Everwinter (Chronicles of Naelyra Book 1)

by R. J. Lloyd

  Kane moved on ahead as we entered the establishment, holding the door open for me. I went through and followed as we were escorted to our room. The others scattered to their own, leaving us some much needed privacy after our things were deposited inside our room.

  I looked around, taking in the simplicity of the room. It was fancy, probably the best one they had. However, it wasn’t the ornate carvings of Kane’s castle room décor or the winding natural elements from Thillatheas. Yet, the straight lines and polished wood grains were elegant in their own way.

  Kane shed his weaponry, strategically placing several items throughout the suite before taking off his boots. Crossing the room back to me, he untucked his tunic before pushing my hair back.

  His fingers trailed my cheek. “How are you feeling, little one?”

  My eyes closed at his touch, its soothing element rushed through me, causing me to sigh. “I am not bad. I barely feel any discomfort actually. Indrell is an amazing healer.”

  “I’m glad to hear.” He toyed with the strap of my dress under my shrug. “Do you need more rest? I am sure what you have been through has taken a toll on you. Whatever I can do for you… sleep, food, beverage, a hot bath? It is yours.”

  My hands went to his chest. I breathed him in, loving the closeness I had been lacking for far too long. “I need to know that you are fine. You fought for me... against a small army.”

  “I have fought in wars with far greater numbers.” His words came out as if he was distracted.

  “But.” I let my hands slide down to his abdomen. “I don’t know.” As much as I wanted to rip his clothes from him, I stopped and looked up at him. My hand went to his, holding it in place so he couldn’t distract me any more with his touch. “Kane. I don’t know all of your past or how simple or complicated your life was before I came. But I do know that ever since I arrived on Naelyra, I’ve been the cause of one problem after another. And now, you’re putting your life in jeopardy because of me.”

  “Because of all of us.” His free hand went to my stomach as he corrected me.

  That same strong set of fingers moved and started plucking the strings and buttons that ran down the front of my dress free. Sliding his captured hand out from under mine, he untied the bow at the top of my neckline between my breasts, pushing both sides of the fabric aside, revealing the thin, lace edged material beneath it.

  The words I spoke next were meant to come out stronger… bolder. But they ended up carried on the edge of a raspy breath. “I don’t want to see you get hurt over me.”

  “Auri…” His lips found their way to the delicate flesh of my neck just below my hairline. “I do not exist without you anymore. I have no choice but to fight anyone that may try to take you from me, even if it means to fight for you with you.” He pulled back slightly. “Unless you do not love me as I love you.”

  “I do.” The words slipped out before I even knew that I wanted to respond, let alone how.

  Bliss smoothed any lines of concern that had just been on his face. His hands tucked under the bodice of my dress, gripping my hips firmly as he kissed along my jaw. Using the passion between our lips as they met, he tilted my head up. Kane broke from the kiss and looked into my eyes. “Marry me. Be my wife, and I will spend eternity being the kind of husband you deserve.”

  I gasped. “What?”

  Hands still on my hips he searched my eyes. “Surely you must have known I would ask.”

  “Maybe. But you actually asking is different. It’s… real.” It felt as if my heart was about to beat through my ribs. “If this is because I’m pregnant, don’t. I don’t want to marry you because of some silly notion that you have to…”

  “I loved you the moment I saw you outside of Crossed Candles in Eldercairn, looking lost yet still so strong. I felt a compelling need to pull you in my arms that was so strong that I fought myself not to act on it. That feeling has only grown as we have spent time together over these weeks. Your condition and our future family does not give me the cause. It merely adds to the already existing reasons that I want you by my side, always.” His fingers glided up and down the small of my back. “I didn’t know I was waiting for you, but I now know that I was, little one. No matter what you decide, I will give you all of me forever. Can I have all of you?”

  With my fingers to his cheeks, I leaned up and pressed my lips to him, kissing him soft, slow, deep. The passion between us grew as he slid the top fabric of my dress off my shoulders. Lifting me up, I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me to the bed and gently laid me down.

