“Sadie, give me your hand.” Finn reached for her, stepping around the couch to get to her. She hesitated before lifting her fingers to join his. Finn brought them to his chest, placing them over his heart. “All that I am already belongs to you. Open yourself to me, and you will feel the truth of my words, truths that I cannot adequately explain.”
Sadie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. His skin tingled where she touched him. The growing bond was slow to start as if she dipped her toe into the lake to gauge the temperature before diving in. Finn had always been one to act first and think later. It was good that his mate would be the opposite. She would bring him clarity and balance, and he would bring her whatever she desired. Plus, it was good that she wasn’t scared to give him a swift kick in the ass when needed.
“I didn’t kick your ass,” Sadie whispered. “I merely said I wouldn’t help you plan your pity party.”
“I love you,” he said, unable to keep the words in. It was all he could do to watch her lovely face as she tested their bond. He wanted to grab her and swirl her around the room. He wanted to run with her through the halls shouting his good fortune. He wanted to take her to the bed and…
Sadie gasped and opened her eyes. Her gaze darted to the bed as if she’d seen the very carnal image that had popped into his brain. He couldn’t help it. He wanted to toss her down to make wild, frenzied, passionate love to her.
The tingling intensified, but he didn’t know if it was lust, their growing connection, or the purity of the love he felt. All he knew is that it was all consuming. He loved her. “I love you.” The words were perfect, and he needed to say them again. “I love you, Sadie.”
“I…” She licked her lips.
Pure emotion exploded between them, and in that moment, he felt everything—her fear of almost dying that she suppressed in an effort to be strong, her desire for him, the fear of not knowing her place yet, her doubts about being royalty. He felt her sorrow, sorrow he had caused when he told her he could never love her. That knowledge cut into him deeply. He had never meant to cause her a moment’s pain.
Finn tried to pull away, but she grabbed his arm to stop him. She pressed her hand harder against his chest, not that they needed that contact to be connected. “Wait.”
Finn closed his eyes and searched deeper. When Finn looked into her, he saw his future—all the possible moments they could have, the kisses, the tears, the laughter. His brother once told him that knowing one’s mate was rapturous, but Finn thought that word inadequate to explain what he felt for Sadie. There were no words for this feeling.
He opened his eyes to find her staring at his face. The perfect details of her were clear, too clear. It was then he realized he was shifted into dragon form.
When did this happen?
He honestly didn’t know.
“You’re worried,” Finn said, the dragon made his voice low and raspy, but he didn’t shift back. He explored her thoughts as she opened them fully. “You’re worried that you will die and I will be left alone.”
“Eve said that dragons mate for life and that you live longer than we do. She says that our metabolism is supposed to slow down and we’ll live longer on this planet, but there is no proof that is the case. What if I die of old age and you go on for hundreds of years?”
“Then each of those lonely years would be worth it, for I have you now,” Finn said. “Do not fear that, Sadie. I don’t. None of us knows what the future will bring. But, Eve is right. People do live longer on Quirlixen. The gods would not be so cruel as to let me find my heart, only to take you away too soon.”
“You’re worried I’ll miss Earth,” Sadie said. “I will. It’s my childhood home. But it is motivation for me to help you keep the portals open so I can visit, and I can still call my mother to say hello. Who knows, maybe one day you will be able to meet her.”
“I would like to meet your family,” he said.
“It’s just my mother. My father passed away a few years ago.” Sadie lifted her hand from his chest to lightly touch his shifted face. “You are amazing. Your eyes are so intense.”
“I’m glad you’re not frightened of me,” he said.
Sadie gave a small smile and laughed. “Not frightened. But…” She leaned in to kiss his shifted mouth, not pulling away as she thought toward him, “but I definitely feel something.”
Her desire filled him, and he let the dragon armor melt so that he may hold her in human form. “We are joined. The connection is complete. I belong to you, my love, forever.”
Her hand snaked down his hips. She pulled her lips away with a small grin. “Well, yes there’s that, but I meant another feeling.” Her eyes darted meaningfully to the bed and the back to him. “I’ve been thinking about you ever since I left your bed.”
