Page 46

I cracked my neck side to side, surveying my sprawling city.

I had been young when my father and I birthed Finlandia.

Now, where there was once only a few rooftops, there were hundreds, each one covered in a soft blanket of darkness and each one was getting harder and harder to hide from the Sanguine.

Yet dawn was quick approaching, peeking just slightly over the hills of the valley beyond. Soon the city would light up with a gorgeous glitter of white buildings welcoming The West Isle sun to warm the city’s heart.

This was my favorite hour. When the darkness of the night melted into the brightness of day. Surrendering their differences in a stunning colorful array of possibilities.

“This better be worth it.” Remnant huffed next to me.

She had cursed herself all the way up the ladder. At me, at herself, at the goddess, and even the death god himself .

My lip lifted amusedly and I turned to her before sputtering in shock.“What is that?”

My arms floundered idiotically at my half naked soulmate’s attire.

Scraps of black fabric covered her breasts and even smaller black shorts hugged her firm ass like second skin.

Creamy pale skin was being kissed by the night, her abdominals bare and flexing as she pulled one arm across her chest to stretch.

My eyes danced along the scrolling swirls of ink once again, admiring the tone in the arms that wielded a blade with ease and killed with them even easier.

For goddess sake! If I was struggling before when she was fully clothed in layers then I was damn near exploding looking at her now.

She quirked an eyebrow at me, pulling her hair back in a high ponytail, highlighting the elegant profile of her heart shaped face.

“What is wrong with you, shifter? You invited me to go on a run. These are my running clothes.” She bent at the waist and stretched to touch her bare wiggling toes.

My gaze shot straight to her ass saluting the sky.

I turned away from her swearing under my breath.

I heard her tiny bare feet pad against the wooden deck running in place. “So where are we running? There isn’t exactly enough room up here.”

There was room enough to fuck though my mind whispered. “You up for a wager?” I said instead.

“First an alliance now a wager?”

I smiled at the horizon, she didn’t hide the curiosity in her voice well enough. “Yes, a wager.”

“Depends on if you’ll tell me the details this time. What is the task and what are we wagering?”

“A kiss.” I was a depraved mess.

“And to think you do it all by yourself, fairy boy.” The cat snickered.

She blew out a harsh breath. “A kiss…”

I held mine. “Yes, a kiss. If I win you owe me a kiss. If you win then…” I shrugged, “you get to decide if you want to kiss me or not.”

She snorted. “That is the worst wager I have ever heard.”

I barked out a laugh still looking straight out at the slow rising sun. “You're right. Name your terms then.”

“Pastries. ”

I looked down at her with amused shock but had to immediately pull my gaze back. Staring straight into her exposed cleavage would not assist me right the fuck now.

“Pastries?” I croaked.

I could hear the soft brush of her tongue gliding over her plush lips. Fuck…me .

“Yes, pastries, I saw the most amazing bakery when I came through the city yesterday. I want to go there.”

I chuckled to hide the shiver her desire for pastries sent through me. “Done.”

“Excellent. You win, I kiss you. I win, I get pastries.” Remnant bounced side to side, turning towards the horizon. “Now how do I win?”

I leaned down and pointed along the rooftops. “ We run on the roofs.”

A smile spread across her face surveying the city. Excitement blazing in her emerald green eyes.

I chuckled. “So eager to kiss me then?” I teased.

She snorted and glanced up at me. “Fuck no, shifter. But I am hungry.”

Booming laughter escaped me and leaned even closer to her.

My breath steady on the shell of her ear.

“So am I, my little umbra.” Remnant stopped her bouncing and inhaled sharply.

I straightened to my full height and nodded.

“See that building way over there with the purple flags? The garden rooftop?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Yes.”

I cracked my neck again. “Race you to it. First one to capture the flag wins.”

“No shifting.” She snapped.

I barked out another laugh. “No shadows.”

