Page 80 of Valor’s Flight (The New Protectorate #5)

“But I didn’t want the rumor mill to start working and have to reintroduce you to the people on the backfoot.

I wanted them to know exactly who you are and what you’ve done.

” Holding her gaze, he added, “I meant what I said, Shiya. You don’t have to do anything until you’re ready.

Being Emand is a big job you didn’t exactly sign up for.

Everyone will understand if you need a while to adjust.”

Twisting to lay her back onto the bed, he hovered over her. Their lips brushed with every word he spoke. “And selfishly, I want you to take your time. I’m used to having you all to myself, metsalill. I don’t want to share your attention with the world.”

Alashiya threaded her fingers into his hair as her soft thighs cradled his hips. “What should I do in the meantime? I’ve never had nothing to do. I need to work.”

“Trust me, my Shiya, there will be enough work for two lifetimes. There’s no reason to rush into it.

” Running his hands down her sides, he began to slowly bunch up the large shirt.

“Your Isand commands you to rest, pamper yourself, get acclimated, and do whatever you need to in order to feel like this is your home.”

Swallowing hard, she asked, “Are we never going back to Birchdale?”

Pausing his exploratory touches to brace his elbows near her shoulders, he shook his head.

His long hair, braided tight by his ears, swung over his shoulders to tickle her cheeks when she dropped her hands to his chest. “I would never take your home from you, my Shiya. I know what your family sacrificed to give you that land, and I know how deep your bond is with it. But… we can’t live there.

Not if we want to be the leaders of the Draakonriik. ”

Alashiya looked away. Her expression was hard to read, but he could feel her distress and longing like it was his own. The murmur of her thoughts bubbled up like a spring of fresh water in the back of his mind — a melodious trickle of cool, sweet vitality.

…live anywhere else. Away from the trees, the roots, the earth… But my husband… my grove is worth everything.

Throat seizing, Taevas croaked, “Look at me.”

When her eyes flicked back in his direction, so glossy and warm and lost, he told her, “Alashiya, I meant what I said back in Birchdale. I’ll leave all of this for you. If you can’t do this, then I can’t do it either.”

“Taevas—”

“No, listen,” he pleaded. “I mean it. None of this means anything without you. You’re my Chosen, Shiya.

My only. My world. I’ve been Isand for a very, very long time.

I could transition out of power and hand over the mantle to another dragon.

It would take some time, but I can and will do it for you. ”

He could see she wanted to argue, to immediately protest, but his mate held her knee-jerk reaction back. Instead, she took a deep breath and really considered what he offered her.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “Thank you.”

He touched their noses together. “I made the mistake of not following you once, metsalill. Never again. I go where my queen goes. If that’s away from here, then so be it.”

Alashiya peppered gentle kisses to his cheeks, his lips, his nose, and his jaw.

Her fingers moved down his chest to slowly begin unbuttoning his shirt.

“My Adon. My argaman mlk. I love you. But I’m not the only one.

Your people and your clan… All I’ve seen today is people who love you.

This is your grove. I can’t take you from them. ”

“But can you be happy here?” he breathed into her lips.

“I think I can,” his brave mate answered, only a slight hesitation in her voice. “But I have conditions.”

“Name them.”

“We spend time in Birchdale every year. I want to connect with my forest. And when we have children, I want them to be able to run in the wilderness like I did.”

His heart rate picked up. Exhilaration buzzing through him, he replied, “Done. It’ll be our vacation home — ah, once we make some renovations. The Wing can come with us, and so can the clan, if we want them to.”

He’d never taken a vacation before, but he was a mated man now. Soon enough he’d be a father. No one could dare blame him for taking time off. And if Lee had a problem with him staying in his territory for a couple weeks a year, Taevas would happily remind him that he could shove it up his ass.

“And I want to make changes here,” she continued, untucking his shirt from his pants. Her deft fingers moved to the buckle of his belt. “I need plants. I need soil. I need color.”

If her touches didn’t do it, hearing her talk about making their roost hers would’ve made him hard instantly.

His breathing deepened. Tail coiling around one of her calves, he balanced his weight on one arm and used the other to ruck up her sleep shirt.

Silky golden skin, heavy breasts, and the divine cradle of her cunt greeted him.

Pressing a hot, wet kiss to the thrumming pulse at the base of her neck, he promised, “Anything.”

Her breath hitched as she dipped her fingers past the waistband of his slacks. “I want to visit Stalton’s Atelier.”

“Oh,” he muttered darkly into her skin, “that I am more than happy to do, naine.”

Gently extracting the rigid bar of his cock, she gave it a slow, agonizing stroke. “And one more thing.”

“Tell me,” he gasped. “Tell me, my queen, and it’s yours.”

Using her free hand, she grasped his jaw and forced his head up until he met her heavy-lidded gaze. “Your queen needs you to make love to her in this nest.”

Gods, he thought, this is more than I could’ve dreamed of.

After years of stroking his cock to the scent of her in this very nest, it was the most exquisite sort of triumph to spread her perfect thighs and feast on her slick cunt at last.

Alashiya wrapped her fingers around his horns, guiding him where she needed him, as praise spilled from her lips.

And after she came on his fingers and tongue, he turned her onto her stomach, gently guided her onto her knees, and fulfilled another dream of his — sinking into her perfect cunt from behind.

Taevas draped his much larger body over her back as he slowly rocked his hips, savoring every gentle stroke. It was only her second time, so he restrained himself from rutting into her like a beast. They’d have to work up to that.

What a pleasure that’ll be.

He cupped her jaw and nuzzled her cheek as he whispered, “Minu metsalill, I intend to be here forever. In this nest. Inside you. This is all I’ve ever dreamed of.”

Alashiya gripped the pillows she’d so lovingly embroidered, her cunt rippling round his cock in a way that made him hiss with pleasure. “That’s it, argaman mlk. That’s perfect,” she moaned.

Their first time was a revelation, but now that they were married, he didn’t just get to bask in the fire of the divine he sensed in her. He got to feel it.

Alashiya’s heartbeat and panting breaths synced with his. Her needs bled into his own. Her thoughts were an endless stream of love and potent desire.

When she needed him to move faster, he didn’t have to be told. When she wanted him deeper, until he sheathed himself to the hilt with every forceful stroke, he answered her wordless call.

And when she demanded he finish, he was helpless to refuse her. Taevas emptied himself inside her with a low cry. Alashiya clenched hard as his release painted the hot walls of her cunt. “So,” she said, breathless and unmistakably sated, “do we have a deal, Isand?”

Taevas pumped shallowly, luxuriating in the wet glide. Scraping his teeth against her jaw, he reached down to stroke her with greedy fingers. She shuddered beneath him.

Not even close to done with her, he growled, “Not so fast, Emand. We might have to negotiate all night. I hope you’re prepared to take me again. And again.”

Alashiya reached back to fist a hand in his hair. “I’m queen of this grove. I can take anything you give me.”