14
Sadie couldn’t deny her feelings. The moment he said, “I love you,” she had heard her heart whispering it back. Yes, it was fast, but she didn’t have to explain herself or this moment to anyone.
She loved Finn. He was her prince. Period.
Finn gave her a small, knowing smile as if he’d heard her inner declaration. Knowing he could read her mind was disconcerting. Even though she didn’t feel like keeping secrets from him, it was odd to know she couldn’t if she wanted to.
Seeing him shifted, feeling the hardness of his dragon body pressed to hers, had been strangely intimate. His temperature had risen by several degrees, causing her body to heat as well. He looked more medieval dragon than snake-like, though he stood as a man, not an animal—a true man-dragon hybrid. His shifted eyes glowed, moving as if he saw every inch of her and savored it. None of it scared her. She wanted to see it again.
“I cannot take you in dragon form,” Finn whispered, as she considered what he looked like shifted.
“That’s probably a good thing, but it’s not going to stop me from thinking about how sexy my husband is in all forms.” Sadie winked. She took his hand and led him toward the bed.
“I like when you call me husband.” Finn grinned, clearly not caring that he looked like a besotted fool, and she knew he’d do anything she asked of him. He swooped forward and lifted her into his arms. Spanning the remaining distance, he then laid her on the bed. He tugged eagerly out of his clothing before crawling over her. “And I like calling you my wife.”
His lips met hers in an adoring caress. She ran her fingers along his arms to his chest. The strong beat of his heart filled her thoughts with its steady rhythm. The sound only grew louder until she couldn’t tell whose heart beat the fiercest.
Finn instinctively read her desires, touching her how she wished to be touched. Their bodies became a frenzy of movements. She tugged to be free of her clothes, wanting contact with his skin. He helped her from her dress before pulling her leggings and underwear off her hips. The strap of her bra dislodged from her shoulder as he kissed the top of her breasts.
Every part of her focused on him. She felt his breath as if it were her own. His mouth met hers, and his hands explored flesh until she was begging him to satisfy her.
The hard length of his arousal brushed up against her thigh and then, finally, glorious pleasure as he entered her. Mindlessly she reached for him, wanting to melt into his body and never leave. This was her forever. She understood that more than she’d understood anything else in her life. Finn was her home. This is where she belonged.
“I love you,” his words repeated in her head with each thrust.
The tension built until it became too much to contain. Their bodies exploded in unison. Her climax washed over her. Sadie cried out, only to find his voice joined hers. At first, every muscle in her body tensed before she turned into a pliable, sated mass. He rolled next to her and gathered her into his arms.
“I love you, too,” Sadie whispered, not planning on moving from his arms anytime soon.
“Thank you for making me see what I must do. You were right. I cannot let Monty’s words into my head.”
“I have to
confess, I would have loved to see you hit him in his pompous face,” Sadie admitted.
“Can I confess something?” Finn asked, kissing her temple.
“You can tell me anything you like,” Sadie answered.
“I’m not sure what pity party means, and I was too afraid to stop you from scolding me to ask,” Finn said.
“It doesn’t matter now.” Sadie rolled onto her side to face him. She stroked the hair from his face. She gave him a small smile. “But don’t worry, if I see you having one I’ll be sure to step in.”
15
Even as Sadie knew Finn would protect her, she couldn’t help the fear that crept over her as the Var king and queen looked her over. Finn stood next to her side, a small comfort as King Severin and Queen Galina flanked their sides. Severin was next to her while Galina chose a place by her son. The council hall stood empty, the ring of chairs and tables encircling the royal families standing in the center of the room. There were no pleasantries, no offers of drinks and comforts. Instead, solemn introductions were met with a telling silence.
