29

THIRTY

Ember

I sit in the bathing pool by myself with a silencing bubble around the room. Amara already bathed and decompressed, so I tucked her in and headed to the bathroom after. I can’t handle the level of lust and wanting I feel for my prince. I crave him inside of me, around me, all over me. Everywhere all at once. I lean my head back against the stone bath while touching myself and letting out soft moans.

Come for me, princess. I hear the prince whisper through the bond and feel a warmth blooming at my center. I didn’t think he could hear me, but for some reason the bond feels extremely irresistible tonight.

Good girl.

I come completely undone with his words in my mind. It takes everything in me to not leave Amara behind and find the prince to take care of my insatiable cravings. Swiftly washing, wrapping myself in a fluffy towel, I head to my closet and find an assortment of sensual yet cozy pajamas. After I dress in a thin camisole and shorts, I crawl into bed next to her, I fall asleep almost instantly.

I dream of our future, as king and Queen of Estrallume. I dream of the peace our rule will bring and the children we will have. But my dream quickly bleeds into a nightmare full of shadow beasts, creatures similar to what Brooks appeared to be. Blood pours over our castle walls, children lay murdered in the streets, and I watch in utter horror as my mate is beheaded before me. Demons fly high in the sky above, shooting flames down into our capital city.

I’m sweating and can feel tears rolling down my face as I toss and turn. Slowly, I hear a song. A song that relaxes my muscles, calms my soul and whispers my name.

Ember Moonlace, Daughter of the moons. Come to him.

I dream of following that ethereal voice. I dream of stars and moons, light and dark, love and death.

Wake, child. It is time. The voices whisper and my eyes fling open. I’m laying on cold, hard stone ground. I push myself up to my hands and knees. I stare around at the dark cave I find myself in as my eyes slowly adjust to my surroundings.

Before me sits a pool of blue and purple swirling water. The stones are stacked along the edges, providing some privacy to whoever dares enter. The cave opens up to the edge of a cliff, overlooking what I assume to be Faerelle. The three moons sit high above the cave, centered and glowing brighter than ever before.

Daughter of The Moons, Son of Redemption. You are summoned here tonight to complete the calling of your mate bond. The ethereal voice sounds clearer now as the moons continue to glow above.

Who is the Son of Redemption?

Holy shit.

Is this our mating ceremony? What day is it?

I look around the stone cave and watch as he comes into view, standing in the center of the sparkling pool. He’s shirtless and staring at the moons high above. I finally stand and tiptoe to the entrance of the pool. He must hear me pad over because he turns to face me and his eyes darken at the sight of me.

A slow but all consuming burn starts to center itself in my abdomen as I stare at my moon bound mate. I slowly undress, letting the fabrics fall down my body and rest on the edge of the pool. Willow lets out a soft growl at the site of my naked body before him. I lower my toes into the water, stepping on the first stone and find my footing. I’m shaking with so many uncontrolled emotions; adoration, nervousness, fear, wonder, and something akin to love.

I never thought I’d be standing here, before my mate, and earnestly ready to accept him into my heart forever.

“Hello, Ember.” His deep voice rasps over my skin, causing my toes to curl and a featherlight chill to course down my back.

I let out a deep breath, stepping down onto the next stone and lowering myself into the perfectly warm water. I can feel the magic within the pool caressing mine, stroking and charging my powers in the moon blessed water. Willow’s skin glistens and shines with the oils of the water.

“Hi,” I say on a shaky breath.

I step down one last time and feel the water touch my peaked breasts. Swirling my hands through the water, I look down and watch as the blue and purple colors fall from my palms. I make eye contact with Willow again. I take in his chiseled cheeks, black and blue hair, the way his fangs peak out through his parted lips. I’m the luckiest fae in the world, I think to myself.

“You’re otherworldly, my flame. You are the goddess I choose to worship until my dying breath.”

I feel more chills surrounding my body, tears building behind my eyelashes as I let his words flow over me. I put up such a fight against this fucking bond, and now that I’m here I can’t believe I wasted to much time fighting this. His love is unlike anything I could have ever dreamed of.

The way he looks at me, the way he treats me, the way he holds me is more than enough.

I feel frozen, stuck in place and utterly entranced by him. I realize I actually cannot move from this spot. Noticing Will struggle with the same restraints, I look up at the moons.

Destined from the beginning of time, do you accept this mate?

I look back into Willow’s eyes and watch as he says without hesitation and utter confidence, “I accept this mate.”

I feel a single tear streak down my face like a shooting star as my chest tightens with appreciation. I am so grateful to be accepted by him. In both my perfections and flaws, he’s choosing to stand by me forever.

“I accept the mate.” I say back to him.