She tilted her head and for a brief moment I witnessed the look at the deadly strategist that once was Faerie's most respected war general. “You have undoubtedly done this before and have the advantage. Your shifter speed being one of them.”

I snorted and pulled back my own hair in a knot at the crown of my head. “And you are the greatest war general of all Faerie and much smaller than me. That makes you more agile and cunning.”

Stories of Remnant’s accomplishments were legendary in The West Isles. The book she discovered in my study didn’t even touch the surface of it. My hands already ached to write the latest accounts of her story .

Remnant began bouncing again and I really wished she wouldn’t. Images of her breasts bouncing as I thrusted into her over and over again was in the forefront of my mind.

“Alright, your majesty , let’s do this.”

The predator in me practically drooled. “I’m going to enjoy every moment of those delicious lips on mine.” I taunted.

“Oh Emon.” Startled by the sound of my name, I looked down at her. “One more thing.” My nostrils flared at her sultry tone that had me leaning in towards her like she was my gravity. The only thing that kept me grounded to this world.

“Yes?”

“You’re going to lose.” She whispered and I was blinded by the wide smile lighting up her stunning face, right before my ass went flying backwards and slammed to the ground with a booming thud.

I watched stupefied as Remnant launched herself from the roof and onto the next one, running straight for the distant purple flag with her laughter floating through the air behind her.

Seeing Remnant Dark alive again, running through my city was a goddess damn dream and I would be a happy fae if it were to be my last. But I was also greedy and I wanted all the dreams of her, not just one.

Inspired by her mischief, a plan of my own began to form. Springing forth, I was back on my feet and leaping across the building in one bound. Remnant hadn’t made it far enough to compete against my shifter speed and I found that I didn’t mind the view from here.

“You’re going to pay for that!” I roared against the winds.

“Are you just a sore loser, your majesty, or is that your ass talking?” She called back over her shoulder, those green eyes flashing with glee.

I grinned and with three large bounding strides, I leapt onto the next roof ledge, running with perfect balance on its rim while surveying the waking city below.

My city.

I was finally home. I breathed in the morning air, peace filling my soul for the first time in centuries.

It didn’t take long for the waking fae to notice their golden king on the rooftops .

Cheers, whistles, and clapping filled the streets. More fae rushed outdoors to watch as the calls grew. Their king was finally home and heart warmingly back to his regular antics.

“Welcome home King Daemon!”

“Better run faster your majesty!”

“Best sunrise I've seen yet!”

“She’s got you beat, shifter.”

I barked a laugh at that one and I could hear more pealing laughter from Remnant ahead of me.

Performing a series of flips and twists she showed off her agility for the crowds above and below.

The pure athleticism and warrior strength in her was fully appreciated by the shifter community when more cheers filled the sun kissed streets.

“Show off!” I called out. Then launched forward, landing directly in front of her, flashing her a wide grin over my shoulder, my claws digging into the white stone.

Remnant let out a startled gasp, skittering to prevent herself from crashing into me and then banked in an arc right over the wide street to the building next to us. Tucking herself into a roll she tumbled and then leapt to her feet, up and running again.

“It will take more than that, shifter!” She smiled widely across the street from me, meeting me stride for stride.

My pounding heart stuttered at the radiance of her in the moment. She rivaled the very sun, the light of the stars, and the three moons above. I was never again going to let that light die from her eyes.

I also wasn’t about to let her win. My plan was still perfectly in place.

Breathing deep and using my own stamina, I performed my own series of flips with precision and perfect timing.

Her distracted gaze settled on me when more of my court cheered.

Three.

I flipped over the street and landed right next to her, forcing her to stumble and veer away onto another building. The crowd below gasped, some running along the streets with us.

She gave me an annoyed side glance.

Two.

I purred and twisted toward her again. Arching right into her path with a wink. She veered again, leaping onto the building in front of her, her attention fully on me now .

One.

I roared with laughter when she disappeared with a loud splash of water following her wake.

Just as I had planned.

That purple flag was all mine…and so was my kiss.