by Donna Grant
“Weeks?” Rhi shook her head in disbelief. “I didn’t even know.”
“They wanted to give us some time. I was going to tell them to stay, but I realized that after so many years of keeping this realm safe, everyone needed some time alone. Including us.”
She smiled up at him. “And you don’t like to leave Dreagan.”
“I’d go anywhere with you. But it did seem easier to remain. With the distillery tours closed for the winter, that part doesna need to be seen to.”
“Not to mention, those running the distillery do a great job.”
He chuckled. “Exactly.”
“I still want a big celebration.”
“You can have whatever you want, love.”
She rose on tiptoe and gave him a kiss. “Thank you for saying that. I hope everyone returns for it, but this isn’t just for them. It’s for us, as well. We vanquished foes and found each other again. After thousands of years apart, we can be together once more.”
“That is reason enough for a party.”
Rhi swallowed and his gaze. “We’ve moped around long enough. It’s time we do something about our children.”
“What do you have in mind?” he asked curiously.
She licked her lips and shrugged. “I’m not sure yet, but I know that I’m tired of waiting for them to allow us to visit the realm. Erith could bring us there, and you know it.”
“I’m no’ blaming this one on Erith. The children have barred the doorway. I wasna even aware that a Fae could do that.”
“The Fae can’t,” Rhi stated flatly. “But the kids aren’t just Fae.”
“Nay, they are no’,” Con murmured thoughtfully.
The twins weren’t just half-dragon, they were also half-Fae. The combination was one they knew very little about. Had the previous King of Kings not imprisoned Melisse all those millennia ago, they might know more since she was the first Fae/dragon hybrid.
Rhi studied him. “You’re worried about how powerful they are.”
“I am,” he said as he released her and walked to his chair behind his desk. He sank into it and sighed. “Melisse was imprisoned because the King of Kings knew she had the power to destroy the Dragon Kings. Our children are no’ any different.”
Rhi walked to the desk and sat on the corner as she folded her hands in her lap. “Our children are ruling the dragons there.”
“Dragons, love. No’ Dragon Kings.”
“You can’t think they would try to kill you or any of the other Kings,” Rhi said in shock.
Con shrugged and gathered her feet to put on the chair between his legs. “I can no’ say what they will do. The simple fact that they willna allow us to visit speaks volumes. Doona forget that Erith said they have been to this realm and have observed us. We have no idea what they think.”
“By the way you’re talking, you don’t believe they think very highly of us.” Now that she thought about it, she wasn’t so sure she disagreed. But it was easy to judge someone until you walked in their shoes.
“Our children were taken from us without our knowledge. Whether we like what Erith did or no’, or the fact she kept that secret from us all these years, we played no part in it.”
Rhi quirked a brow. “You agree with me, then? That we should get to the children and the dragons regardless of what the kids want?”
“I do. They’ve had plenty of time to digest what happened. If they want to hold me accountable, then I’ll deal with that. That can no’ happen until we speak with them.”
“Us,” she corrected. “If they hold us accountable.”
Con shook his head of surfer-boy blond hair that was so at odds with the man himself. “You didna do anything.”
“Oh, please,” Rhi said with a snort. “We both know what an outright lie that is.”
He leaned forward and took her hands in his. “What I know is that we’ve fought against evil, we’ve saved mortals, Fae, Druids, and dragons alike. We might have made some questionable choices, but in the end, we are where we belong—together.”
“I can’t argue with any of that. I’m sorry it took us so long to get here. But in a way, I think it’s for the best. I wouldn’t have experienced or done many of the things I did had we been a couple. Not that you would’ve held me back, but I know there was much I needed to do to be the person who can stand tall beside you. I wasn’t that Fae when we first met.”
“I disagree, but I also understand what you’re saying. You’ve always been a beautiful soul, my love. The light inside of you shines brighter than it does in any other Light Fae. That’s what sets you apart from others.”
She slid off the desk and straddled him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You keep talking like that, and I’ll have to kiss you.”
“We do have the entire manor to ourselves.
“Oh, I do like the way you think.” She chuckled as she leaned down to place her lips on his.
His hands splayed across her back as he held her close and moved his lips over hers. The kiss deepened, making her blood run hot. She used magic to remove their clothes. Rhi moaned at the feel of his hard body against hers. She ran her hands over his bare skin, taking in his broad shoulders and defined muscles.
Con rose to his feet, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist. Then he laid her on his desk and began kissing down her neck until his lips wrapped around a nipple. Rhi sank her nails into his back as he gently suckled, making her body yearn to feel him inside her.
She reached between them and wrapped her hand around his cock, stroking his arousal. He moaned, then pulled away to drop to his knees. She met his heated gaze. Her breath caught in her lungs when he shot her a crooked smile and put his head between her legs.
Her head dropped onto the desk, and she released a sigh of pleasure as he began to lick. With every lap and lave of his tongue, her desire intensified. Rhi threaded her fingers into his hair, her breaths ragged. Within moments, he had her on the verge of climax. Instead of giving in, Rhi sat up and shoved at his shoulders so he fell back onto the floor.
