A Warrior's Return (The Royal Houses of Sea and Snow, #3)

by Marquez, Jude

  Raulyn scrabbled at Eamon’s arms and his shoulders but when Eamon let him go, he fell to the stone ground beneath their feet, his eyes wide and unseeing.

  “And so ends the line of the Vresal,” Paige murmured as Raulyn’s blood reached the tips of their boots.

  Epilogue

  It took months for Stormholme to be returned to its former glory. The servants worked constantly, restoring and cleaning and burning any sign of the Vresal.

  In the meantime, all four siblings returned to Grayhaven. The soldiers that stayed on the Storm Isles reassured them that all would be right when they returned.

  Edmond hated Grayhaven.

  Grayhaven courted Edmond.

  Margrave had never been so thrilled in his life.

  Sir Clifton immediately requested to be put into Edmond’s service.

  “I suppose if not one brother, another will do,” Avelina murmured to Alik.

  He snorted.

  Bryson reluctantly agreed to accompany Lambin back to Grayhaven if only for the chance to become a knight in Eamon’s service one day.

  He hated Grayhaven as much as Edmond, but his spy techniques were on par with Margrave’s, so he quickly became valuable.

  The boy found himself nearly mothered to death by Lady Sexton and though he squawked about it, Alik could see himself enjoying the easy affection Lady Sexton showered on him.

  The day finally came when they received word that Stormholme Castle had been put to rights.

  Preparations to leave began the next day.

  When they docked on the Storm Isles, it was not unlike the first time Alik arrived on the Storm Isles. The soldiers lined the streets, the people greeted them, and the children danced ahead and behind them. They did not ride horses. Instead the royal family chose to walk home, to be able to greet old friends. It took three times as long to get to the castle, but it was worth it, for the four siblings to be able to see and feel their home returned to them.

  The welcome home feast went on for the rest of the day and Alik had never seen anyone so happy as he saw Eamon that day.

  That night they were shown to their rooms, the royal quarters where Eamon’s parents once resided.

  Eamon ran his hand over the bed, brand new and made from trees from Evander’s lands. The sheets and blankets and furs were all brand new as well.

  Alik watched him, as he took in his new surroundings and then turned to Alik and offered him his hand.

  Alik took it and Eamon pulled him into a kiss.

  Eamon stripped them both naked and with the moon as their only light guiding the way, began to make love to Alik.

  There was not a part of Alik that remained untouched or unkissed. As Eamon eased his way deep into Alik, there was something soft and sacred in his touch, in the way he moved in and out of Alik, in how he kissed Alik reverently.

  Alik pulled him close, never wanted Eamon to be separated from him, and offered himself up to Eamon in every single way he knew how.

  Eamon pulled from Alik and lay on his back. Alik straddled him and slid down his hard length until Eamon was deep inside Alik and Alik began to rock back and forth and up and down on Eamon, searching out his husband’s pleasure as though it were his own.

  Eamon wrapped a hand around Alik’s hard cock and began to stroke him in time with his own strokes.

  Before long, Eamon brought Alik to the edge and tipped him over. Alik stilled and cried out and had to take a moment before he came back to himself.

  Then he began to fuck Eamon hard and faster, needing Eamon to fill him up.

  When he did, Alik laid down on Eamon’s chest as he pulsed inside Alik.

  “Welcome home, my King,” Alik whispered.

  Also by Jude Marquez

  The Royal Houses of Sea and Snow

  A Warrior's Return