No matter. Quinn will have plenty of time to memorize my realm.
Soaring over familiar terrain, I listen for the sounds that guide me. The low humming lets me know I’m gliding over the sprite forest. The squeaking marks the windmill in a small village. A bell tower chimes as I near the palace in Delaveria.
I fly past the flapping Night Realm flag.
By the time we go over the castle gates, I’m exhausted from carrying the extra weight and Quinn is trembling.
“Be brave, young one,” I say as my feet touch the stone bridge right outside the large entrance. “Come meet my family.”
As soon as she’s on solid ground, Quinn lets go of me and shoves my chest. “What the hell, Kirian? Seriously. What. The. Hell.”
Dozens of footsteps hurry our way.
“You dare to speak to the king in such a manner?” That’s Torius, the head of my guard. He’s almost as big as I am. And from what I’ve been told, a scary-looking motherfucker, with dark dreadlocks and tattoos all over his face.
Gasping, Quinn backs up until she bumps into me.
I wrap my arms around her and set my chin on her head. “Torius, stand down. This is your future queen. Meet Quinn Prescott.”
I hear the distinctive scrape of their weapons as they lay them at their feet and kneel.
“Hail, Queen Quinn.”
“Oh, no.” Quinn violently shakes her head. “No, no. Nope. So much nope. Queen Quinn? That just sounds ridiculous. A whole mountain of nope right there.”
“Your Majesty?” Torius still speaks with his head bowed. “I don’t understand all of her phrases, but we’re overjoyed that you’ve found your fated mate. This is amazing news for the kingdom.”
Quinn elbows me in the ribs, and it prompts me to say, “Fated or not, she is to be my wife.” I receive another elbow jab, but she’s smart enough not to contradict me in front of my soldiers. “Where would I find my parents?”
“In the dining hall, my king.”
“Thank you.” My shirt’s shredded. Too bad, considering it’s one of the few formal outfits I own. I’ve always wanted to look good for Quinn, but the button up isn’t what I wear on a daily basis. Normally before flying, I’d take the time to remove it so it doesn’t get ruined, but I was in a hurry. I tear the scraps off and toss it to Torius. “Dispose of this.”
“Will do.” He reaches up to press my axe and my crown into my hand as I pass him.
I set the simple band of gold on my head. It isn’t flashy or overly opulent. No jewels. Just a few intricate designs carved into the precious metal, with seven dull spikes on top. I don’t wear it often—just around the palace.
My axe, however, is like an extension of me. Except for my visits to Quinn and when I’m sleeping, I always have it hooked onto my belt, and it feels good to have my weapon holstered at my side once again.
“Oh, great,” Quinn exclaims as I loop an arm around her shoulders and shuffle her forward. “As if I wasn’t already attracted to you. Now you look like a royal version of Thor with an axe.”
“Who’s Thor?”
“Remember the comic books we read? The hot guy with the hammer?”
When she says another man is hot, my blood boils with jealousy. I scoff. “Yes, I remember, but I’m way better looking than him.”
“How would you know?”
Her jab about my lack of visual knowledge doesn’t bother me—in fact, I appreciate it. She’s the only person who doesn’t tiptoe around it.
I shrug. “You be the judge. Who’s better looking?”
“That’s not fair. I’m biased.”
I stop right outside the tall palace entrance. Two men stand guard, opening the double doors for us. Before we go in, I turn to Quinn.
Running my fingers under her denim overall straps, I lower my face next to hers. “Tell me. Which one of us would you choose?”
Her breath hitches when my nose grazes her cute rounded ear.
I want her to say it. To tell me how much she wants me. Her praise is all that matters.
Vanity isn’t a luxury I’ve had in a long time, but Quinn could make me a very arrogant man.
When I grab the metal hooks on her overalls and circle the buttons with my thumbs, my knuckles brush against her chest. I feel her nipples harden under the tank top.
Now I’m just toying with her, while also torturing myself. My shaft stiffens to the point of painful, and I fear I might erupt in my pants.
“You’re both dismissed,” I bark at the guards.
They don’t question my order. Quick footsteps scurry away, and then Quinn and I are alone.
We’ve both spent so much time and energy denying our attraction to each other, but now our feelings are unleashed. As I caress her tight buds again, I feel a crackle in the air. It isn’t a palpable thing—it’s more like the hair-raising sensation someone experiences when they’re about to get struck by lightning.
“You,” she whispers the answer. “You know I’ll always choose you.”
I smirk. “Likewise. And that’s why you’re here.” Tugging her by the hand, I pull her through the doorway into the foyer. She isn’t coming along easily. “Why do you drag your feet? Are you shy?”
“Kirian, we need to talk about this.”
“What’s there to talk about?”
“Uh, for starters—your wife? Are you insane?”
“When it comes to you? Apparently.”
“And I can’t meet your family right now.”
“Why not?”
“I look like shit.”
“Nonsense.” I wave off her concern.
Quinn huffs as she glances around, her head shifting from left to right as she takes in the floor-to-ceiling marble in the grand entrance. Having memorized every square inch of this place, my footsteps are confident as we stride past the main staircase and turn left into the dining room.
I hear four different sets of knives and forks against the china. Good. They’re all here.
As we