Once more, she slid off the desk. It was her turn to smile at him as she moved beside him and took his cock in hand. She flipped her hair out of the way so he could see her face, then bent and parted her lips to take him into her mouth.
“Woman,” he said through tight lips, followed by a long, low moan.
Rhi inwardly smiled. She loved being able to bring him to his knees since he did it to her so easily. His arousal was thick and impossibly hard. She moved her mouth up and down his length, wringing moan after moan from him. Knowing how much he desired her only made her hunger grow until it was all she could think about. Each time she and Con shared their bodies, the love between them grew stronger as did the ties that bound them, strengthening them both as a couple and as individuals.
She glanced at him to see Con’s face set in hard lines as he fought against the orgasm that rose within him. Knowing he teetered on the edge only made Rhi double her efforts to push him over. She had gotten close before but had never accomplished the feat. Because while Con loved her mouth on him, she knew he wanted inside her when he came.
And she had to admit, she loved it. Whether it was the way he moved or the fact that she was with the man who had held her heart for eons, no matter how many times she had orgasmed during sex, when he climaxed inside her, she always followed. Just thinking about it made her body clutch, craving him.
Con moaned once more, and that’s when Rhi knew she could wait no longer. She straightened and straddled his hips. Their gazes met as she guided his cock into her body. His hands rested on her hips while she slowly lowered herself onto his shaft. When he was inside her, she began rocking her hips back and forth, slowly at first and then gradually increasing her tempo.
His hands moved up her body to cup her breasts, and so he could tease her nipples with his fingers. Rhi’s head dropped back as her eyes closed. Pleasure swirled within her, churning faster and faster. Then Con’s finger found her
swollen clit and lightly circled it, adding pressure each time. Within seconds, she gasped as she climaxed.
Con would never tire of seeing and feeling Rhi shatter. He continued teasing her clit to prolong her orgasm. He watched her face transform with the pleasure, even as her body clenched around his arousal. When the orgasm started to fade, she slumped forward. But he was far from done with her.
He gave her a soft kiss on the lips, then used magic to shift their positions so that she leaned over his desk. The sight of her bare behind made his cock jump. She turned her head to the side so their gazes met, and that’s when he saw the slight smile on her face. Because she knew this was his favorite position.
With one thrust, he buried himself inside her. A sigh that turned into a moan escaped her lips. She put her hands flat on the desk and tried to rise to meet him. Con pushed her back down and wound her long, black strands of hair around his hand. Only then did he move.
In and out with slow, long thrusts. Con progressively increased his rhythm until he was driving into her hard and fast. He released her hair, holding onto her hips as he sank into her, deeper and deeper. Their breaths were harsh and loud in the room, mixing with the sounds of their bodies coming together.
The moment he saw her fingers curl against the papers on his desk, he knew she was close to peaking again. He wanted to wring one more from her before he gave in to his own. At least, that was his thought, but Rhi pushed her ass back against him to take him even deeper. Then she moaned. That was all it took to send him tumbling into ecstasy.
He continued pumping his hips as his seed filled her. Her back arched, and she turned her face to him as her body clamped hard around him. Con wrapped his fingers around her slim throat and leaned forward to place his lips on hers as they climaxed together.
Once they were breathing normally again, he pulled out of her and turned her to face him. Then he lifted her into his arms and dropped down to one knee before gently placing her on the floor where he joined her. Con held out his arm, and Rhi snuggled against him. He looked at the ceiling as he twirled an inky lock of hair around his finger.
“We’re going to be fine.”
Con tightened his arm around his mate and kissed the top of her head. “I know we will.”
“I’m talking about us and the twins.”
“Aye, my love. We will sort it all out. No matter how long it takes.”
She lifted her face and smiled at him. “After all the years of fighting enemy after enemy and doing my best to hate you, it feels good that all of it is in the past, and we can move forward. I had hoped we would have children. I never imagined they would already be grown.”
“It doesna say anywhere that we can no’ have more.”
Her silver eyes brightened. “That’s true.”
Chapter Three
December 8th
* * *
Rhi placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head as she looked at the tree in the entryway. It was a twelve-foot flocked tree that she had decorated with red and green ornaments of all shapes and sizes—though the plaid were her favorites.
“You went all out on this one,” Con said as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Do you like it?”
He nuzzled her neck. “I love it.”
“You aren’t even looking,” she said with a laugh as she turned to face him and looped her arms around his neck.
Con glanced at the tree. “It’s beautiful, just like all the others.”
She twisted her lips and narrowed her gaze at him. “You think I did too much?”
“Never. I especially love how you put a tree in each of the Kings’ rooms, decorated in their dragon colors.”
Rhi smiled widely. “I thought it would be a nice surprise.”
“I might have added to it.”
Her brows rose, because she knew her mate. “Is that so?”