  Hovering over me, he loosened the ribbons and unfastened the buttons that held the rest of my outfit on, slipping each layer of fabric away from me as he went, letting it drop down to the floor, discarded out of his way. Once I was completely unclothed, he leaned up and, with less bravado, removed everything he wore before returning to my lips.

  Suddenly, he pulled back and looked at me with his eyebrows furrowed. “Is that a yes?”

  I choked up. I don’t know if it was fear that slammed my throat shut or the rush of how much of me wanted to shout ‘Yes!’ in that moment. But when my mouth opened, nothing came out.

  He stood, backing up a couple steps, watching me. Then, he was gone. I panicked for the moment he was gone. But as I went to stand, he returned.

  “I noticed that, on earth, you use rings as a symbol of your dedication to one another just as my people did. In Thillatheas, I had Lochlin attain this.” Kane took my hand in his, holding the ring and standing in front of me. He lowered down onto his knees and, for the first time, he stumbled in his words. “I – I – Auri…”

  Finding my voice, I flung myself forward into his arms. “Yes!”

  He caught me, moving only slightly with my sudden movement into his embrace as he chuckled. He leaned back and reached over, taking my hand and slipping the ring on my finger. It was gorgeous. A silver metal that had the most delicate filigree design on both sides and along the top ridge, adorned with a deep red ruby in an elevated setting that was flanked by two diamonds facing the sides rather than the top. The filigree winding up forming the vines connected to flowers that resembled three-petalled blooms, not unlike that of lilies or orchids. Smaller, delicate diamonds lay secured as the centers of each flower on both sides.

  “Lochlin picked it out?” I couldn’t take my eyes from it.

  “No.” He took my hands in his. “While you were sleeping, I had gone to check on the men to be sure they could mobilize to leave there. I stepped into the small shop and saw it right away. But when I was called out to handle some business, I did not have time to purchase it. Lochlin went back in before we left and retrieved it for me.”

  My fingers were splayed over the front of his shoulder. Again, I sat and just looked at it, lost in the beauty of the piece of jewelry but more so because of the meaning behind it.

  He kissed me quick as if to get my attention. “Do you like it?”

  “Very much.” I choked back tears.

  The warmest smile I’d seen from him radiated through to me as he raised up and gently moved me back onto the bed, following me up. His hands slid down my sides to my thighs, pulling my legs around him as he pushed into me slowly, gently, lovingly. All the way in, his fangs extended. His head tilted back as he moaned deeply, loudly.

  When his head tilted back down, his eyes roamed over me, and I quivered at the hunger in his face. Not for my blood but for me.

  Every muscle in his frame flexed as he leaned down over me, slowly pulling out and thrusting back in as if savoring every inch, we moved to meet each other. His hands slid around me, coming up and gripping my shoulders from behind as he nuzzled into my neck. His lips placed feather-light kisses just below my ear.

  We kept a slow, rhythmic pace with my legs and arms wrapped around him, pulling him to me with each thrust. It was not wild and unabashed. We made love slowly, calculated, lovingly with a deep seeded passion that tensed every muscle in our bodies.

  I coul
d feel him in every fiber of me, every cell. I was completely open to his energies, and, by the way he touched me, I could tell that he welcomed mine. We were one in more than just the feel of his hard, throbbing cock sliding in and out of me, filling me, bringing me closer and closer to climax.

  The sound of our moans echoes off the walls driving me on. I was completely lost in his touch. The satisfying pain of his fingertips digging in as he gripped me to pull me to him, trying harder to get deeper inside of me. I could feel his fangs raking across my flesh between the sensual kisses he would press to various parts of me.

  I slid my hands up and gripped his hair just above his hairline, yanking his head up and into a kiss. Our lips parted hungrily, and my tongue glided across the sharp tips of those fangs. The motion sent a shiver across him that vibrated into me causing me to smirk and keep going as I bit his lower lip, tugging on it.

  His hands dislodged from my shoulders and splayed across my back as he sat up on his knees, bringing me with him. My breasts pressed against his bare, muscular chest, lips still locked as he thrust his hips up, still keeping rhythm with mine. Still begging to be back inside of me as deep as possible every time he pulled out.

