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forty-four

Ereon

“ I want to thank you ... truly,” Carnaxa says as she brushes out her hair. “I know what you had to do for the Nle Shom wasn’t comfortable for either of us — but thank you for trying to protect me as much as you could.”

After they left the tent, Siphonie and her talked for a long while. Calming her down. She’s probably still upset, but I’m glad to have her — all of her — back.

I walk to her, leisurely running my hand across the top of her shoulder. “Of course ... I meant what I said before and after we crossed this border: I pledged my heart, body, and soul to you. Antalian culture wasn’t always something I cared to learn about.” I kneel in front of her and grab her hand to bring it up to the shell that sits along my collarbone. “But reciting that oath was the best thing I have ever done. I love you Carnaxa, and I think I did for a long time.”

She leans down to me, her lips caressing my own. “I love you and —”

“And you still love him?” I ask, already knowing what she is going to say. I made peace with that fact when she was still asleep. “How does it feel since he broke the twin drop?”

She sighs and looks away without meeting my eyes. “Like something is missing inside me. I love him because of the memories I have, the life we shared, but I don’t feel it. Not truly. It’s like my head knows I should love him, but my heart denies him.”

“We will fix this, all of this.” Her magic —the ice and water — has been growing this entire time and now, without that bracelet, from what Anara said, she will be even more powerful. I look at the faded skin of my wrist where the cuff was and wonder if I will display any type of power.

“How?” she asks, and I can’t help but feel defeated. Here in front of her … I don’t have the answers. I’m not the cruel prince of Shaston in front of her — but the one who is learning to be everything I was taught to despise.

“I don’t know, Carnaxa. I’m trying to do all that I can right now. To keep Antalis safe, to keep Midaeliea safe, to even keep Shaston safe. All while I am also trying to keep you safe and happy. I just know I’m going to get you home.” I never realized how frustrated I was feeling, like the entire future of Ashonera is on my shoulders until I started speaking.

I stand up and pace in front of her. “In order to prevent others from experiencing more severe punishments, I have dealt with them myself. Before you came into my life, I only concerned myself with Anara and her safety. No one else. Sure, I’ve helped those in Shaston when I could, but it wasn’t as important to me. Now I am trying to help so many, all while still being under my father’s control. The one person who I have loved for years has recently told me that everything we had together was a complete lie. I’ve been trying to find out who I am in all of this, how to help you regain your memories and I’m just ... I’m tired.” I rub my temples, letting out a frustrated groan. “I’m sorry.”

Carnaxa stands beside me, her golden night dress reflecting the flames from the hearth. She walks to me and runs her hands along my arms. “No ... I’m sorry. You’re right. Not once have I asked about you or how you are doing. I should have.”

“You’ve had your own problems as well, I was just so worried” — I look away from her for a moment — “that you would be angry that I loved you even when Thylas couldn’t.”

“I’m not mad at you. I could never be mad at someone for loving me.” She reaches up to where her nightdress ties at her shoulders, slowly releasing the knot that holds it up. The silk fabric slides down her tan curvaceous body awakening my cock, which presses against the ties of my pants. She reaches out to unhook the scabbard that holds my double curved swords against my back. The weapons fall to the floor with a metallic clang .

“If you aren’t ready ...” The words come out huskier than I expected, the desire for her ingrained in them. I’ve had her many nights since we’ve started this journey, but I worry she doesn’t want just me anymore. Not with her memories back. “We can wait until we find out more.”

“Do you remember what you told me?” She pushes her fingers beneath my tunic, pushing it up over my head.

“When?” My head sinks to the crook of her neck, kissing the freckles there. “I’ve said many things.”

“The night before we reached Shaston. You told me, ‘it’s not our night.’”

I smile against her skin, remembering that night. The night I fisted myself watching her with another. A night I’ll never forget because she shined in our presence — when she was between us, like an anchor keeping us both from floating away. “We’ve had many nights since then.”

“But none with my full memory.” She pushes down my pants and eases to her knees. Her ocean eyes glance up at me beneath her dark lashes and she smiles while she releases me. Her soft hand wraps around my base. “But tonight is our night. Before anything else happens, before tomorrow comes and all the problems thereafter.” She takes me into her mouth and I bury my fist at the top of her head, inhaling sharply.

