But Leo! She struggled against this concept, feeling as though she was cheating on her fiancé. When she started to shake her head, her mind was filled with images of the man himself, warm and strong and patient—everything she loved and adored about him.
Yes, war bride. This is good for both of us! He is good. Satisfaction rolled through the deep voice, along with a strengthening sense of reassurance and love. There is no conflict, beloved war bride. He is yours, you are mine. We are together. She sensed how hard he was trying to reassure and soothe her.
She had to wake up. Escape this dream and return where she was safe and things were not nearly so complicated. The warm muzzle pushed at her fingers and the soft pelt tickled her hands.
Do you not find this joyous? Have you not felt this missing piece? Velvety lips nibbled at her palm where the star arched across her skin. It sent an unexpected thrill through her. The huge animal carefully lowered onto his knees and lay his head on the ground beside her, ears pricked forward. I have not selected incorrectly. You are perfect. You are pure delight. I had thought my life over without ever finding you. Those mystical eyes fixed on her. Everything will be fine now. I have you now.
Victorious thrummed in an echo of the emotion, too. Safe. Safe. Safe.
Did she find it joyous? She was torn between tears of happiness and the queasy fear that she was in way over her head. The people around the courtyard had regained their composure and they watched her with a mixture of jealousy and awe. “I’m sorry. This is all very strange to me. I don’t really understand what has happened. What is expected of me?”
The warrior stepped forward again and knelt nearby. “Forgiveness for confusing you? His Holiness said he had made his selection.” This time he spoke very carefully, struggling with a translation between species, mortality and dreams.
“His Holiness?” Ursa asked and realized she was stroking her fingers through the blood and filth-matted fur. She longed for a bath. She was not sure if she desired it for herself or him. He began to helpfully provide additional images for the bathing. A warm spring with suds of sweet soap and his glossy red coat clean and the wounds tended. The pain was almost overwhelming him. Carefully he nudged her away from thoughts of his care. His priority was making sure her mind was safe from concepts he feared were overwhelming her.
The warrior nodded and looked back and forth between the two. “Y-yes, lady. He has long searched for you. This is—” he said the name in a beautiful warble that was completely unintelligible.
“Oh,” Ursa sighed in dismay.
The stag warbled softly to the warrior without looking away from Ursa.
For a moment the warrior looked stricken. “Your Holiness. This is obscene. It is—”
The beast snarled, and that ended the argument.
“His Holiness wishes me to put his name into your language so you may also grace it with your tongue and delight him in hearing it on your lips.”
“Um…” She chewed at the inside of her cheek. “Okay.” There was the impression that this was more than a difficulty of translation, that the man didn’t want to sully the name with mortal words. As though it might dirty His Holiness. Dear God!
“Bringer of the Reverent Dawn,” he sang more than said the name.
The beast’s red ears flicked forward and then swiveled to Ursa. A quivery eagerness ran through him as he waited to hear her.
“Bringer of the Reverent Dawn?” she asked. That did not fit the music of the original name.
The warrior looked horrified and offered a curt nod. “This is a great honor. The highest, most esteemed privilege! You must speak his name with respect! His name is not a question! His is a statement and his is the song and the—”
“Maybe you should have rescued him from that pit,” Ursa said, feeling anger rise up her throat. “Look at what they did to him!” She dug into her pocket and jerked the message tube from its safe place and thrust it out to the man. “I deliver my message.”
Bringer of the Reverent Dawn warbled softly in approval and then nuzzled at Ursa’s free hand, his dark lips nibbling her fingers. Encouragement nudged at her along with it.
It was not in their power, war bride, he said softly. This is why I feared myself forsaken.
“Bringer of the Reverent Dawn,” she said, this time with more formality, and delight washed over her. Hearing her say it overjoyed her new partner. “It’s my pleasure to meet you.”
Ur’Sah! he sang her name in his beautiful voice. It overflowed with his deep, fierce love. My treasured rider. I run only for you and I will find you beyond the threshold! He leaned in and touched the tip of his horn to the center of her forehead. The message scroll tumbled from her fingers as she gasped in surprise at the sensation.
