A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #2)(109)

His arms came around me, hugging me tight, his lips on my neck. Sweet words of devotion rode his breath. Power continued to swell, infused with the delicious sensations of his body against mine, within me. It built and built until I couldn’t stand it anymore. I couldn’t take the delicious burn of pleasure.

His teeth slid against my neck and then down to my shoulder. They grated along my skin, pressing, though not hard enough to break skin.

“Nyfain,” I begged. I twisted against his hold, wanting to get at him. Wanting to do it myself. He’d said he was trapped in his feelings for me. Great—I’d make that shit permanent. I didn’t know how to claim, but I was confident my animal and I could figure it out.

He held me fast, his strength wrapped around me, his arms immovable. He knew what I was trying to do. He knew he was literally the only one of the four of us still holding out.

“Come for me, baby girl,” he growled.

The orgasm stole my breath. I was locked in a silent scream as wave after intense wave shook me to my foundation. I shuddered against him, turning my head and closing my eyes. He pressed his cheek to mine as he made the final thrusts to finish out his climax deeply inside of me. I shivered as intense emotion welled up between us. He leaned over and cupped my cheek, twisting my face just enough to kiss me languidly.

We breathed heavily in the aftermath. My body turned liquid, slinking down against the table. Still inside of me, he leaned over it with me, his arms now braced on either side of my body.

“I’m afraid we might’ve scared away the servants. Now we’ll never get our cheese plate,” he murmured.

I laughed as he pulled back and helped me up. He grabbed a napkin to clean us up before pulling me into a tight hug.

“I lost control there for a moment,” he said, burying his face into my neck.

“Which part?”

“The part where I initially tried to bend you over the dinner table to fuck you, and then fought you to do just that, and then pummeled you with my cock.”

“Several moments, then.”

“Right yes, okay. Several moments. Fuck, I’m winded. You gave me hell, princess. Now I understand what the guys were talking about. My dragon’s extreme, primal need to mate pulled out that little will-splintering thing. That was incredibly handy.”

“Can you do it again?”

“No. I think the sole purpose of that little feature is to dominate my intended and mate. Fuck me, my dragon is after me again. He’s intolerable. Your animal depleted me to the point of danger, forcing us to build more and more power. At the brink, we exploded, ripping the power back and using it on you. Clearly it’s all a dance with the beasts. A very delicious, erotic dance that I enjoyed very much.”

“She basically helped you dominate me.” Something she had not mentioned, and I had not been able to feel.

“Yeah. Thank her for me.” He touched the ragged wound on his neck, then looked down at his ruined suit.

“I can fix up that…ah…bite for you,” I muttered, a bit embarrassed.

“No, thanks.” When his eyes came up again, they were full of pride. “It’s not a typical mark, but it is a mark, and I want it to scar. I want everyone to see that you fought me and left something permanent on my flesh. You are incredible.” He smiled as bruises started to color his face from my fists or head or elbows. “That was exciting. There is not a woman in this world who would’ve given me that sort of fight and then gladly taken the onslaught afterward.” He pulled me closer and kissed me. “You’re incredibly powerful, baby. You’ll be a shining star in an otherwise dull sky.”

“Except for the golden dragon.”

He didn’t comment. I knew full well it was because he didn’t think he’d make it. He thought he’d die in this half-life as his world fell down around him.

I was not going to let that happen. A long time ago I’d set out to cure the demon sickness, to save this kingdom from demon magic. I would save Nyfain, too. I just had to figure out how. There was a way. I had a huge library at my disposal. All I had to do was gather information and put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Not now, though. Now, we were living for the moment. It had been a perfect evening so far. I wanted to keep it going.

So I let him take my hand in silence and lead me from the room.

“I’d planned to take a turn around the ballroom. Thoughts?”

“My legs are wobbly, and…”

“Hit me with it. What else are you thinking?”

“Leala said the demons are low in power tonight. I think it’s a perfect night to harvest the everlass. Whatever suppresses the demons might make the everlass more powerful. I mean…it’s worth a try. I’d like to get the recovery time down a bit.”

He laughed softly and entwined our fingers, bringing me down the hallway and toward one of the rear exits. Loud music and raucous laughter vibrated through the castle, suggesting the parties had broken out after all, but I didn’t have any desire to play voyeur or put on a public display tonight. No more public than in a dining room where staff might’ve been watching, at any rate.

The night was mild, but the stars were vibrant pricks of light above us. Nyfain carried the tray for me, and once we were in the field, he helped me pick the leaves. Afterward, he took my hand and led me through the field again. We walked side by side through the plants, in different rows but close enough to touch, the moonlight seeping in around us. The moment was perfect and sublime, and heat constricted in my chest as I looked over at the handsome dragon.