MasukFINAL EPILOGUE IILORD REVANDRELMy beast purred and nuzzled inside me as hers answered, both stirring beneath our chests and reaching instinctively for each other through the bond.Gods, I could hardly keep my hands to myself when it came to this female. Every day, I thanked Ukrae for the direction my life had taken, for bringing Baevera into it and for giving us our three younglings. I would die for any one of them without hesitation, and I would kill anything that threatened them just as readily.I drew back from our kiss, brushing my thumb along her waist. "Did we wake you?""Well, I certainly heard a male shouting." She smiled sweetly.I scratched my neck, my voice turning apologetic. "It was not my intention, love.""I know. You were attempting to protect my sleep." She rose onto her toes and kissed me soundly on the lips again."Mother, Father, we are leaving!" Reinaviel appeared farther down the corridor, fully dressed for the morning with a satchel tucked beneath one arm."F
FINAL EPILOGUE 90 YEARS LATER LADY BAEVERAI stirred slowly awake to the distant chaos, my eyes opening as another burst of noise carried in from the corridor.Our fortified chamber was excellent for privacy because nothing that happened within these walls could be heard outside, but unfortunately, whatever chaos played out beyond our doors could still find its way in. And judging by the commotion this morning, there was plenty of it."If you dare wake your mother—Asterion!" My beloved shouted the last part.The answering peal of laughter told me our youngest had, predictably, paid his father no mind. A moment later came the rapid pitter-patter of little feet racing along the corridor again.I smiled against my pillow."Reina!" Revandrel called. "Catch your brother, he is closer to your room!""I cannot! Arwen and I are already late for the Academy!""You are arguing with me, so clearly you are not that late. Just open the door and grab him.""Father!"Another shriek of laughter cam
EPILOGUE 2 IIPleasure tore through me as we released together, my seed spilling deep inside her womb while Baevera shook beneath me. My knot swelled and locked our bodies together, triggering another staggering climax from us both. All made sharper still by the blood passing between bloodpartners as we gave and received our marks. It was almost unbearable.It is too much, she cried through the blood bond. Revan, it's too much.I know, honey Bae. I moved my hand along the curve of her side, slow and soothing. Hold on for me. We are almost there.I prayed to every god listening that she would remain conscious until the joining was complete.GONG!Withdrawing my fangs slowly, I drew my tongue across the mark, sealing it. And she did the same for mine.My eyes found the clock. It was time for the final stage."Are you ready, my love?"She nodded. "Ever ready."I finally loosened my hold on my beast, giving him the leverage he had been waiting for, just as Baevera began to shift beneath m
EPILOGUE 2. LADY BAEVERAHelory eventually became Reinaviel's Oathmother.No, they did not battle to the death like warriors, nor did they resolve the matter through the refined etiquette expected of two supposedly impeccable ladies. Instead, they restarted the argument within earshot of Revandrel and me, and surprisingly, it was Revandrel who put an end to it… ruling in Helory's favor.Helory could have this one, he decided, and Jesse would be Oathmother to our next youngling. His reasoning was that Helory did possess a slight advantage where Reinaviel was concerned because of everything she had done for us during my full heat, without which there might never have been a Reinaviel to argue over in the first place.Jesse eventually accepted the decision. Eventually being the important word.There was considerable grumbling beforehand, several muttered complaints about favoritism, and a truly impressive display of sore losing that Helory naturally enjoyed far too much.But it was all
EPILOGUE 1 IIIAfter the birth came the invasion all over again, except this time I did not mind it nearly as much.The entire grand family descended upon us to meet the newest addition. Some stayed only long enough to visit, while several of the mates remained for a few days to help care for Baevera while she recovered.Our villa filled with voices, footsteps, gifts, advice, laughter and more people asking to hold my daughter than I had ever imagined tolerating. Somehow, it was beautiful.Even Baevera's great-aunt came to visit.There was still some tension between Commander Kiskera and me, remnants of a history neither of us could change, but I put it aside and welcomed her into my home.She stayed with her great-niece and held our daughter in her arms, and the happiness on Baevera's face, made me put more effort into existing peacefully with her under the same roof.Kiskera was putting in the effort, too. And before she left, she found me alone and cornered me for a conversation I
EPILOGUE 1 II LORD REVANDRELWhen my grandfather and his entourage departed after that first visit, he said to me, casually. "We will visit more often." And I had nodded.That was my mistake. I should have established parameters before agreeing. Possibly in writing. Because how was I supposed to know that one innocent nod would mark the beginning of an invasion?There were simply so many of them. And they arrived without pattern, spontaneously, as though the thought had occurred to someone at breakfast and a carriage had been dispatched before noon. I would leave for work in the morning, return in the evening, and find an elaborate conveyance parked in my courtyard and one or two unfamiliar faces waiting inside.They would introduce themselves: the second ruler's offspring, or the fourth ruler's, or several of the first ruler's grandchildren, or some combination of bonded mates who had decided to come together.Occasionally it was my grandfather accompanied by one of the other rule
By the time I finished, her breathing was still uneven, but the panic was ebbing.She stilled.I straightened, brushing my hands together, and turned toward the door.“Evan…” she whispered behind me. “Evan, I am so sorry.”I stilled. My back went ramrod straight, fingers curling into fists at my si
“I am never drinking from her,” I said flatly, pulling out the red-and-black robe from the upper rack.“You know the hunger is only going to worsen, right?” he said. “The bond does not just appear, Revan. It demands to be sealed.”“I will take my chances.”Alaric sighed, the kind of sigh that usual
I waited longer than I thought possible, my blood dripping into Revandrel's slightly parted lips.Doubt began to creep in: perhaps he could not. Perhaps it was already too late. My knees burned where they pressed into the sand, back aching from the curve of my spine as I hovered over him, but I he
LADY BAEVERAI could not feel my legs.They trembled uselessly, refusing to bear any weight as the world still spun in slow, dizzy circles.So… this was what release feels like. I just had an orgasm.It had felt so good, so beautiful, so untainted. Gods, so I still have it in me. Tears welled in my