The bond snaps into place and solidifies like a wave crashing on the shoreline. I feel the glowing strings of our bond connect inside my chest, sealing the fate of our hearts forevermore. I feel warm bubbles under my skin, tingling, and joyful sensations flow through my body. The water feels thinner, lighter, and less restrictive now. I stare down at my arm as a burning sensation starts on my fourth finger and strings a line of constellations and shapes that swirl around my forearm. It’s a tattoo. A tattoo made of pink and blue ink to represent my mate and I.

This is our mate mark. It represents our bond and signifies our unique compatibility, along with our glowing mate rings that encircle our iris’.

We’re mated.

Finally.

He moves through the water at an achingly slow pace, flooding my personal space one step at a time. It’s not fast enough.

I rush forward, laughing and smiling as I jump into his arms. Water splashes against the rocks of the pool, over the edges and onto the cave floor. He lifts me into his arms as I wrap my legs around his him, feeling his hard cock against my lower stomach.

He growls and captures my mouth in a crazed mess. I welcome it, laughing and crying all at once.

He deepens our kiss and as I lick the entrance of his mouth open, invading his senses with the exploration of my tongue. I lean back and suck his lower lip into my mouth, biting it and releasing him reluctantly.

“How did we forget about the bond ceremony?” I say while panting while taking in his handsome features.

Willow is panting too, and squeezing my ass so hard. Clearly, he’s refraining his animalistic needs to take me as his mate right here, right now. “If I’m being honest, I really don’t care. I need to claim my mate, now.” His husky voice sends chills down my spine, causing my toes to curl around his back.

He captures my mouth in a deep kiss again, this time slower and more controlled. I rest my elbows on his shoulders and run my fingers through his hair, feeling his muscles tense with need. Knowing I drive him to lose control of himself, I begin rolling my sex against his throbbing dick, seeking friction and release.

I’ve never been a patient girl.

Willow growls against my skin and tries to hold me still.

“Please, my love.” I whisper against his lips.

The mention of my endearment for him causes Willow to lose full control of himself. Giving into the needs of our bond, he lets out a breath of frustration before taking his cock in a hand and stroking himself between us. We both look down as he runs his hand up and down his shaft. I let out a soft moan and throw my head back as I think about him filling me whole.

“Please,” I plead as I start to palm my breast, seeking pleasure anywhere I can get it.

My body feels a light and I need Willow to douse the flames.

“Is this what you want, mate?” Willow says while continuing to pleasure himself in between our bodies.

“Yes. Now.”

He gives me that crooked smile and lets out a small laugh. “Give me that pussy, Princess.”

I smile and lean into him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I raise my waist and allow his large size to line up perfectly with my sex. Ever so slowly, my Prince grabs my hips and pushes me down onto him. I let out a small gasp and moan as I adjust to his size. I’ve had several one night stands, but nothing has ever felt as euphoric as this.

My body tingles with arousal, and the water of the moon pool keeps me warm while half my body is exposed to the cool night air. Willow lets out a groan as he walks us to the edge where he sets my ass down against the stone. It causes my skin to form gooseflesh and the cold engulfs my body. The only warmth I feel is coming from the connection of our bodies. My nipples pebble. He pumps his dick in and out a handful of times before pulling out of me.

“Lay back.” He requests.

My pink curls roughly cascade across my shoulders and chest as I do as I’m asked and lay down against the cold black rocks. They’re surprisingly soft and smooth for having such jagged formations. I whine and squirm against the cold stone, wondering what he’s doing and why he took away my sudden pleasure.

“You can’t come back in until you come for me, little dragon.”

“What?!” I gasp. “It’s freezing Willow! Please!” I try to sit up and slide into the water but he presses a palm down against my stomach and holds me in place. He lowers himself onto his knees before me, spreading my legs and staring into my sex.

“I want to taste you come on my face, little dragon, before you come on this cock.”

Before I can object, he pushes a finger into my pussy and starts to curl his fingers. He uses his tongue to lick a line straight through  my center and I let out a loud moan.

He licks and sucks on me while adding another finger to my wet, slick sex. Within seconds I’m unraveling for him, completely lost in the ecstasy of my climax as he wraps his arms around me and places my weak legs around his waist once again. He brings us back into the water.

I’m completely undone by his mouth but the second his cock touches the folds of my pussy, I’m seeking friction all over again. Rocking my hips back and forth, he lets out another frustrated breath.

“You’re very hard to resist, you know that?” He groans into my neck.

“Then stop resisting.” I say as I expose more of my neck for him. Without hesitation, his fangs pierce my neck and he slams into me at the same time. The rush of sensations I feel from being claimed by my mate in such a way makes my insides feel aflame.

“I’m yours,” I whisper into the night and he moans against my neck. He sucks, licks, and bites at the skin.

He rolls his hips in a slow rhythm, taking my body one stroke at a time. He’s much larger than I ever expected, but it’s not uncomfortable. In truth, it feels like my body was made for him.

“And I’m yours, Ember.” He whispers into my neck as we both fall into the bliss of release together.