Var royals, King Ainmire and Queen Lassairfhina, looked too young to have such serious expressions, but then no one on this planet appeared as old to her as they were. It didn’t help that King Ainmire looked just like his son, so much so that at first, Sadie had gasped in relief and whispered to Finn that Ivar must have found a way home. Though now as she tried not to stare, she realized the king’s hair was cut shorter, and he had a scar on his cheek she didn’t recall on Ivar—even though her fleeting encounter with the cat-shifting prince had been abrupt and somewhat hostile. She kept her eyes on Ainmire, waiting in anticipation for any sign that fur might sprout and she should run for safety.
Queen Lassairfhina’s expression was no less severe. She was a beautiful woman, with generous curves made even more apparent by the dark lines running down her green dress. Her blonde hair was coiled around her head to form a crown. Her eyes did not flash with the golden color of her husband, but Sadie refused to underestimate a woman’s love for her missing son. In that way, she couldn’t blame them. There had been many nights she’d watched her mother sitting up in worry over her father.
The only kind spot in the Var entourage was Prince Rafe. The cat-shifter men wore shirts with cross laces down the center of their chests with no undershirt as the opening exposed a strip of flesh from stomachs to necks. Though the prince’s smile was strained and his eyes tired, he did at least try to smile. The silence became awkward, and Rafe was the one to break it. “I don’t think anyone here believes you would intentionally harm Prince Ivar.”
“You know I wouldn’t,” Finn agreed. “I have loved you both like my own brothers since we were boys. I have no reason to want tension between our families.”
“Those are not the rumors we hear,” King Ainmire stated. His eyes again turned to Sadie. His accent was thick, and she had to concentrate to understand him. “Tell me honestly, m’lady, were you to marry my son?”
An expression that could only be described as hope filtered over Queen Lassairfhina’s face at her husband’s words. Sadie wasn’t sure what to make of it. Did the queen want her son to marry, or did she want a fight with the dragon-shifters?
“I find this line of questioning to my daughter insulting,” Galina stated. Another wave of tension rolled over the small gathering, a palpable force that left Sadie feeling a little nauseous.
Sadie tried to think of a diplomatic way of explaining the events. In truth, she had thought she’d merely stand around while everyone else talked and she could just nod or shake her head, whatever the comment called for.
“Do not be afraid,” Lassairfhina urged. “Tell us.”
“Prince Ivar,” Sadie took a deep breath. Her heart pounded. There was so much power—of noble rank and physical abilities—in the council hall, and its undivided attention was all directed at her. Her hands shook, and she could do little to stop them.
“You are safe,” Finn’s words whispered in her mind. At the intrusion, she gave a little jump of surprise, still not used to talking without talking.
“Dammit, can everyone hear my thoughts? Is that why they are all looking at me like… peanut butter, pound cake, going shopping, water bottle, water fountain, bubbler, cooler, ice, water, we didn’t hurt your son…”
“Sadie, relax, you’re not mated to them. They can’t hear you,” Finn said.
“Oh, thank goodness.” She gave an audible sigh of relief. The sound brought an instant reaction from the Var.
“We’re taking this woman under our protection,” Ainmire announced.
“Where is my son,” Lassairfhina demanded. Her shoulder trembled. “I want my son. The people want their future king.”
Sadie glanced at Rafe to see how he would take the comment. He didn’t register a reaction.
“My queen, let them speak,” Rafe tried to calm his mother. “This is not how we communicate with friends. I am positive we all wish for the same thing here—a resolution and the truth.”
“I don’t want to be with your son. He frightened me,” Sadie blurted. It wasn’t the elegant, diplomatic statement she’d hoped or, but it was what came out of her mouth. “He is on Earth.”
“You… left… my son… on Earth?” the queen gasped the words as if she couldn’t catch her breath. Her hand clutched over her heart. “Alone? On that barbaric planet?”
“Oh, sacred cats, take cover!” Rafe ordered. King Ainmire and Prince Rafe fell to the ground, shifting into cat form before they landed. They covered the backs of their heads with their hands.
