Epilogue

MURGHA

"You're going to kill me," Vallon growled, staring down at me as I took his cock deeper down my throat.

As much as I enjoyed the pleasure Vallon had given to me nightly since we'd returned to his villa above Gadlizel, I found a particular kind of joy in making him unravel. Like now.

Though I couldn't swallow him completely, I always tried, and he appeared both tortured and enraptured by my attempts.

Moaning, I sucked him to the tip and swirled my tongue around his engorged head. His jaw clamped as he held my nape gently.

"One more time. Suck me deep."

Smiling, I opened my mouth and relaxed my throat, allowing him to sink partially down as I breathed through my nose.

His eyes were full black as he swept his thumb over my top lip where it stretched around his cock.

"The only thing I love more than fucking this pretty mouth is fucking your sweet cunt."

In a quick move, he pulled out of my mouth, lifted me beneath my arms, and tossed me back onto our bed. I was still wearing one of the new chemises he'd bought me—a pretty, lacy thing. But I heard it tear when he jerked the hem up hastily, curling his arms beneath my knees and spreading me wide.

His heated gaze was focused down below as he lined his cock at my entrance and sank inside me on a shuddering groan. I was slick and ready, as always.

"So wet," he murmured against my mouth before kissing me.

I fisted my hand in his hair and tugged, knowing he liked it when I let myself go. "Some of that is from my mouth," I teased.

A growl rumbled in his chest. "This sweet, fucking mouth." He kissed along my jaw to my throat. "And the honey from your cunt." He nipped at my shoulder. "I could eat you alive."

I laughed, but then he angled and hit me deeper. "Gods, I'm coming already."

"Yes, my love." He hammered harder. "Let me feel you come on my cock."

As always, his dirty mouth and perfect thrusting sent me right over the edge. I screamed, arching my neck as I came. He bent his head and sucked my nipple into his mouth. My sex squeezed him as my climax seized my entire body.

He grunted, holding himself deep while grinding inside me. "Feels so fucking good."

I whimpered as he sat back on his heels, his cock still inside me then he circled his thumb around my sensitive nub.

"No," I reached down, trying to bat him away.

"Shh." He grabbed my wrist and continued to circle my clitoris, massaging slowly. "I want another one before I fill you up."

That feral, fiery red gaze stared hotly down at me, while I squirmed on his cock, completely in his thrall.

"I don't think I can," I protested, feeling completely boneless.

"Hands above your head," he commanded. "Hold onto the headboard."

There were small slats carved into the headboard that happened to be the perfect width for me to grasp.

"Hands up," he ordered again more gruffly when I didn't move. "And keep them there."

I gripped the headboard slats, jutting my breasts upward. They caught his gaze. He groaned, reaching up one hand to pinch my nipple, rolling it between thumb and middle finger, his claws lightly scraping.

"Ah," I cried out, my sex squeezing again, the warmth of arousal building instantly.

There was something about the gentle caress of those deadly claws on my skin that always stirred my arousal. While he pinched and twisted my tight nipples till they stung, he then dragged his claws lightly over my breasts, scraping the sensitive peaks.

"Vallon," I whispered, rocking my hips.

"There it is." His gaze dropped then he rolled my clitoris with the pad of his thumb, spreading the new slick over it. "More honey for me, eh, darling?"

"Stop teasing me." I bent my knees higher and planted my feet on his chest. "Fuck me, Vallon."

His eyes blazed wildly. He loved it when I told him what to do in bed.

He hissed as he stared down where our bodies were joined, his cock swelling bigger inside me. He grabbed my hips and did as I asked, thrusting with long, deep pumps.

"Like that?" He squeezed my hips tighter, his claws pricking my flesh. "You want a hard fucking, darling?"

"Harder," I panted, holding on tight to the headboard. "Faster."

" Gods , Murgha."

Then he fucked me with the animalistic fervor I relished. I loved when he was tender, but gods save me, I loved it more when he fucked me good and hard.

"Yes!" I felt my breasts bouncing with each hard pound of his hips. "Just like that."

He growled, his red eyes holding me captive as he drove inside me over and over. " Yes ," he groaned as my pussy began to pulse with my second climax. "That's what I wanted." He continued pounding me even as I came, my mouth falling open on another cry. "Your sweet cunt squeezing me hard."

