twitch into a small smile. “Fear cannot rule us, Sybilla. I see that you have let emotion fill you. You mustn’t. Fear cannot guide, only hinder a person. I have done this countless times, and I will live this night to do it again. You will stay here under guard, with your women,” he explains.
Lifting my hand, I cup his cheek, feeling his beard beneath my fingertips. I want to feel the hair over my entire body, rough and soft all at the same time. Elias smiles, as though he can read my thoughts, which if I’m honest, he probably can.
“Come back to me, My King,” I whisper.
He moves the fingers touching his lips to my palm, then to the inside of my wrist. “The gods will not take me this eve, my sweeting. I will return to you, I will see my son enter this earth and I will plant a daughter inside of you, shortly after.”
“You have a lot of plans,” I breathe.
“I have a lot of life left to live, my bride.” He grins.
“I’ll wait for you,” I whisper.
Elias closes the distance between us, touching his mouth to mine. “You will go to Arion if something happens. He will see you and your women to safety, understand me?”
“Yes,” I exhale. “I understand, Elias.”
He lifts his hand, wrapping his warm fingers around the back of my neck, his fingers twisting in my hair before he grips me. “You will be safe, Sybilla,” he grinds out.
I don’t know if he’s trying to convince me, or himself, but I think it could be a bit of both. Nodding, I lean forward and press my mouth against his, parting my lips.
I let out a moan as his tongue fills my mouth and our gentle beginnings of a kiss turn into a heated moment, only pausing when we hear a few men clearing their throats.
Elias grunts, shifting his hips so that I can feel his hard length against my belly. I press my lips together, trying to suppress my smile. His fingers flex in my hair and against my neck as I watch his glittering black eyes slowly turn into their usual steel-blue color.
Elias turns to look over his shoulder. “Are the men ready?” he grunts. Merek’s smile is wide as he dips his chin. “Good, we leave immediately.”
I’m being pulled into a hard embrace as I watch Katrina being pulled into Merek’s arms as well. His mouth shifts to her cheek, then her ear, and I watch as he whispers something to her, whatever it is causes her entire body to tremble.
I smirk at the sight, then lift my eyes to look up at Elias. He winks. “Seems my cousin has decided to take a wife after this war is won,” he whispers.
“Has he?” I ask.
He grins, leaning forward, his nose slides alongside my own. “He has. He’s claimed the girl. Seems as though Katrina has made an impression on our Merek. I’m more than happy to approve of their union.”
“How wonderful,” I breathe.
Elias brushes his mouth against mine swiftly, then takes a step back, pausing to reach forward, he places his palm against my belly. “Our babe fares well?” he asks.
Covering his palm with mine, I nod my head. “Yes, the baby is good, My King. Now, hurry so you can come back to me,” I whisper.
“You will not even know that I am gone,” he murmurs.
I watch as his hand falls and he turns around. The men are dressed in complete armor, looking just like the knights that I’ve seen in history books.
I have no idea how they wear the metal outfits from head to toe and I’ve never found them attractive before, not until I watch my husband don his own full-metal clothing.
My mouth waters at the sight of him, I wonder if I could get him to bed in just the chainmail shirt and skirt though, now that little fantasy is hot as shit.
I feel warm, my body heating with thoughts of taking Elias back to bed and keeping him there for as long as humanly possible, mainly so he’ll never fight another battle again.
“Let us go, let us succeed, let us come back to warm and willing women,” Elias growls.
The men in this tent roar before they leave us alone, well alone except for Rowan and Asher. I hear Ellyn moan and that breaks me from staring at the closed tent flaps. Turning to her, I hurry and sink down on the edge of her bed.
“Ellyn,