  My moans turned into pants… whines, as my body started to shake. I could feel him growing even more inside me, getting harder, hotter. I let go of his hair and grasped at his back, his muscles taut and flexing between my desperate fingers.

  He pushed into me, pulling me down on him and stayed there a moment, his hips not moving as mine struggled to sway back and forth on him to feel him shift inside, wanting desperately to reach the point of explosion. But his grip was relentless as he held onto me. I looked at him, by breaths ragged, heart racing, every inch of me completely alive and hungry to touch him.

  Ever so slightly, his hips moved side to side, causing his throbbing cock to pull at me in angles that sent sparks of both pain and pleasure through me, causing my body to jerk involuntarily with his movements. The corners of his lips lifted as he reacted to my body’s impulses.

  I arched back. His hands rested on my lower back, allowing me to bend, displaying my breasts for him. He arched over me, sucking in one erect nipple into his mouth, letting his tongue roll around it before pinching it between his lips and letting it fall back into place. Doing the same to the other, he brought up one hand and ran it up between my breasts and back down.

  Then, he let his fangs enter the subtle flesh of my breast, his lips wrapping around them, trapping both my nipple and my blood in his mouth, causing me to cry out, not in pain but sheer pleasure.

  He did not drink long, just enough for a generous taste. Licking where he had fed, he pricked his bottom lip and pressed it to each bite mark softly with a kiss, sealing them shut.

  With my hands on his biceps, I rose back up in his lap. Lifting up, I pulled off of him until he was almost out of me. Then, I watched the ecstasy grip him as I slid back down onto his shaft only to lift up ever so slowly again, sliding down onto him just as I did, taking in the beauty of his features that reflected the pleasure I gave him.

  Half way up again, he shook his head, his arms snaking around me. His stilled for just a moment and eyes locked on mine. Then, without warning, he laid me back down on the bed and pressed into me, his hips pushing against me so deep, spreading my legs further apart until he couldn’t go any further.

  “Kane!” I called out.

  He groaned and pressed into me again.

  His girth all the way inside again inciting the same reaction from me. “Yes!”

  He started thrusting faster, hungrier, like he needed me desperately. And the feeling was mutual. Controlling his movements, his moans turned to growls, his fingers shifted off me to the sheet beneath us, pulling it into his fists.

  I heard the fabric tear between his fingers, and I smirked. But the distraction lasted but a second before I was engulfed in a wash of immense pleasure as he thrust again. Then, I was lost in it as I couldn’t hold back any longer.

  My hair a matted mess against me, my breaths coming out in pants as my heart struggled to keep up, I knew he was there with me. While he had been watching my every move, his eyes closed, and what was once exciting moans and growls changed as he roared, causing the window to rattle as he was sent over the edge.

  I could feel him twitching inside me as his movements slowed, and he ceased to thrust. His shoulders rolled forward and back rounded, hands still gripping the torn fabric that once covered the mattress beneath it. His eyes were still closed, and he lowered his head, his chin almost touching his heaving chest.

  I laid beneath him, my hips aching pleasantly as I raised them, my thighs running along his, making him shiver. I worked to steady my breathing as I pushed my hair off of me, trying to tuck it back. I stretched out beneath him, my muscles soaking in every bit of the sensations flowing through me, causing my smile to meet my eyes.

  “That is my favorite smile.” His touched my cheek ever so slightly.

  I blushed. “You put it there.”

  “And I will do everything I can to do that as often as I can.” He shifted, rolling to his side and tucking me into him.

  If I wasn’t already laying down, I would have collapsed as I sighed and let the tension out of my muscles. I curled into his chest, letting my finger trace abstract patters over his muscles. “Somehow, I doubt that will be difficult for you.”

  “Good.” He kissed my forehead. Moving back slightly, he checked the wounds he’d inflicted only minutes before. “They’re healing quite well. I tried to be sure I didn’t drink much. I know you cannot afford to lose blood right now.”

