Daughter of Retribution (Crescent Queen Book 1)

by Wren Cartwright

  "Are you ready, love?" Azael stood near the door to our cottage, as debonair as the day I'd met him.

  “As I’ll ever be,” I replied as I walked up the garden path to our home. I had chosen a gown for our dinner that night, to match my eyes; in honor of those so often chosen by Sinaia. I had normal dreams for the first time in forever, no dreamwalking, no nightmares of darkness. Sometimes I fell asleep expecting to see Sinaia sitting next to me playing a board game or strolling in the gardens, but she was never there. I learned to control my dreamwalking, to only share when and with whom I wanted to. It was getting more manageable, though Azael helped. Other times, I woke up in cold sweats, to nightmares with the feel of blades at my neck, of a searing heat on my back. But Azael was there to pick up the pieces, every time. Just as I did for him when he woke shaking and pale at the things that haunted his dreams.

  It was strange living in one place, staying stationary. I liked seeing Azael beside me each morning. I treasured waking up before him, feeling the heavy weight of his arm slung across my waist. His face was angelic in sleep, and without the manic glint or the constant retorts, he had a certain kind of innocence asleep that he could not maintain while awake. His lashes would fan out across his cheeks, and his ever-present smirk would be gone. I only preferred that man in the quiet hours of the morning, untouched by the trials of the day.

  But this Azael, the one before me, he was everything. He extended a hand, smiling when I slipped mine in his. He was very touchy; I had come to discover. He never tired of my hand carding through his hair, his hand in mine, his thumb on my cheekbone. I adored it, all of it.

  His touch, his attention, his love. I soaked it up like I would wither without his affections. We had grown together, come out the other side a little less whole but ready to take on the world, and that was okay with me.

  “Goddess above, you look stunning in that dress,” he snarled, using his hand in mine to tug me into his body. I hit his firm chest, hands sprawled, and head tipped back with a smirk.

  “What are you going to do about it?” Oh, how I loved teasing him. Getting him so worked up that he begged for it.

  Everything, he whispered in my head as his lips caressed mine. His kiss was full of heat, and passion. Full of things left unspoken as our lips met feverishly, only pausing for the occasional gasp for air against hot mouths clashing. He groaned, gripping my hips, and pulling me in tighter to his body. I could feel his need outlined against my core, and I moaned at the feel of it, writhing my body slightly to tease him, to push him further. I sucked on his tongue, licking into his mouth, and succeeded in making him moan with need.

  “You tease,” he growled, pushing off from the door and sliding the strap of my dress over my shoulder slowly. “I want to savor this.” He whispered. “A year from the day we first met, and I would burn down the world for you, Aeryn, love.”

  I whimpered, pushing the other strap down and sliding my dress off my body. I stood before him, in nothing but lacy undergarments, savoring the sound of his needy moan. “Then savor me,” I whispered against his lips. I slid his shirt over his head, running my hands along his lean muscled stomach. He was all angles and height, lithe and sculpted. His skin was warm and soft under my hands, rippling under my touch. He was raw sexuality, and I craved it. He latched his mouth onto my nipple, wetting it with his tongue and nipping it with his teeth over the fabric. I squirmed under his attentions, arching my chest into his touch.

  “We’ll never make it upstairs at this rate,” he groaned as he ran his hands along my curves, dipping his thumbs so that they caressed my breasts under the scrap of lace I was wearing.

  “Mm, catch me if you can,” I murmured as I turned on my heel and sprinted as fast as I could up the familiar wooden stairs. A force slammed into me as I entered the bedroom, and he turned so that he would fall back against the bed, taking the brunt of the impact.

  “My, my. Aren’t you eager?” I teased, like I could not feel the urgency beating at me, the heat pooling in my core.

  He snarled, his pale hair haloed on the dark bedspread, and his silver eyes heavy-lidded, staring at me in ecstasy. I rocked back and forth, stimulating us both. His hands moved up to tease my breasts as I moved at a rapid pace. I changed course, sliding his pants off slowly, taking the time to press open-mouthed kisses up his legs and thighs on the way up. “Please, love, put me out of my misery,” he moaned, throwing an arm over his eyes.

  I took his length in my hand, stroking several times before positioning him at my entrance and slowly sliding down. I felt so full, so close to him. He snapped his hips up, desperately trying to gain friction, tiny whimpers breaking his lips. And who was I to deny him? I moved faster, bouncing on top of him and moaning at the feel. The sweat dripped from my temples to his, from his body to the bedding, and I loved it, every single drop created from our lovemaking, a product of our passion.

  Before long, he was crying out in ecstasy, his brow crossed in concentration and panting with effort. I followed his release, mouth open and groaning wordlessly at the explosion in my body, the sparks that rose to consume me and the fiery heat that filled me. I collapsed onto his chest, our sweat mingling, and cooling. He shook with aftershocks, letting out tiny gasps and moans with pleasure as he jerked inside my body. I whimpered at the feeling, sore but in the sweetest way.

  “I will never tire of this,” he said suddenly.

  “Oh, is that so?” I smiled.

  “You brought light to my life, Aeryn. You gave me something to live for past revenge, to hope for. You broke the monotony and made me feel again. I am so very, very lucky to have you, love.” he kissed my temple softly.

  “And I you, Azael. And I you.” I murmured as I clung to his warmth in our cozy bedroom. I had scattered pieces of myself in my journey, knowing they would never come back, but I had gained too. Gained a family, a set of friends, a lover for life. Immortality. I would watch the years pass with the one I loved most by my side, to keep me sane, to keep me whole. I turned to look into his loving eyes and smiled.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  I'm so excited to be releasing my first novel! I hope you all love the characters as much as I do. I was initially planning to write this as two books but ended up combining and shortening them. Therefore, Nerys will be next!

  Thank you for taking the time to read my book. If you liked it, please let me know what you thought, or consider leaving a review!

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