Delight rippled out from that spot as golden light spun around her, tangling up with the green of Victorious. Before she could protest, she felt the pull of reality on her.
Chapter 8
Reality
“Ursa? Love? Ursa!” Leo’s worried voice brought her to full wakefulness. Struggling against the tangle of blankets, she sucked in a sharp breath. Her throat burned, and her chest ached. “Are you all right, love?” His strong hands felt cold against her face as he smoothed his thumbs over her wet skin.
“I…I don’t know,” she rasped, feeling disoriented. Her head swam with emotions. The volcanic heat of the fierce adoration she’d felt in the dream was gone, leaving a hollow, cold place inside her. “Leo!”
“Oh, princess! I’ve got you, love.” His arms wrapped around her, his warmth driving away the grief. The tears would not stop. A sob tore from her, and she clung tighter to his powerful shoulders, so thankful for his unshakable strength.
“Just a dream, love. I’m here. You’re safe,” he whispered and kissed her forehead, her cheeks and then her lips. Careful and loving. The warmth from the kisses spread through her and into the aching spot between her ribs.
“I feel like I left a part of myself in the dream,” she whispered against his mouth.
“You just need to wake up.” His wings swept around her, and he pulled her fully into his arms and against his broad chest, cuddling her protectively. “You were singing in your sleep. It was so beautiful.” His hands smoothed through her hair and his wings caressed her back from shoulders to her hips gently.
“I was talking to Bringer of the Reverent Dawn. My God. Leo…” She choked on more tears as she told him all about the dream.
He held her and listened without interrupting. His big hands smoothed over her hair as he rocked her against him. When she was finished, he purred against the shell of her ear, “Oh, princess, you have smitten a god!” She felt his lips curl into a smile. “You are not only sexy, beloved, you are brave and strong and loving.” He squeezed her, nuzzling her to accent each word.
“You don’t feel strange that I—”
“No, princess. It sounds amazing!”
She sniffled, telling him the dream had dulled the sharpness of the loss. “Not jealous?”
“No. You deserve to be loved fiercely. Who am I to question the will of some powerful forest deity? He has very good taste.”
“I am no Valkyrie. I am just a girl,” she whispered. Wondering if the dream forced her to admit that fear to her lover again.
A brilliant flash of green spun through her mind. Champion, Victorious’s voice was as sharp as the colors sweeping through her head were vivid. You are much more than Valkyrie. You are no mere escort of the worthy dead, you are She-who-sees, messenger. You freed me from the Adler whore. That alone is more than enough proof of your worth. We will have no more of this doubt. The sweetest affection swelled inside her, soothing over the heat of her reprimand. There was a comfort there, too, a warmth that slowly ebbed into the disquiet in her heart.
“You are clearly not just a girl, Ursa Myller. You are a goddess,” Leo said. “I would never blaspheme you by accepting a lowly Valkyrie. Wings do nothing to impress me.” His own wings fanned around her like a seco
nd set of arms, shielding her. “I love and worship you. I am your humble devotee.” His lips brushed over her eyelids, kissing away her tears.
Their words rang true and pieces settled into place, a picture coming into focus. It didn’t matter that she felt that unexpected depth of emotion for something in a dream. She thought it might diminish her feelings for Leo, but instead it made her love for him blaze hotter. Lingering doubts about her worth melted.
Silly war bride. She heard the memory of the dream, a swirl of love so intense it made her ache. Her stomach tightened in the most delicious torment. He is yours, you are mine. We are together.
Reaching up, she cupped his face in both hands. “I love you.”
He turned his head and nuzzled into her fingers and asked, “How can I make you happy love? I would do anything.”
She whimpered at touch of his lips against her palm. Pleasure flickered to life, driving away the loss from the dream. “Show me,” she said into the warmth of his neck, smiling at the low growl of hunger that vibrated up through his chest. “I want to feel how desperately you want to make me happy.”
