one even suggested such a thing. However, Mali made it seem possible.”

“If we have a youngling, I will build it a room in our home.”

“And I will help you.”

Roque grinned. “Do you know how to build?”

“No, do you?”

“No, but I think I will make a respectable builder. I will make a good father, too. In fact, I like the idea of being the first Bane Shifter to create a child.”

“Well, you took several days to get started on mating. One or both of your packmates might have already been first.”

“No,” Roque insisted before shrugging his wide shoulders. “Well, maybe Koda, who can be very reasonable under most circumstances. Delta, though, is more stubborn than I am.”

“And Mina is more stubborn than the two of you combined. We’ll definitely beat Mina and Delta to parenthood.”

Roque leaned back on the bed and laughed. “I feel invigorated. Even in this place with danger outside the door, I breathe differently now.”

Leaning forward, I pressed my lips against his before kissing along his jaw and whispering in his ear, “Mali will never let us leave. We’ll need to sneak out of the city.”

“Should we go now?” Roque murmured while holding me against him.

“They might be expecting that,” I whispered. “We should attend their feast and play along. I sense Mali wants to speak to the Gathering before he makes a move. Most of the Elven Empire has no idea about the Gathering. Mali must be careful. We’ll use his fear to give us a chance to plan our escape.”

“You’re so very smart.”

“Back at the Citadel, I never knew the answers. Being with you has cleared the chaos from my mind.”

“I knew this would happen when we met,” Roque bluffed with great flair. “That’s why I insisted you were my mate.”

“Oh, yes, you were very insistent, but I couldn’t be convinced,” I said, playing along with his teasing. “I was foolish to think I could deny this face.”

Roque grinned when I patted his jaw. His smile faded when I got on my knees and bent backward until I flipped over so my feet rested on the mattress.

“I feel unleashed,” I said and sprang off the mattress.

Roque rolled off the bed, resting on his hands and knees. He watched me like a predator on the hunt. I prowled back and forth, smiling as his eyes shone silver.

“Think you can catch me?” I mocked while bouncing from one foot to the other. “How fast are you, old timer?”

Roque growled at my taunt, even while radiating a heat capable of making my toes curl.

“Faster than you, youngling,” he murmured and leapt toward me.

I dodged his massive body and slid under his arm. Running up the wall, I jumped over him.

“Where was all this ability when we met?” Roque mocked as he turned around and prowled closer.

“I was unaccustomed to your naked body. I’m no longer as distracted,” I lied and backflipped onto the bed when he grabbed for me. “You’re holding back.”

“I’ve never hunted someone for fun. I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”

“If you have a youngling one day, whether it be beautiful like you or a monster slithering from my body, you’ll need to train it.”

Roque’s handsome face pinched. “If it’s a monster, I might choose to stomp on it.”

“No, I think you won’t be able to help yourself with it any more than you can with me.”

Roque’s face transformed through several expressions from disgust and stubbornness to curiosity and amusement before settling on the loving gaze he only offered me.

“You should practice playfighting with me now, so you’ll be ready for the youngling in the future.”

“I don’t want to fight you. My interests are more carnal.”

“Well, if you catch me,” I whispered and backed away from him, “you’ll get a reward.”

I jumped backward and up into the corner near the ceiling. Holding onto the wall, I smiled at how my heat was at Roque’s eye level.

My mate moved too fast for me to react. Startled by his impressive speed, I found myself pinned to the wall. His hands wrapped around my waist while I cupped his face and pressed my lips against his. Sliding down the wall, I found myself in his arms and filled with his erection.

“You are my destiny, Roque,” I whispered in his ear.

As he moved inside my body, Roque wrapped me tighter against him. Despite my playful mood, I draped my arms around him and feared what awaited us outside this room.