too much. I need you now.”
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of her telling me that she misses me, that she loves me. “I love you.” I run my fingers through her bright-pink hair and give it a sharp tug. “But if you want to make it up to me, I’m not going to stop you.”
“Good.” She nudges me back to the couch and topples me onto it. Then she’s between my thighs, running her hands over my hips. She hesitates. “I mean it, Malone. I did miss you. I do love you.”
“I love you, too.” I give her hair another little tug. “Now, show me, and then I’m going to spend the rest of the day returning the favor.”
Her grin is as bright as the sun. “Yes, Mistress.”
Thank you so much for reading Queen Takes Rose! I’ve been teasing Aurora and Malone’s story nearly since book one, and I hope you enjoyed finally getting to read it! If you did, please consider leaving a review.
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Curious about Sabine Valley and Malone’s family? I have a brand new series starting that follows the Paine brothers as they come back to Sabine Valley. Their story begins with Abel, but we will see Monroe and Cohen (Beast’s ex) as well!
Keep reading for a sneak peek of Abel!
We time our arrival perfectly. The feast is more than halfway over. The early fights, the ones people froth at the mouth for, have come and gone. By the sound of voices low in conversation, people have begun to eat and enjoy themselves, relishing the fact that it’s one of the few nights a year when Sabine Valley’s three factions can mingle without repercussions.
We’re about to ruin their night.
We’re about to ruin their whole fucking life.
I glance back at my brothers. They have their emotions locked down tightly. This will go our way, but it’s impossible to ignore the fact that last time we were in Sabine Valley, we were running for our lives. Eight years later and it’s time to settle the score. “You with me?”
One by one, they nod.
I turn without another word and lead them across the rooftops to the edge of the grounds. From this vantage point, I can see everything. The deep curve of the natural amphitheater that marks the center of the island in the center of the city. The three factions have mingled a little, but the lines are still remarkably clear. Each of the leaders have a dais at the edge of the amphitheater, creating three parts of a large triangle.
In the center of the amphitheater, two fighters are in the middle of combat. From the look of them, they’re an Amazon and a Mystic. The Amazon is Latina woman who’s a good six inches taller and moves with the deadly efficiency her faction is known for. The Mystic is a thin Black man with flowing robes who looks like a stiff wind will blow him over.
“Mystic will take it,” Cohen murmurs at my side.
“When they’re finished, we go in. Don’t let anyone stop you.” As long as we can get down there and issue an official challenge, there’s not a damn thing any of the factions can do except meet it. The laws of the feast days are there for a reason. To ignore them is to invite ruin. That shit should have been enough to keep peace, but the rules didn’t help my father when these fuckers slit his throat, and they didn’t help me and my brothers when we were forced to flee for our lives. Now I’m going to make them choke on their goddamned laws.
As we watch, the Mystic catches the Amazon’s punch in his robe, twisting the fabric to trap her. He delivers a brutal jab to her throat and bears her to the ground, punching her in the face once, twice, a third time. Her hand slaps the ground. Just like that, the fight is over.
The Herald steps forward. She’s an ancient Korean woman with her long white hair pulled back in a high knot at the top of her head. “Gerald wins. The Amazons will allot him the agreed upon amount.”
A cheer goes up from the wedge of the amphitheater that’s mostly Mystics. They’re easy to pick out because they dress like fucking weirdos. Robes in a variety of colors as if they live in another time and place, wild hair