With the first light of morning shining through the windows, they made love on their new bed, in their first home. Together they made it theirs completely, as though they had not shared their passion desperately on the lake shore the afternoon before.
He gave her exactly what she needed, teased her until she cried out his name and begged him to end her torment. She came wet and hot around his hard cock as he held her ankles to his shoulders and thrust roughly and deeply into her. Drawing out of her quivering pussy, he painted his cock up along her stomach and slowly turned her over. His big hands squeezed her hips and ass as she stretched out on her belly.
“So beautiful, my goddess,” he purred at her and followed the squeezes with bites and growls, pushing her thighs open wide so he could slide between her legs. Stroking his cock through the soaked folds of her pussy, his voice continued to croon his worship of her. “You are the loveliest creature. How did I get so lucky that you favor me? Mmmm…Ursa. My Ursa,” he growled, licking around her asshole and then following by sinking back into her slick pussy. With her full of his cock, he pushed his fingers into her ass.
Stuffed so full of him, she sobbed out for more. “Oh, God!” She loved the stretched, almost painful feeling of his taking both of her holes at once. Her heart pounded, wild and lost in the sensation of being filled.
His voice whispered against her ear, dark, teasing, “You are so hot love. Oh, fuck! Look how you writhe, being filled, but I think you can take more. Aahh, another finger? Really? Oh, you sweet, deviant, goddess. I’d give you anything you crave.”
And he did! As she cried for more, a second finger slipped into her, stretching her ass while his cock worked into her pussy. She came with a sob, bucking and shuddering around him as she climaxed. And it only drove him to stroke harder into her with fingers and cock.
Together they rocked, slipped apart then crashed together. She arched back against him, grinding hard as he plunged deeper into her. “Give me! Give me! I need… Oh, fuck!” She rose onto her knees, leaning back into his powerful chest. She needed to feel him deeper. Harder!
“Greedy goddess. Oh, I am not done with you yet, beautiful,” he growled, licking along her skin, purring dark fantasies into her ear. Coaxing her up again, bracing her against him. He roared in pleasure at the feel of her squeezing and pulsing around his powerful cock and long, skillful fingers.
“I need to feel it!” she cried.
He held her tighter and his thick cock plunged deeper. Kissing her jaw, biting softly, he growled, “Need what love?” His voice was a vibration of hunger though her spine.
“You! Your cum! Oh, fuck, Leo! Please! Come with me!”
He groaned, body shuddering at her command, as though he were only waiting for her permission to join her. His wings furled open and then curved around her, brushing along her breasts and nipples as his hips jerked harder and deeper, his cock plunging into her faster.
His climax was a fountain of pulsing heat deep inside her. Bowing, his chest pressing to her back, the roar of his orgasm rumbled through her, shaking her as she joined him. Flying! Falling! But he would never let her reach the ground. He would always catch her and spiral together with her.
Sweaty and spent, they cuddled in the morning light, enjoying the view of the lake from the huge bed. More importantly, she enjoyed that he stayed inside her and against her. He didn’t have to rush to remove the condom. She thought she could never be happier when she had shared his home in Oakland. It was only a shadow of this life she’d stepped into. In this perfect house with her Leo.
She felt him smiling against her shoulder, the curve of his cheek nuzzling into her skin. Perfect dark shadows against her creamy, pink skin.
“You got sunburned,” he murmured. “Does it hurt?”
“Someone had me out in the sun too long screwing in a lovely lake,” she teased and twisted around so she could wrap her arms around him and kiss him lovingly. He tasted of her, and the sunshine-chocolate flavor that tickled the back of her throat. His purr answered her, and he rolled to pillow her on his chest. “It doesn’t hurt.”
He smiled and brushed her hair from her eyes and kissed between them. Off somewhere in the house, she heard harp music that indicated at least some of their houseguests were waking.
“We should probably shower and join the others. I imagine Travis is struggling with his surprise for Vans even more than I was with mine yesterday,” Leo said.
