Oath of the Alpha - Eva Dresden Page 0,96
the thick strands in her fists at the back of his head.
“Mm, a dozen. And twice a dozen more daughters. All of them just as their mother.”
Aida could only blink, her lips parting in surprise. The star-filled depths of her eyes twinkled, tears rising once more. Er’it’s gaze narrowed at her tremulous smile, and he nipped at the tender flesh before he called to her, pulling her down into the vicious thrust of his hips.
“Er’it, no. Wait,” Aida panted, tugging at his hair and turning away from his next onslaught.
“Do not deny your king, mate,” Er’it said with a snarl.
“Your men stare at me,” she hissed back.
Er’it dropped her to the humming stone beneath them and launched from the mirror-like surface. Dropping into a low crouch as he landed, he voiced his anger in a feral roar, an outflung hand sending a tide of golden magic rolling through the air. Wavering bands of heat were sent before it, knocking the soldiers to the ground.
“You dare look upon your queen,” he shouted into the still evening that sparkled with dancing points of amber lights.
“Your Majesty,” Ath’asho called in a wheeze, struggling to his knees in genuflection. “We came only to make sure you and the lady, our queen, were well.”
Good friend and general that he was, Ath’asho didn’t question Er’it’s naming of Aida. Instead, he snarled orders at the scouts still lying dazed around him, commanding them to show respect to their rulers. The smug satisfaction of the display lasted only a moment, though.
Er’it’s eyes were drawn to the land around him. His breath left him in a ragged whoosh, a gut punch of shock driving it all from his lungs as he fell back against the rough side of the dais.
Everything had changed. Not a shred of the cursed blight remained, every black shadow softened with the glow of starlight. The slime and rot were banished, replaced with vigorous life and fruitful abandon. All of it lush beyond comprehension, only the pallid bone piles could compete with the sudden confusion of flowers. Every shade of color he’d ever known, and some he had no name for, danced in a gentle breeze with their sunny faces reaching for the full moon hanging low overhead. The twisted, gnarled trees had been replaced with trunks as tall as a castle and as big around as five men. Their tangled canopy stretched wide and far overhead, dipping into a valley that showed a sea of rustling green surrounded by the white of snow.
“What have you done, Aida?”
“I made it right.”
It was a simple answer for the most complicated of questions. Er’it pushed himself up, turning to take Aida’s jaw in his hands. Squeezing her cheeks tight, he leaned close with lowered brows to glare at the wide-eyed wonder of her.
“Do not do it again.”
“I make no promises.”
She tried to be coy and fumbled it, but Er’it couldn’t contain his smile, not with hers so infectious. Yes, dozens of children just like her. He would see to putting one in her belly as soon as he got rid of his men, though it was a wonder he’d not succeeded thus far with how often they’d coupled.
They would have to practice more.
“Er’it!”
Er’it groaned as Tor’en’s voice rang through the courtyard, setting his forehead against Aida’s. There would be no sending them away now, not as the old mage and the others inspected the changed landscape and demanded answers to their questions. Oh, he could order them away still, but not without agitating them, and Aida would be saddened that her teacher was displeased.
He’d rip the heart out of anyone who dared put sadness in her eyes again.
“Come daybreak, you are mine, mate,” he said in a soft growl against Aida’s lips. A quick nip was all he gave her before turning to face the oncoming horde of robed figures as they descended upon them, already prattling their questions.
“So long?” Aida asked in a murmur, fingers toying with the cuff of his tunic. “By the time the moon wanes, we can be rid of them long enough to sneak away.”
Er’it’s laugh was long and loud.
Epilogue
All was not perfect simply because Er’it professed his love of her. While Aida basked in the myriad of emotions spilling over within her heart, she would never forget those first tumultuous months under his thumb, nor would she ever be free of the horrid memories of Otaso. Demanding he court her as would be proper for his queen, Aida tortured Er’it and