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The docks were eerilyquiet in the early morning, and the ships rocked lazily in the bay, waiting to be sailed into the deep blue waters. The five pregnant females descended the steps to the water carefully, a breeze lifting off the briny water and blowing their skirts around their legs. I watched them, wondering how the hell Kazimir had managed to sire five babes at once.
Taya led the group, her shoulders squared and golden eyes hard. “Where are we going?” she asked after rising from a polite curtsey.
“Keleti.” I paused my survey of the group of females who looked so similar to Izidora. “There is enough gold in each pouch to get you started in a new life. Please, don’t come back.”
And with that, I deposited a bag in each of their outstretched hands, then strode past, not bothering to look back until I crested the cliffs and the shouts of the sailors readying to depart drifted into my ears. Standing on the edge with the wind whipping at my hair, I waited until the sun rose higher andthe ship disappeared into the distance, carrying the heirs to the Vaszoly line with it.
When I returned to my apartments at Este Castle, Liliana propped herself up in the bed, the sheets slipping down her bare torso and revealing her full breasts.
“Come here,” she begged, crawling toward me and sitting on her knees at the edge. Drazen stirred behind her, groaning as he rolled over to face us. Our gazes met, and he must have seen the harried determination in my face, because his brows dipped together.
My cock twitched in my pants, as I returned my attention to Liliana. I wanted nothing more than to forget what I had learned and bury myself inside her, but I had something important to say.
“Marry me.” It wasn’t a question, and I gripped her long hair in my hand and tugged her head back.
Her seafoam green eyes slid to Drazen, and I released her so she could face him. But his focus was locked on me. His sharp scrutiny slid over me, and I lifted my chin, not backing down. I hoped he sensed that even if I wanted Liliana as my queen, I didn’t want him to be banished from her life.
Liliana opened her mouth to speak, but the Dragon Shifter cut her off. “Endre needs a queen, little vixen. I won’t be going anywhere.”
“Are you certain?” she breathed, glancing between the two of us.
A rumble emanated from his chest, and he propped up on an elbow, using his other arm to turn her back to me. The tension in my ribs loosened, and I offered him a grateful look before grasping Liliana’s waist and hauling her to me. Her back bowed as she stared deeply into my eyes.
“Then yes,” she whispered, and I crashed my lips against hers, inhaling her scent like it was the only thing I needed to survive.
Because, right now, my soul was shattered, as was Liliana’s, and the three of us needed each other to heal from the trauma of the past year.
Breaking our kiss, I rested my forehead against hers, staring into the depths of her seafoam green eyes. “I love you, Liliana.”
“And I love you, Endre.”
60
One month later
“Come to the water, sprite,” Ruslan called, the waves lapping around his trim hips in an incredibly enticing way.
Setting aside my book, I strode across the wet sand to the ocean’s edge. “But I’m dressed,” I pouted playfully, gesturing down to the breezy, colorful attire I wore.
My mate looked from side to side and then up and down before throwing me a salacious wink. “Even if there were people around, I wouldn’t care. My empress is the most beautiful female in all of Északi, and they should all be jealous of what I have.”
Without shame, Ruslan strode from the water, revealing his hardness already dripping for me. Falling into giggles, I stripped out of my clothes, tossing them behind me, and met him halfway.
“I love to hear you laugh, so carefree,” he purred, nuzzling into my neck.
I sighed, melting into his embrace. “This is the first time I’ve ever truly relaxed.”
“I will ensure there is plenty of time for you to relax when we return home,” he promised, pulling me deeper into the water.
It was crystal clear and bright blue, and around my feet swam schools of little silvery fish. In the Iron Realm, the first sprigs of green were peeking through the snow, but in the Day Realm, it felt like summer. Queen Viktoria had offered up the royal’s seaside residence for our use after our wedding and coronation. Once all the nobles of Északi departed the Iron Realm, we’d followed the Day Realm’s queen and king consort home, then taken a carriage to the getaway.
“I feel like I can breathe, deeply, for the first time,” I admitted, paddling beside him.
I loved being in the water, but not knowing how to swim was tricky business when the ocean liked to toss me this way and that. Ruslan held onto me the whole time, letting my muscles grow accustomed to swimming so that eventually I’d be able to venture further on my own. He had told me of other creatures that lived beneath the surface, and excitement raced through me as he explained ways to explore the water’s depths.
“It will take time for you to fully feel safe in our everyday lives. But we’ll work on it. Together,” he promised.
I flipped to my back, floating with my hair loose and flowing in every direction. “It’s a good thing we have such long lives to share all these experiences with each other.”