Carnaxa alternates pumping me with her hand and sucking me in her mouth. She’s a beautiful sight on her knees as I thrust my hips in sync with her, the same rhythm as our hearts. Quickly, I pull her back by the roots of her hair and pull her up to me, taking her mouth with mine.

My tongue explores her mouth and I pivot us around, stumbling towards the bed. I shed the rest of my pants and kick off my boots. The back of her legs hit the edge of the bed and I gently push her, letting her fall as a laugh escapes her lips. She scoots up to the head of the bed and I crawl over her, positioning myself precisely where I want to be — between her legs.

I grab her wrist, where the bracelet once was, kissing the pale, raw area. “I gave you that as a representation of our future. I would have never done that if I had known the truth behind it.”

“I know. I don’t blame you for falling for the tricks of someone else.”

I lie with my forearms on either side of her head, letting my thumb stroke the side of her face. “You are a fucking goddess — do you know that?”

I feel her fingers delicately tracing my back, leaving a trail of tingling sensations in their wake. “Then worship me.” She pulls my head to her, kissing me and biting my bottom lip. As she does, I push up into her. She bites so hard from the sensation that I know blood now drips from my lip. With each forceful thrust, the metallic tang blends with her flavor.

The surrounding air chills and I feel goose bumps prickle her skin. I notice a shift in the air and hear a faint roaring sound. A barrier of water forms around us as it spills from her fingers. I deliberately slow down and take in the sight of what my future queen has created.

“Your magic ...” I say, releasing her nipple from my mouth. “You are already controlling it.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t want to be too loud for the rest of the camp. Thought this would help.”

“They’ve already heard your screams.” I smirk and pepper kisses down her neck. “But I want to know something first.”

Carnaxa wraps her legs around me, pulling me deeper into her. “What?”

Wrapping my hand around her throat as I pull her forehead to mine. “Who makes your heart race and owns every scream you make?” I forcefully sink back into her, and her breasts bounce prominently beneath me.

“You,” she gasps, her breath heavy and labored, as a wave of shivers courses through her skin, “You, Ereon.”

I take a nipple into my mouth, sucking on it vigorously as she moans loudly. Louder than she has any other night we’ve been together, because at this moment, she knows perfectly well who I am, how I feel about her, and how she feels about me. I push against her, throwing her leg over my shoulder and getting on my knees. Holding her ankle firmly in my grip, I thrust hard enough to shake the bed, feeling the explosion of pleasure as I release inside of her.

I stay still, letting us both catch our breath when I hear her gasp. “Ereon — your hand. ”

Looking to where her eyes are fixated, I see there the frost that covers her leg I still hold. The ice reflects the fire, and it looks like a million flickering crystals. My hand is frozen in place on her leg. I smile down at her.

“It’s fine ... you are still learning to control your magic. You are bound to have a few accidents. It’ll melt eventually. I’ve seen you use ice before.”

She stares at me, her expression strange. “I’ve ... never felt ice in my veins.”

“You used it in Shaston to keep Thylas and I from fighting, remember? It’s okay.” I try to pull my hand from her ankle, but it doesn’t release.

“No, I thought of a river separating the two of you. I’ve never used ice.” She leans up awkwardly. “Close your eyes and think of it melting. Like breathing.”

I roll my eyes. If anything, I expect the dark flames of my father would curse me. But I do as she instructs and almost fall on top of her as my hand releases. I stare at my hands, wanting to see it once again. As my fingers move slowly and softly across her stomach, a beautiful and delicate trail of ice forms.

“It’s lovely …” she says as she looks down at the trail between us.

“Does it hurt?” I ask, willing it away. I didn’t think about what it would feel like for her.

“No.” She moves from beneath me to rest on her knees, taking my head in her hands and kissing me. “It’s been you with the ice in your veins. When I walked into the tent after you’re … talk … with Anara — the wood was frozen. It would appear” — she smiles at me a nd pushes stray strands of hair out of my face — “that the Goddess has blessed you again.”