on my nipples as I grind down against his pelvis.
“Koma,” he rasps.
My body begins to tremble, my thighs shake and I do exactly what he demands. I come. That glowing blue light starts to swirl around me. Its beauty fills the room, and then my husband’s beauty fills me.
AARIC
King Elias stands next to me as we watch the women sit on a blanket in the grass, eating their midday meal and taking turns with the newborn babe. The heir to his throne.
“Where do you think the next sister could be?” I ask.
I look out at the skyline. Enjoying the crisp air and bountiful trees that line the village’s edge. “I have heard things about the leader of Devilrise. That he is strong, unbeatable in battle, and is very just at the same time.”
“I have heard these things as well,” Elias agrees. “What are your thoughts on Savona?”
Shrugging a shoulder, I look over to him. “I do not know much of this place. Have you had dealings with him?”
Elias nods, his gaze shifting from his wife and babe to me. “I have only heard that he is ruthless, he holds nothing back, that he is unbeatable. That he is stronger than a human should be.”
“Sounds like these are the men who will be presented with the sisters,” I point out.
He nods his head once. “Is this where we will send them?”
“I will have a man go to Savona, our languages are similar. It will be easier for them to communicate.”
Elias nods his head once. “I will send one to Devilrise. We also speak the same language. We should go and write our correspondence.”
“You know, I have a dragon who can get a man there faster than by boat,” I murmur.
Elias grins, shaking his head. “We really are of the prophecy, everything lines up, Aaric.”
“How is this?”
“I have an Arion who can get a man there faster than by horse and boat as well.”
My eyes widen, then my lips turn up into a wicked grin. “How is this possible?”
“I do not know, friend. However, it seems as though we are meant to be something special.”
“Does your wife hold magic?”
Elias nods his head once. “She does, a great deal of it.”
“Já, so does my, Liv.”
We make our way back to his office. I watch as he gathers ink and paper. It doesn’t take us long to write our notes, we’re careful not to say too much in case they are intercepted. We don’t mention the prophecy, or where the women are coming from. I read over my letter to ensure that it is sufficient, at the same time Elias does as well.
“This feels like it is about to become bigger than we could ever imagine,” I murmur.
“It does.”
Nodding my head, I lift my gaze to meet his. “Liv is with child. You have a child. Do you think that they are in danger? I already had that one issue with a völva,” I grunt as I fold the letter and seal it with a wax seal.
“I do not know what to think any longer, Aaric. I would have never imagined any of this in my wildest dreams.”
“Me either, though, isn’t it beautiful?”
“Absolutely.”
Bride of the Beast
A Prophecy Sisters Short Story
Prologue
FIVE YEARS EARLIER
HILLEVI
I turn my back to him. He growls, and it sounds just like his dragon’s growl. I roll my eyes to the ceiling, wondering why I am still here with him. “I want to leave,” I snap.
He doesn’t speak, though that is normal for him. Instead, he grunts. I hate it. He never speaks to me, not unless he is attempting to give me an order or buried deep inside of me, and only then does he whisper sweet words to me.
Where will you go, Hillevi?
I also hate that he won’t speak aloud, he just does so through my mind and it is frustrating. Crossing my arms over my chest, I continue to look down at the clouds that swirl around us.
Quest’s cave is so high in the sky that you can’t even see the ground below, there are always clouds obstructing the view. I miss the grass, being able to feel it between my toes. I miss the sand and the sea. I miss living.
“Anywhere else,” I say.
I feel his touch against my shoulder. You are mine, Hillevi. I will never release you.
“Will you continue to take others? Why do you even hide it, then? Bring them up here and do it in front of my face. At least be unapologetic about