Page 53

53

SEREN

T he ceremonial chamber is bathed in flickering torchlight, the aftermath of war still clinging to the walls like ghosts unwilling to fade. The scent of blood and magic lingers, heavy with destruction, but none of it matters.

Not when Xirath stands before me, his body still hewn with battle, his golden eyes locked onto mine like I’m the only thing left in the world.

He is my world.

I don’t think. My body moves before my mind catches up, feet barely brushing the floor before I crash into him. His arms wrap around me instantly, pulling me close, and the sheer heat of him scorches through every nerve in my body.

His breath is ragged against my hair, his tension unyielding, as though he's still standing in the middle of the battlefield, sword in hand, ready to carve through whatever stands between us. But there’s nothing left to fight. No one left to take me from him.

Yet, neither of us speak.

I tilt my head up, searching his face, tracing the sharp angles and the wounds he hasn’t yet tended to. His lips are parted, his chest rising and falling with heavy restraint, but his grip on me never falters.

"Say it," I whisper, my voice barely a thread of sound, but it cleaves through the tension between us like a blade.

His throat bobs, something dark flickering in his expression.

"I own you," he rasps, the confession dragging itself from deep within him, rough and unshakable.

I close my eyes, exhaling against his skin.

The bond between us sings, something ancient, unbreakable, curling around my heart like vines taking root. It doesn’t matter how it happened, why fate decided to intertwine us like this. What matters is the way his hands tremble against my back as though he’s still afraid I’ll disappear.

What matters is that I want him. That I choose him.

I open my eyes and lift my chin. "Then take me."

The words unravel something in him.

Xirath moves fast, too fast, his grip tightening as his lips claim mine in a searing, all-consuming kiss. There is no hesitation, no lingering restraint, only the raw force of everything we’ve held back for too long.

I meet him with equal fervor, fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer until there’s no space between us, no barrier to keep us apart.

His hands trail down my back, fingers mapping my body like he's trying to commit every inch of me to memory. My own touch is just as desperate, gliding over his arms, his chest, feeling the scars, the wounds that mark him as a warrior, a noble, a naga who fought to the death to bring me back.

The torches cast long shadows against the ruined walls, our breaths mingling in the dim glow. There is nothing but the heat between us, the unspoken need finally given voice, the fire of our bond flaring to life in a way that neither of us can stop.

Xirath growls against my mouth, breaking away only to drag his lips down my jaw, my neck, his hands anchoring me to him as though the universe itself might try to steal me away again.

“I almost lost you.” His voice is raw, his breath scalding against my skin.

“You didn’t.” My fingers tighten around his shoulders, pulling him closer. “You never will.”

The words are a promise. A vow.

Xirath presses his forehead to mine, inhaling sharply, his body taut with restraint.

“Seren,” he murmurs, my name a reverent prayer on his lips.

I reach up, brushing a hand down his cheek, my own heart thundering in my chest. "I'm here."

In one swift motion, he lifts me into his arms and carries me deeper into the chamber, past the remnants of battle, past the shattered pieces of the life I once knew.

I let him.

Tonight is not about the chaos that led us here. It is not about curses or prophecies, fate or war.

Tonight is ours.

I will let him claim me as much as I claim him.

The air in the chamber grows thicker, charged with an electric tension that makes my skin prickle.

Xirath’s golden eyes burn into mine, their intensity almost unbearable, as he lowers me onto a makeshift bed of discarded cloaks and furs. The rough texture beneath me is a stark contrast to the heat of his body as he hovers above, his muscular frame casting a shadow that swallows me whole.

His scales glint in the torchlight, a mesmerizing pattern of gold and black that seems to ripple with every breath he takes.

I reach up, my fingers trembling as they trace the line of his jaw, down the column of his throat, and over the broad expanse of his chest. His skin is warm, almost feverish, and I can feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palm. He shudders at my touch, a low growl rumbling in his chest, and I know he’s holding back, restraining the primal force that threatens to consume us both.

“Don’t hold back,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the crackling of the torches. “I want all of you.”

