where his pulse fluttered wildly. But she didn't bite him.
"Do it. Please."
"No. Not with you. Already this seems like a dream. I don't want to awaken."
His strokes never slowed. "Do it. Please, love. Please. I'm desperate. I want those teeth inside me, sucking deep and hard."
"Are - are you sure?"
"Beyond."
A moment passed. Her teeth scraped at his skin but didn't penetrate. He increased the fervency of his thrusts, pounding, slamming. "Do it, love! I need those teeth in me like my cock is in you. I need - "
With a growl as fierce as any warrior's, she bit him. Deep, hard. A cut that would mark him for eternity. On and on she drank, and the sensation of her hot tongue on his neck, her teeth in his vein, combined with the knowledge that they were joined in every possible way, sent him over.
He shouted with his release, spurting his seed straight to her core.
Her teeth pulled out abruptly as she, too, cried out in release. Their bodies strained together, spasming. "Never leave me," he gasped out, half-fearing she would bolt afterward. "Never."
"Never," she swore.
Shivawn collapsed on top of her, content and smiling.
VALERIAN STEPPED into the fire-lit hut and glanced around. It was bare except for a straw bed, which Shivawn lay upon. He was on his back, sleeping, naked. Chained. There were teeth marks all over his neck.
Valerian frowned. The vampire, Alyssa, was curled into Shivawn's side, her hand resting directly above his heart. She, too, was naked and asleep. And if Valerian wasn't mistaken, there was a love bite or two darkening her neck, as well. Frown deepening, Valerian strode to the bed, boots thumping against the twig-laden ground.
Shivawn's eyes fluttered open, as did Alyssa's. Shivawn growled, Alyssa screamed and scrambled backward as he raised his sword.
"Valerian, stop! This - " Shivawn threw himself on top of the woman as best he could with the chains pulling at him.
Valerian smiled but didn't stop. As if he would have hurt the woman. He hit the chains, snapping the links in half. "I see you took my advice and apologized. Good man. Now I will offer an apology of my own for not being able to give you more time with your woman. The army waits outside. We have need of you."
Once, Shivawn would have jumped up and obeyed. Now he growled, "Turn your back. Now!"
As king, Valerian wasn't used to being ordered and did not like it now, but he obeyed instantly. He understood the need to keep a mate's nudity all to oneself. If anyone were to look upon his Shaye in such a state, well, they would lose their eyes.
There was a rustling, some cooing, and Valerian rolled his own eyes. Then there was even some kissing. "Sometime today," he said.
"You may turn."
He did. Shivawn was draped by a blanket and the pretty vampire was covered with a dirty yellow robe, only her face and hands visible.
"We have news of the disappearance. Two of the warriors have been found. Rumor has it they are locked up at the Amazon camp."
"Who was found?"
"A dragon and a vampire," he said, flicking a glance to Alyssa.
She squared her shoulders, plans to retrieve the warrior already swirling in her eyes. "Is my king - "
"No. It is the other." Valerian's attention shifted back to Shivawn. "I want to talk to them and find out what happened, if they know where the others are. If the others are...I want to hear firsthand that Broderick and Jada are alive and well."
"The Amazons never allow armies near their holding," Shivawn said, but he was gathering his weapons.
Valerian smiled smugly. "As if they could turn a nymph away. As if any woman could."
"I'm going with you," Alyssa said, standing.
Shivawn pulled her to him for a deep kiss. "I wouldn't have it any other way, love. We're together, now and always."
CHAPTER 24
LAYEL FOUND a cave as far away from the unearthly growling as possible. Whatever creature was producing the eerie rumble, he wasn't ready to approach. Only when Delilah had been well cared for would he even think of battle.
Delilah.
His chest ached for her. He laid her down gently, peering at her beautiful, expressionless face. Hestia had taken her emotions from her, and he hated the goddess for that. Yesterday he would have hated himself, too, for allowing it to happen. But he wasn't that same man anymore. He refused to wallow in pain and pity.