  I could see the worry furrowing his brow. Kissing each of his eyelids, then his cheeks and finally his lips, I cupped his face in my hands. “Kane, it was perfect. I enjoyed it very much and don’t feel weak from anything other than bliss.”

  He smoothed back my hair. He was about to say something when there was a firm knock on the door. The male voice that came through sounded hesitant. “My liege. I sincerely apologize for interrupting your… interrupting the… I’m sorry. But your presence is needed downstairs in the eatery.”

  Kane groaned, this time from frustration rather than from pleasure. I giggled and pulled the sheet up over me as he climbed out of bed, my smile growing even more as I watched him stalk across the room completely naked, moving like a prowling tiger.

  “My liege, shall I tell them you are coming?” the man’s voice asked cautiously through the door.

  He tugged on his pants. “Yes. I shall be down momentarily. Now leave us.”

  My stomach growled mercilessly. “My liege, may I accompany you so I can get some food? I believe we should be meeting with Oberlea and Dohlmas as well.”

  He finished adjusting his shirt and, in a flash, was by the bedside and leaned over me. “You,” he pressed his lips to mine. “are not to call me that. It is below your station.” He lifted my hand, kissing my fingers next to the ring that rested there. “But yes. Please come so you can eat. I am sure Indrell will want to see you after.”

  I chose a less formal, looser dress, pulling my hair up. As I dressed, Kane strapped on his weapons and checked the door, making sure nobody was outside of it, waiting for us to exit.

  Seemingly satisfied that we were safe, he nodded, letting me know it was safe to go. Taking his arm when he offered it, I followed as he escorted me down to the dining area of the Paragon Inn.

  The room was filled, a stark contrast to when we arrived with how it had very few clientele. Instantly, I see familiar faces. Among them, Wulfgar was at the bar drinking a pint alone. He leaned back against the bar’s wooden frame, looking over the room, observing everyone.

  Indrell was seated at a table with Aeden. Her cheeks rosy with blush as he reached across it, fiddling with her sleeve as he spoke to her. She looked happy to be sitting there with him.

  Aeden’s men were all gathered around a cluster of tables not far from where he was seated with Indrell. They were eating and drinking merr
ily, obviously enjoying the moment of peace and calm.

  Spotting Oberlea and Dohlmas, I tugged on Kane’s arm. But his attention was focused on Dorian and his men several tables toward the back. Following his gaze, I could feel the almost aggressive energies rolling off the assembled group of soldiers.

  With two quick nods, Kane kissed my temple and motioned toward the table the two Voirechoes waited for us. “Wulfgar will join you. It seems Dorian wants to have a word.”

  “I can feel that.” I looked up at him, concerned.

  He paused only a moment before letting out a huff. “I will see what he wants and join you in a moment.”

  “Okay…” I reluctantly left his reach and went to join the raider and the siblings.

  “Auriena Raulson! Thank you for coming,” Dohlmas greeted me. There was still a slight edge to his words, but he was less abrasive than before. I don’t know if it was because he was trusting me a bit more, or if he was doing it for his sister. But either way, I was glad for it.

  I took a seat. “I am happy to see you both. Kane should be with us in a moment. The lead to his armies needed a word.”

  “Dorian needs a word spoken to him, if you ask me.” Wulfgar shot a scathing look over to where Dorian stood.

  Practically bouncing in her seat, Oberlea was unable to contain herself any longer. “Oh, Auriena. Thank you for dinning with us!”

  I chuckled, but before I could respond, Dohlmas reached over and touches his sister’s arm. “Oberlea! Contain yourself. And don’t address her so informally.”

  “It’s alright.” I assured them. “Auriena is fine. I do not technically have a title.”

  “Yet.” Wulfgar pointed to the ruby on my ring finger.

  Oberlea gasped loudly. “Oh wow! That is a gorgeous ring!” Her hands flew to her face. “Did he propose?”

  Suddenly embarrassed by how loud she’s asked, I pulled my hands under the table. “Yes.”

  “You’re going to be our queen!” Oberlea clasped her hand in front of her.