Suddenly, he arched his neck, dropping his head back as he roared, pounding with one last deep thrust, holding my hips off the bed as he spilled inside me. I smiled at the glorious picture he made, releasing his seed, completely undone.

As he slowly came down from his own climax, I coasted one foot up his shoulder and flicked his pointed ear with my toe.

He finally looked down at me, grinning like the demon he was. He pressed a kiss to my ankle then took hold of both and wrapped my legs at his waist as he lowered down to me, still buried to the hilt.

While he held his weight on his forearms, I smoothed my hands over his chest, noticing the scratches I'd left last night and the—

"Oh, no." I touched the bite mark on his bicep. "I bit you last night."

He grinned, flashing his sharp, white fangs. "I know. I love it when you mark me up."

"Your mother is going to think I'm a wild barbarian."

He chuckled and swept a lock of hair away from my face, running his pad along my cheek. "My mother is overjoyed that she might live to be a grandmother. She'd all but given up."

I smiled. I loved Vallon's mother. Meera was a lovely older shadow fae with long silvery hair and the kindest eyes. I was shocked how quickly we'd bonded when I first came last month. She didn't seem to care that I was a light fae or a half-breed moon and wood fae. She only cared that I was her son's wife.

"You put a smile on his heart," she'd told me one night while we sat by the fire. "That's all a mother could ask for."

I stared up at Vallon and coasted my fingers through his silky hair falling like a black curtain around my face.

"So you didn't have lots of potential shadow fae women lining up to be the lady of House Hennawyn?"

He lowered further, his smile turning teasing. "Plenty wanted the role, but I never let them get even close."

"Why not?"

"Because none were my mate. I knew that I was destined for a true binding, for mated bliss, for deep love." His expression shifted more seriously as he swept a gentle kiss against my mouth.

"And you found it," I said with confidence.

"Indeed. I have." Another soft kiss as he ground inside me. "And how about you, Lady Murgha of House Hennawyn? Have you found that deep love and happiness?"

My pulse leaped at the tender question, for he truly needed to hear it. "I have, Vallon. With all my heart."

We kissed tenderly for quite a long time. When his cock began to harden again, he pulled from inside me.

"Oh." I squeezed my thighs shut as he hopped out of bed. "Where are you going?"

"Time to get dressed. We have company coming today."

"Who?" I sat up, holding the covers to my breasts.

"The Prince of Gadlizel. He sent a messenger yesterday, giving us warning that he'd be visiting today."

I hurried out of bed and pulled my dressing gown on. "Is it a special occasion?"

Vallon tied the lacings of his trousers then stalked toward me. "Yes." He cupped my face. "He wants to meet his best friend's new wife. And the seer."

I placed my palms over the backs of his hands. "You're sure he won't kick me out or anything? Because of the king's laws."

"No one will touch you." His voice deepened. "I promise you that."

"There's something else. Isn't there?" My magick tingled, raising gooseflesh along my skin. I'd begun to recognize the signs of my magick working to tell me things.

"Yes." He held my gaze, a crease forming between his brows. "There's more I need to tell you. About Gadlizel."

"I get the feeling this is something a lot more."

He smiled. "It is."

"Why haven't you told me before?"

"Because I wanted you all to myself for a while. I realize now that the gods put you in my life for more than my personal happiness. Your gift…could help us."

A wash of soothing awareness flushed over me, as if Elska herself was smoothing a hand down my hair and back. I'd known this for a while.

"Yes," I agreed. "I believe you're right."

Since we'd arrived here, I'd felt the stirring of something dark deep in the mountains, the same essence I'd sensed in that nightwyrm. But there was more buried in the mountain than evil. A power emanated deep below us. Whatever it was, that was what Vallon had not yet told me about.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead then wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight against his body. "No matter what happens, Murgha, know that I love you." He pressed his mouth to the crown of my head.

Another sweet wash of magick, the calming rush that confirmed the truths of others. Not only did I hear the words, but I knew they were true. It was the sweetest song to my heart.

"As I love you." I closed my eyes and breathed him in, savoring the moment before we were forced to face the world and whatever danger lay ahead.

Thank you for reading KINGS AND BONES. Turn the page to read the Northgall Short "A Beast Fae's Bargain" of Murgha's sister Tessa meeting her mate.

Stay tuned for news on Book 2, THE BEAST LORD, coming in 2025.