Page 124 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

Kiera paled.

“Drystan is being a dick. It won’t be like that, I promise.”

FORTY-SIX

KIERA

It was a little like that.

Within ten minutes of Drystan’s warning, Jaxus’ house was invaded by hugging, kissing dragons. I was going to have to adjust to how tactile everyone was here but they were so friendly, it was a thing that they had going for them.

After they had laid out all the food they’d brought over because they knew the house would be bare. Jaxus’ mother, a female half his height, inspected every inch of her son. She cried over her fear she would never see him again, then smacked him around the ear for leaving in the first place and then a second time for not returning for so long.

Then she turned her attention to me. I was welcomed, squeezed and questioned about my life. Babies were not specifically demanded, at least not within any kind of certain timeframe. Though the idea was heavily encouraged. In many waysthese fae were like those from my home. But there was passion here, love for each other and a value to family that wasn’t simply legacy. Babies were not required to fulfill a role, they were wanted for the joy they would bring the family.

Jaxus’ father was a quieter male, but his warmth was evident. He welcomed his son home and congratulated us on our mating but otherwise gave his wife the floor.

“What were you and your father discussing before they left?” I asked Jaxus as I came out of the bathing chamber. “It looked intense.”

“He just told me that my leaving without saying goodbye broke my mother’s heart and that if the same should ever happen again, the least he would expect is a warning.”

I pressed my hand to my heart at the knowledge that his parents had been essentially mourning him these months. “What did you tell him?”

“That he didn’t have to worry about that now that we’ve been ordered to stay.”

“Do you really think the council would be listening in on us somehow?” I asked mind to mind.

“Probably not, but if we are careful, then we won’t give them any cause to continue if they are.”

Jaxus reclined on his bed and watched me brush my hair. It was the most domesticated it had felt since we gave in to our feelings in the forest. We’d shared a bed those nights but only after long days of research and stressful interactions with Casimir and his family and with the issues of mistrust growing between us. Lust had carried us through, but this felt…real.

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

“How lucky I am to have had the chance to find you when I could have lived centuries in the dark,” he replied.

“Gran was right about you. You are a smooth talker.”

Jaxus smirked and reached out a hand to me. I set the brush down and placed my hand in his. He yanked, pulling me downover him. I yelped as I went, trying to control the fall, but he had me. Before I knew it, I was draped over his bare chest and his lips had found mine while he ran his fingers softly through my damp hair.

His kisses were light and lingering. A change of pace from the hunger we had in the forest, but no less claiming.

“You know I’m going to get you out of here, don’t you?”he said softly through our bond as his lips skimmed over mine again and again.

“I hope you’ll be coming too, mate,”I replied

“Together,”he assured.

“I feel a little guilty having been so warmly welcomed into the family knowing we don’t intend to stay,”I told him.

“I know, and now that Drystan plans to come with us, I feel twice as terrible. I think my father knows, though.”

“Maybe we can find a way to let them know or leave a note when the time comes?”

“Maybe,”he mused, not letting up with his kisses for a moment.

“A conversation while kissing—this is new for me.”

“And me, handy isn’t it? I can tell you I love you with my words and my tongue at the same time.”He deepened the kiss with those words floating into my mind as I hummed my pleasure, slipping my tongue between his parted lips.