Intense heat radiated from the Var Queen. Sadie watched, petrified into place. Three dragon-shifters converged on her, covering her with their limbs and blocking her with their bodies as they forced her to the floor. She caught a glimpse of Queen Lassairfhina on her way down. Red flames ignited on the woman’s flesh, shooting fire from her body in all directions. Sadie couldn’t help the small scream that leaped from her throat as Finn and his parents created a shield over her with their dragon bodies. A bright light lit up the surrounding shadows. The heat blazed, turning the room into a furnace. As quickly as the threat erupted, it subsided.
The Draig royals were slow to crawl off her. The smell of burnt fibers was prevalent on the air as she turned to look at the Var queen. Lassairfhina stood naked amidst a pile of charred clothing, smoke curling off her skin like a dying campfire. Ainmire and Rafe’s clothes had small scorch marks, as did Finn, Severin, and Galina, but their material was mostly intact. Ainmire and Rafe hurried to hide the Var queen’s nakedness from view. Rafe tugged off his shirt and handed it to his mother, leaving him only in a pair of tight pants and boots. The Var queen slipped it over her head.
When the men stepped away from Lassairfhina, she was pulling the shirt laces along the front tight to block any view they might give of her nakedness. The attire was nothing compared to the beautiful gown she’d worn moments before. Her body had shrunk as if her explosion had taken most of her bodyweight with it to leave her a tiny fragment of her former self. Luckily, no one appeared seriously injured from the ordeal.
“I apologize,” Queen Lassairfhina said. “I’m very upset about my son. I know he would never choose to stay on Earth willingly.” She gave Sadie a small glance. “That’s not to say your planet is not lovely, my dear, I’m sure it has it’s…”
“Pleasantries,” King Ainmire supplied when his wife faltered with her compliment.
Lassairfhina nodded. “Pleasantries.”
“No one hurt him,” Sadie managed, still shaken by what felt to be the second attempt on her life that day. “He stayed there, maybe by accident, maybe on purpose. I can’t say. He threw me through after Finn, but he apologized first.” She had no idea if her words made any kind of sense, but that was her attempt. “I’m sorry to ask, but what kind of cat are you that lights on fire like that?”
“Sadie,” Galina whispered as if scolding one of her children.
“I’m not Var by birth, only
marriage.” Lassairfhina gestured at her son to bring her a chair. He ran to fetch it for her. “My people are called the Feenik.”
“Phoenix?” Sadie repeated. That made sense.
“Fee-nik,” Lassairfhina sounded out. “I came to this planet with my family.” She gave her husband a soft smile. “I met this one and never left. And he gave me two very wonderful sons, and I want them both home.” Rafe arrived with the chair, and she lowered herself down with a sigh. “Forgive me. I’m tired. I burned a lot of fuel. You were saying about my Ivar?”
“He’s in a good location. The town on the other side of the portal is a respectable one, and people are friendly in the South. I’m sure someone will help him.” Sadie glanced at Finn for confirmation.
Finn nodded once. “I found the location to be pleasant.”
“And Ivar isn’t your mate, is he?” Lassairfhina glanced at Finn and appeared sad. “I can see the answer with my own eyes.”
“Even if this was an accident,” King Ainmire allowed, “it is ill-timed. The Nutef faction is gaining in numbers, and there have been rumors that Draig members are joining them, which is unheard of since they’re mostly cat-shifter purists. I don’t know what the spreading news of a missing prince will cause. They do not want humans tainting the royal bloodlines as it is and even tried to sacrifice Princess Jenna. It is why she is not allowed to travel with us.”
“I heard about your wife,” Finn told Rafe. “I am glad she was not harmed.”
“She sends her regards,” Rafe answered, before directing his attention toward Sadie. “She’s very sorry she couldn’t be here to greet you.”
“Please, pass along my regret as well. Hopefully, we can soon rectify that.” Sadie took a deep breath before turning her attention to King Ainmire. “The Nutef?”
“They believe in the purity of the shifter. They did not like my marriage to an alien woman,” King Ainmire explained, “and they think the Feenik are a noble people. Humans they hate.”
Mischievous Prince Page 12
