The lights up ahead guide us to the biggest city yet. Kirian says our bedroom accommodations should be much nicer, but I didn’t mind the taverns and inns where we’ve stayed so far.
It’s hard to be displeased with a room when I have Kirian naked in the bed.
For the past four nights, Kirian and I have learned so much about each other. Physically, that is. Not a lot of talking has been done. There’s not much to say, especially when we already know each other so well and we could be doing other activities to occupy our mouths.
I discovered Kirian has a ticklish spot behind his knees, kissing him is enough to give him an erection, and if I tug on his ball sac while I’m sucking him off, he’ll come in less than a minute. He knows I love it when he kisses my neck, my nipples are automatic turn-on buttons, and the other night we discovered my g-spot.
We’ve done everything but sex.
But tonight, that’ll change.
Tonight’s the night.
I’m ready. Like, now.
Just thinking about all the ways Kirian’s touched me makes me wet.
Squirming on my saddle, I slide a glance his way. A knowing smirk tilts up on his face.
When I remember the noises he makes, it gets worse. Kirian might be a stoic leader on the outside, but behind closed doors, he’s wild. All the grunts, groans, and growls.
“Do you hear that?” Damon asks me.
“What?” I jump like a kid who just got caught stealing from the cookie jar. “Nothing. I didn’t say anything.” Did I?
“They’re expecting us.” He nods to the looming city ahead. “Aelustria awaits.”
In the distance, a Night Realm flag waves in the breeze, flapping from the top of a tall pole. I see cottage-like houses, some taller four-story buildings, and one bell tower.
But I don’t hear anything, except for the occasional chirp of an insect and the trickling water of the creek to our right.
When we get closer to the city, I catch a faint melody, and by the time we’re riding past the welcome banner someone strung above the road, I realize there’s a full-on party in the streets. A celebration for our arrival.
Colorful tents are set up, with vendors displaying their goods like a bazaar.
Fae and gnomes alike are belting out a song I don’t know. The lyrics aren’t in any language I recognize, but the words remind me of a really thick Irish accent.
“Old Fae language,” Kirian explains. “It was the kingdom anthem before English became popular.”
As we go down the street, more people gather on the sidewalks. We enter what looks like a business district, with shops and restaurants. But the part I love the most? How bright it is.
“Aelustria is so beautiful,” I breathe out. “All the lights…”
“Tell me what you see,” Kirian requests, like he’s done so many times before.
“The road is paved with white bricks. There’re lampposts about every fifteen feet on both sides of the street, and strings of lights connect each one.” I look behind us. “It seems like they’ve got an endless supply of them.”
He nods. “They were a gift to the city during one of the annual festivals long ago. They line this entire street all the way through. What else?”
“The storefront windows are lit up, and there’s a toy store on our right and a bakery to the left.”
He hums. “I can smell the pastries and cakes.”
Now that he mentions it, so can I. The sweet smell of bread and sugar lingers in the air. “And now there’s a clothing store with three dresses on display. They’re not on mannequins, but just hung up by hangers.”
“Mannequins?”
“Yeah, you know, like fake headless bodies people use to show what it would look like on?”
“A fake headless body,” he deadpans. “Is that a human thing? It seems so morbid.”
I laugh. It’s not often a new topic of conversation gets brought up between us, but then again, we’ve never been shopping together.
“I guess it would be a little off-putting in a world where people get beheaded as punishment,” I surmise.
“We haven’t beheaded anyone on purpose in hundreds of years.” He sounds offended, and I just shake my head.
On purpose, he said. As if it’s a regular occurrence for people to get their heads chopped off on accident.
“Ooh, there’s a Maypole up ahead in the center of town,” I add, trying to look around Torius. “The road splits into a big circle, like a town square. I see a gazebo.”
“There’s a park there. For the children. That was also a gift during one of the festivals.”
In awe of the man beside me, I study his handsome profile. “I love how much you care about your people.”
“Our people,” he corrects, and it’s still hard for me to believe that I get to be a part of this world.
I look out at all the faces on either side of the street. Everyone’s packed so closely together they fight for space, nudging and pushing each other in their quest to see me. “They’re waving at me. Am I supposed to wave back?”
“Only if you feel like it.”
Being the center of attention is completely out of my comfort zone, but it’s something I’ll need to get used to. Deciding to play nice, I smile as I raise a hand in greeting. I try to make eye contact with as many people as I can, but we’re moving at a brisk pace.
“Be alert.” Kirian squares his shoulders as he addresses my entourage. “The large crowds make me nervous.”
Just as he mutters the words, I see someone toss something out of the corner of my eye. A blur of blue comes flying at my head. I don’t even have time to react.
Kirian reaches out, intercepting it mid-air, just a few inches from my face.
Yanking the reins, he pulls his ride to a halt, and all the other horses stop, too. It’s so sudden, I get a bit dizzy. Ready to take on