His eyes darken, the gold deepening to molten amber, and he leans down, capturing my lips in a kiss that is both tender and possessive. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, claiming me in a way that leaves no doubt of his intentions. I moan into the kiss, my hands sliding down to his hips, urging him closer.

Xirath breaks the kiss, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he pulls back just enough to look at me. His hands move to the ties of my dress, fingers deftly undoing the laces with a practiced ease that sends a shiver down my spine. The fabric falls away, leaving me exposed to the cool air of the chamber, but the heat of his gaze is enough to keep me warm.

His eyes roam over my body, taking in every curve, every scar, every inch of skin that he’s fought so hard to protect. There’s a reverence in his gaze, a hunger that makes my stomach clench with anticipation. He leans down, his lips brushing against the sensitive skin of my neck, trailing a path of fire down to my collarbone.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice rough with desire. “Mine.”

The possessiveness in his tone sends a thrill through me, and I arch into his touch, my fingers tangling in his hair. “Yours,” I agree, my voice breathless. “Always.”

His hands slide down my sides, leaving a trail of heat in their wake, and I can feel the tension in every fiber of his being, the way he’s holding himself back. But I don’t want him to hold back. I want all of him, every raw, primal part of him that he’s kept hidden for so long.

He takes off his armor, and he stands bare in front of me in all his glory.

I reach between us, my fingers brushing against the thick, ridged length of him, and he groans, his hips jerking forward at the contact. The feel of him is overwhelming, the barbs along his hemipenis catching against my skin in a way that sends a jolt of pleasure through me. He’s thick, impossibly so, and the thought of him inside me is both terrifying and exhilarating.

“Xirath,” I breathe, my voice trembling. “I need you.”

He growls, a deep, guttural sound that reverberates through my entire body, and in one swift motion, he positions himself between my legs. His hands grip my hips, holding me in place as he leans down, his lips brushing against my ear.

“I’m going to fuck you hard and raw with all of me,” he moans.

I nod, my heart pounding in my chest, and he doesn’t wait for further encouragement. With a single, powerful thrust, he sheathes himself inside me, the barbs along his shafts catching against my walls, making me cry out.

“Gods!” The pain is sharp, intense, but it’s quickly overshadowed by the overwhelming pleasure that follows.

Xirath stills, his body trembling with the effort of holding back, and I can see the conflict in his eyes, the way he’s fighting to keep himself in check. But I don’t want him to hold back.

“Move,” I urge, my voice barely a whisper. “Please.”

He groans, his hands tightening on my hips as he begins to move, his thrusts slow and deliberate the first time, giving me time to adjust to the feel of him. But it’s not enough. I need more. I need all of him.

I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, and he growls, his thrusts becoming more forceful, more urgent. The barbs along his shafts drag against my walls with every movement, sending waves of pleasure crashing through me. I can feel the tension building inside me, coiling tighter and tighter with every thrust, until I’m teetering on the zenith of release.

Xirath’s breath is hot against my skin, his lips trailing a path of fire down my neck as he drives into me with a relentless rhythm. His hands move to my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my nipples and I arch into his touch. The sensation is overwhelming, the combination of his touch and the feel of him inside me driving me closer and closer to orgassm.

“Xirath,” I gasp, my fingers digging into his shoulders. “I’m close.”

“Yes!” he hisses.

My eyes roll back as protheka-shattering pleasure envelops me from head to toe, sweeping my sanity in waves of ecstasy.

“I’m coming!!” I scream in a hoarse voice, gasping for air as pain and pleasure blinds me with only pleasure remaining. “Oh Gods!”

“I’m coming with you,” he groans, hugs me an spills inside me. His cum is warm, and I feel torrents of it gushing inside me.

He rolls and puts me on top of him as we both lay together. I bury my face in his neck, savoring the feeling and smell of him.

“I love you,” I whisper without thinking. He stills, then pinches my jaw to look at him.

“I love you more. Now and forever,” he replies.

We kiss again.

Finally, we found each other.