A Fey New World (The Godhunter #32) - Amy Sumida Page 0,43

my grip, and lifted us out of the magma.

I cried out as he flipped me around, thrust into me from behind, and then lowered me back into the pool, onto my hands and knees. With a savage roar, Arach started slamming into me. Magma splashed up my shoulders and over my face. He moved so fiercely and yet barely withdrew, his body glued to mine. Those rapid, wild thrusts forced me to brace myself against the stone rim. But my dragon wouldn't merely take that pounding, she pushed back, bringing our mate even deeper.

“Arach!” I shrieked in abandon. “I love you!”

My sex clenched and rippled around his, milking him as I began to tremble into my climax. My husband bent over me and grabbed my breasts, talons scraping my golden scales. He bucked wildly, the slap of scales upon scales cracking against the stone walls.

“I love you too, A Thaisce. More than anything or anyone,” he panted.

And then we came together in rushing, wild, abandon. Our love, so freely expressed, spread out to all of the Fire-Fey in our kingdom. I felt their shivering energy through the magma and sensed when their sorrow shift to wonder. The wails of our people stopped and eased into a soft peace. Arach and I slipped into a shuddering peace as well, our sated bodies sliding beneath the molten surface together. Arach shifted me onto his lap and held me tightly as we basked in the bliss of love and fire as we shared it with the people who had given us their trust and loyalty for so many years.

“Goodbye,” I whispered to them.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Early the next day, they started to arrive. Faeries. First came our people, many having traveled through the night so they could reach us in time to say goodbye to us in person. Then the others started to show up. King Guirmean, Queen Nora, Prince Morgan, Duchess Lorna, and Darius—one of my werelions—came from the Water Kingdom. King Ruari and Queen Bronagh came from the Earth Kingdom. King Rowan, Queen Liatris, Prince Baidhen, and Princess Sinnea came with their entire court from the Kingdom of Darkness. King Fionn and Queen Breana brought their baby daughter, Princess Eveline, and—greatest of shocks—Craigor, a faerie with who I'd had a rocky past. And even the High King Cian and High Queen Meara came to wish us farewell. In honor of the occasion, Isleen organized a feast to rival all feasts that have ever been served in Castle Aithinne.

The hugs and tears seemed endless. So many faeries begged the High King to reconsider, to try another option before resorting to such an extreme measure, but he was adamant and I admired him for it. It couldn't have been easy for him to face all of us and stand strong but someone had to. Someone had to consider the problem with wisdom and cold reason or the rest would suffer. And being that person didn't win him any compassion or gratitude. Cian stood off to the side of the somber gathering, his chin lifted and shoulders straightened against the glares he was receiving.

I went over to him and hugged him. He flinched in surprise and then relaxed into my embrace.

“You're doing the right thing,” I said as I withdrew. “We all know it; we're just not strong enough to see past our emotions right now. Which is why you're the High King and I'm grateful for it.”

“Queen Vervain,” King Cian said on a sigh, “I shall miss you greatly.”

“I'll miss you too, High King.” I rubbed his arm sympathetically before I turned to hug his wife. “And I'll miss you too, Queen Meara. You've both been good friends to me—right from the start.”

“And you have been a good friend to us and our realm,” Queen Meara said. “Look around you, Queen Vervain. This is only a fraction of the people you have touched here. That they fight and weep for you is the greatest of honors.”

“I think so too,” I smiled through the sheen that suddenly covered my vision.

“Tima,” Darius said softly.

“Excuse me,” I said to the High Royals. I turned to Darius, one of the first Intare I'd ever met. He attacked me to save my life and in return, I saved the Intare and made them mine. “Dare.” I pulled him into a hug.

“I don't know what to do,” Darius whispered in my ear.

I stood back and looked at him. “Your brothers or your lover. That's a hard choice.” I sighed. “You're going