“The wait will be worth it. She will enjoy riding the horses now that she’s healed.” She smiled and pulled him out of bed, stealing another kiss as he swept her into his arms. He carried her into the luxurious bathroom.
They even finished with the shower without using all the hot water and made it downstairs dressed and mostly presentable just as breakfast was served.
Sean flashed an impish smile, including all of them, and Ursa bit back a little whine. The traditional Wallace breakfast was never going to be at the top of her meals of choice. Despite her protests, she finished the whole delicious thing.
Chapter 9
Vans’s Surprise
“Oh, my fucking God!” Vans cried from behind her blindfold after she’d drawn in a single breath of air. “I smell horses! Where are we?” She fanned her hands out blindly, seeking out her fiancé. Travis slipped both his arms around her.
“Dirty cheater,” he grumbled into her hair, his smile spreading from ear to ear.
“I hear them,” Vans said excitedly and tipped her face up to his, not removing the blindfold from her eyes. Her expression glowed with radiant bliss. “What are we doing here?”
“Well, we were supposed to do this at Christmas, but someone got hit by a car,” Travis answered, pulling the cloth from her eyes so she could see.
Ursa watched from under Leo’s arm and felt her eyes stinging with happiness at the expression on her friend’s face. She’d never seen that level of raw delight in anyone before.
“What?” Vans squinted, color high on her cheeks as she blinked at Travis. At his gesture, her gaze followed his motion toward the stables. Noticing Ursa and Leo, she paused and cleared her throat. Her attention fixed back on Travis, brows drawn together in question.
“Just come with me, brat.” Travis helped her from the car.
Ursa grinned up at Leo, who tipped his head slightly and winked at her. Together they followed the pair, alongside Marcie and Mano, moving toward the stables. They were greeted by Marion Torrez, the owner of All the King’s Horses and the horses Vans would be looking at.
Marion was a tall, athletic woman with long black hair and warm brown eyes. She greeted Marcie with a tight hug and sent a guarded nod to Mano before exchanging introductions with everyone else. With a smile, she led them through a breezeway and into the open space between fields where there was both a covered arena and several larger stalls.
Vans clung to Travis’s arm, looking
as if she were in heaven. Her eager eyes scanned the horses. “What in the world?” she whispered and tore her gaze away from the animals to stare at Travis.
Marion laughed and explained, “Your fiancé said you wanted a horse. We do three-day eventing, so a little dressage, a lot of jumping.” She smiled kindly at Vans. “He said you might want to show but didn’t know if you ride English or western. We have some questions before we get started.”
“I ride English. Some jumping but it has been awhile. I don’t know about showing,” Vans answered, her voice trailing off as she gawked at the horses. “I mean…I’d love to but—”
Travis chuckled, cutting her off. “There’s no reason to but here, love. If you want to, we can make that happen.”
As Vans answered questions and talked with Marion, Ursa admired at the surrounding pastures where a small group of horses stood, eyes and ears fixed on their group. They were beautiful, coats gleaming in various shades of chestnut, bay and grey, all placid and calm. Not what she expected at all.
What did she expect?
An image of the scarlet stag with the single horn flashed through her mind and she found herself smiling, biting back a giggle. Dreams, Ursa. Dreams. Leo grinned down at her, as though he knew what she was thinking.
Off in the distance of the field, one lone horse was hauling ass across the pasture, kicking up chunks of dirt as it galloped down the hillside. Ursa winced, afraid the beast would stumble and fall, but sure of foot, the animal charged along.
Marion broke off in her conversation with Vans and turned to look in that direction. Shock flashed across her face. “I haven’t seen Bora move that way since—”
The horse, Bora, came in swift and graceful. The black coat was shiny with sweat from the run across the field. Not stopping, the equine deftly cleared the fence like a seasoned pro. Obviously the fence was only for show by the sheer ease with which the horse jumped. On it came, thundering toward them, nostrils flaring.
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