“It isna right to have a Christmas tree and no’ have presents beneath it.”
Rhi shook her head, laughing. “If you hadn’t done it, I would have. Come. I need to show you the tree in the library.”
She pulled him after her through the manor into the library, where a twenty-foot tree dripping in gold ornaments and strings of gold jewels stood. She held her breath and turned to Con to see his reaction.
His mouth went slack-jawed as he dropped her hand and walked to the enormous evergreen. He leisurely moved around it, looking it up and down and even taking a closer look at some of the ornaments. He glanced up to speak to her, and that’s when he saw the garland across the fireplace with the same gold ornaments as the tree. Rhi then pointed above him to the second story of the library and the stairs leading up to it, all of which had more garland and ornaments.
“This is breathtaking,” he murmured.
Rhi clapped her hands and rushed to him. Con caught her and gave her a long, sensual kiss.
“I’ve got a surprise for you, as well.”
She leaned back and eyed him. “Don’t tease me. I love surprises.”
“Then I suppose I should show you.”
“Yes, please,” she said with a nod.
Con laughed as he took her hand and led her from the library to the stairway, where she had strung more garland with lights. This time, she’d opted to just showcase the striking greenery and only used simple gold and silver ribbons to secure the garland in large swoops.
Rhi couldn’t imagine where Con was taking her until he stopped before their bedroom. She anxiously waited for him to open the door. When he finally did, she took one look at the black tree that had various black and gold decorations. She glanced at him, shocked that he had done this for her.
“Your color and mine, my love,” he said with a smile.
It was Rhi’s turn to walk around the tree. She particularly loved the black and gold plaid ornaments. A laugh of surprise and delight escaped her when she found the gold dragon ornament.
“Keep looking,” Con said as he leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms, a smile on his face.
She searched through the decorations, finding glass balls, beaded ones, fabric ones. Then she saw the black Lamborghini ornament that made her chuckle. It wasn’t long after that she caught sight of the gold champagne bottle.
“There’s many more,” he told her as he walked up and wrapped an arm around her. “I wanted you to be able to stare at this and continue finding different things.”
“There’re so many,” she said in disbelief. She always put a lot of ornaments on any tree, but she had to admit that Con had gone above and beyond. “I love it so much. Thank you.”
He gazed down at her with love shining in his black eyes. “Anything for you.”
“I love you.”
“And I love you,” he murmured before yanking her against him for a kiss.
When she pulled back, she linked her hands behind his neck. “Have you started calling the Kings home?”
“I have.”
“Are they coming?”
“I didna make it an order. I told them that you and I wanted to celebrate the magical seasons currently upon us, and that we wanted them here to enjoy it with us.”
She nodded. “That’s a great idea. Did you give them a date?”
“December twenty-ninth.”
Rhi grinned. “Perfect.”
“I know.”
“Don’t get cocky,” she said and playfully punched him in the arm.
He laughed and slapped her on the butt. “I’ve got to keep you on your toes.”
“Oh, you do that often enough, thank you very much.”
They walked from their bedroom, hand-in-hand. Rhi smiled, feeling truly happy. Even though things with the twins hadn’t worked out yet, she had faith that they would, in time. No matter how long it took, she and Con would never give up on their children. They had so much time to make up for, but Rhi wouldn’t think on that. She would look ahead and stay positive.
They were halfway down the stair
s when Con said, “I can no’ get ahold of Henry.”
“Can Esther?” she asked, frowning.
“Nikolai said Esther was going to try.”
“I hope they find him. He needs to be here. He’s part of Dreagan.”
Con nodded as they reached the bottom of the stairs. “Henry knows he has a home here anytime. I’m no’ worried about that.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“Him and Melisse.”
Rhi shrugged one shoulder. “They need to figure things out for themselves. We did.”
“I doona object to that. I’m just concerned that by sending him to find her, it may have inadvertently led to him being hurt.”
Rhi blew out a breath. “There is something between them. That much was evident at our mating ceremony. Do you think they’re mates?”
“I think it’s possible.”
“What about Melisse? Will she come for our party?”
Con gave a slight tilt of his head as he shrugged. “She heard my message, but I’ve no’ gotten a reply.”
“It’s up to her, then. We’ll set a place at the table.”
“What about the Reapers? Erith?”
Rhi wanted to see Balladyn. He had been a great friend, and she was happy that he was getting a second chance as a Reaper. “I don’t know.”
“Because of Erith?”
“I know you two have a bond, and she’s responsible for me still being alive, but…”
“It’s too soon,” Con said. “I was wondering that myself.”
Rhi twisted her lips. “Then again, she and the Reapers are our allies. She’s helped both of us tremendously throughout the years. And she saved our children. No matter what, we can’t forget that.”
“I’ll let you decide.”
“No. This is something we do together. Erith was your friend when you needed one the most. I’ll love her forever for that.”
Con pulled Rhi against him. “And she saved you when Usaeil tried to kill you. For that alone, she has my gratitude. But…”
