Page 186 of Serpent In White

A subtle grin tugs at his lips. Then his eyes jump to mine.

My pulse rocks, knowing what I must do. “I sacrifice my independence and pledge you my loyalty. I sacrifice my subservience to everyone but you, my King. I’m yours. Forever.”

He sweeps in a breath, his joy audible as it shouts in his mind. I can’t help but lunge forward and kiss his lips, delicately fierce.

For us, it was inevitable.

I never possessed a single shred of doubt that I would be his for all my days, and in whatever afterlife we find ourselves in.

“My Prince Abdiel,” he sighs on my mouth as we pull apart.

Breaths shallow as we all look to Drake. The Serpent, and final piece to our puzzle.

He stares at Darian, dark brows pulling together while his thoughts sort through all these things they’ve been through together. All measures of pain and pleasure, love and loss, aching serenity. So many years, longer than Rhiannon or I have been alive.

The marble-like colors of his irises darken as his chest expands with a powerful breath. “You know what you’re asking of me, right?”

Darian nods. “And I know what I’m promising you in return.”

Drake’s head drops forward for a moment, before he brings his gaze back to our King. “I sacrifice the wicked for you. I’ll give up my holding of the evil for purposes of the order, and in turn, I give you myself… I give you my honor, forever. My King.”

This time Darian smiles, and it’s radiant. Luminescent, lighting up the darkness around us as he pulls our Serpent to him, to his lips. Never have I witnessed a more devoted kiss.

I adore watching them together, the love they share, seeing it freed from the chains of fear and secrecy. It’s miraculous.

Looking to Rhiannon, she still wears the wide eyes of someone who’s new to all this, and I tug her into my side. She smiles up at me, and I down at her. Then I press a kiss in her hair. She smells like flowers and hope.

New beginnings.

When Drake and Darian pull apart, they’re practically slobbering on each other, which Rhiannon and I think is funny. And hot.

Darian gives Drake a look. “You’ve been feeding the forces of this mountain with blood…” Drake’s eyes sparkle. “But what if we give it something else?”

The Serpent smirks. It’s a salacious one, holding all the temptation possible. I shudder.

Drake and Darian turn to Rhiannon and me. They look us over, slowly, and now I’m really squirming.

Too many clothes, they both think at the same time.

I look to Rhi. She’s nervous, but also there’s a heat she hasn’t felt in quite some time simmering in her belly. I feel it through her.

Drake moves in closer to Rhiannon, brushing her hair away from her shoulder until she shivers. “Do you want to play, kitten?”

rhiannon

My eyes go to Darian first.

It’s amazing that I’m looking to him as a lifeline now, since we just made up. But when it feels right, you don’t deny it. You don’t question it.

I’ve had enough bad in my life. It’s time for the good.

Are you comfortable, princess?He asks in his mind.It’s fine for you to say no, just know that.

I swallow, considering what could happen.

The four of us, out here in the forest, alone in a clearing where things aren’t as they seem. A breach of earthly possibility and physics.

We’ve all just pledged ourselves to our King. This needs to happen now.