“A kiss before I have to go,” he whispered huskily.
“You’re not going.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his mouth to mine. It was a desperate kiss, wild and hungry. The kiss deepened, and I could feel it, then. Our souls entwined.
I wasn’t sure if I’d ever before felt so alive. Every inch of my skin felt sensitive, ready for his touch.
While he held me against the wall, I reached down and began untying the straps of my armor. Then, I unwrapped my legs from him and unclasped my bra, revealing my breasts while he stared. He pulled off my trousers, then my underwear, his fingers skimming over my skin in a way that made my heart race. The cool air of the well kissed my skin, and I flashed him a seductive smile.
He stared at me for a moment, his smile sensual. “You are so beautiful.”
Then, a fierce expression overtook his features. I reached out, undoing his trousers. As I did, he kissed me desperately, hungrily, like he’d find the meaning of life through our kiss.
When he was as naked as I was, I threaded my fingers into his hair, kissing him back, ready for more.
“You’re perfect,” he whispered.
For a moment, I pulled away from the kiss, and I gazed into his golden eyes. My pulse raced even faster as I read his desire there, his need for me. And something I hadn’t yet noticed in his expression before. Normally so fierce—I saw a hint of vulnerability. He needed me, and he seemed to be searching my eyes for answers.
He slid his hands under my ass, and lifted me against the wall again. With his mouth on my throat, he left a trail of searing kisses along my skin, moving down toward my breasts. He was touching me, caressing me where I needed to feel him. As he held me up, I rocked my hips into him, against his hardness. I arched my back. A wild ache had built within me, and I found myself desperate with need. “Come on, Galin.”
He thrust into me, holding me up against the vergr crystals. Pleasure rocketed through me in waves, and I was soaring. I could feel his heart beating against mine, powerful and alive. His thrusts strengthened, fingers tightening around me.
To think I’d once wanted to stop that heart. To think I could fight what the Norns had written for me. His existence had a magnetic pull to me, and I would keep him alive at all costs.
I moved with him, crying out with the ecstasy of my release, and he moaned into my neck. I felt shockwaves shuddering through my body, and I leaned on his chest, catching my breath. I stared into his pale eyes, determined to keep him safe no matter what.
Chapter 40
Galin
Ali lay next to me, asleep. It was cold in the cave, and she’d curled up close for warmth. While she slept, I was thinking of becoming a lich again.
I couldn’t bear to part with her just yet, but I could see what the future held. We would only have a few days before we succumbed to dehydration. Did I really want our last moments together to be unquenchable thirst and delirium?
Unless there was something else I could do …
Covering Ali in my shirt, I slipped back to the mouth of the cave. Quietly, I peered into the well. It was just as it was before. Dark above and below, sheer rockface, illuminated only by the faint purplish glow from behind me.
I heard footfalls, then Ali jerked my arm back. “Don’t even think about it.” She pulled me back from the ledge. “Not yet.” She heaved a sigh as she sat down next to me.
I sighed. “I’ll give it time.”
Ali slid her arm through mine and leaned into me. “Can you explain to me why the king hates the Night Elves so much?”
“He said he blamed you all for Ragnarok, but I wasn’t sure if he believed it. Having an enemy worked well for him politically at the time. You were the perfect scapegoat to blame for the suffering of the High Elves after they left Elfheim.” A beating sound high above pulled my attention away. Fear, anticipation made my muscles tense. “Do you hear that? Is it—”
“Moths,” breathed Ali, her silver eyes gleaming with excitement. She started pulling me into the cave. “Probably High Elves here to make sure we’re dead. I’d rather they not spot us.”
I stepped back, but still peered out to watch. Slowly, the dark forms of giant moths began to glide out of the darkness above us. Four, five, six of them. They circled, and I could see the unmistakable shapes of riders clinging to their backs.
“Call your dagger,” I whispered. “There are riders. Do you think you can take one out?”
“Skalei.” Ali paused, then cursed and shook her head. “Skalei won’t come.”
Not even Ali’s shadow magic worked down here. I was going to have to do this the hard way.
“Stay here,” I whispered, then I stepped up to the mouth of the cave, calling out, “Hello!”
The riders turned, facing me, but something wasn’t right. They moved stiffly, bodies jerking awkwardly to each beat of the moths’ wings. They balanced like they’d never been on a moth before. These were not the king’s moth-riders.
One descended, crossing into the violet glow of the cave. I caught a glimpse of black hair and green eyes. These riders were Vanir. I searched around for a weapon, snatching up the crystal shard just as a moth dropped level with us.
“Prince Galin?” asked the Vanir, leveling a crossbow at my chest. At that moment, I realized I recognized him as the Regent.
“Is the Night Elf with you?” the Regent asked, then peered over my shoulder. “I see her there in the shadows.”
I heard Ali take a step closer, sidling up behind me.
“How did you know we were down here?” I asked.
“Everyone in the Citadel knows what King Gorm did to you.”
“And why are you here?” I barked.
Perched on the moth, he shrugged. “We came to collect your bodies. But since you’re alive, you will come with us.”
I took a step closer. “Why?”
He shook his head. “That is not for me to say at this moment. I can only give you my oath that Ali will be safe with us.”
I frowned. This was completely perplexing. He had given his oath that Ali would be safe, but on multiple occasions Vanir had tried to kill her. “Give us a moth, and we’ll follow you.”
The Regent shook his head again. “No. I will take Ali with me.”
“And we’re just supposed to trust you?”
The Regent nodded, the faintest hint of a smile on his face. “I don’t think you have any other option.”
My mouth went dry. He wasn’t wrong about that. I shot a nervous look at Ali. This could be a trap of some sort. But if it was, perhaps it would be easier to get out of than this pit of death.
A minute later, I was sitting astride a moth’s back, gripping its fur tight. The Vanir warrior in front of me awkwardly jerked the reins, and we nearly slammed into the wall of the well. The poor guy could probably break a stallion in his sleep, but equine skills simply didn’t translate into moth riding.
At least I’d managed to grab the crystal shard before we left. Hopefully I would survive this ride.
“You need to relax,” I said sharply. “Let the moth do the flying.”
The warrior grunted, ignoring me.