I step into the abandoned farmhouse we chose as our shelter for the night. Greer, Terro, and I walked the perimeter of the property three times while Raelle, Ulric, and Ashavee checked the inside. In any other circumstance, the extra precautions would have been overkill, but we are just outside Pliris' border. The Allaji had no qualms about sending small groups to find us in another kingdom. I don't doubt that they would attack with the full force of a brigade with us this close to home.

The house hasn't been lived in for ages. Thick layers of dust cover the couch and rustic dining table. Terro started a fire in the hearth with a large pot of water boiling. I climb the stairs to the second floor, each step groaning under my weight. The first room contains two single beds with Terro and Greer's satchels on top of each. I look into the room across the hall and find Ashavee sitting on the edge of the matress, and Ulric applying the healing salve the Sara queen gave us to her wound.

I'm not surprised that he is so attentive to Ashavee. Ulric was always the one in our group of friends that I pictured falling in love first. Yes, he goes out of his way to receive attention, but he is also the one who will bend over backward for someone else. Caring for people is what he does best.

"How are you holding up?" I ask, stopping in the doorframe and sliding my hands in my pockets.

Ashavee glances at me and gives a half-hearted smile. "The pain is manageable. I'll be ready to take on whatever we face tomorrow."

Ulric nods for Ashavee to fix her tunic. Tossing the salve container in the air, he catches it and holds it out to me. "This stuff is a miracle. She's almost good as new."

"Yeah, I'm feeling better because of it too. There are just some new terrifying scars to add to my collection," I say, sliding it into my jacket pocket.

Ashavee fidgets with a loose thread on her sleeve, and so quietly I almost miss it, says, "I'm sorry about that." It's a little unsettling to see her this way. She always comes off as confident. Granted, the majority of the time I've spent with her she has been in her jaguar form, and felines have a natural arrogant quality about them.

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

She lifts her chin and says, "I do. My people are better than this. All of it, capturing Elle, invading your land, and especially enslaving the Cyffred. Not every Allaji believes what is happening is right."

"I know that. All it takes is one brave person to go against the grain and others will follow. You are that person, Ashavee."

I've seen it happen firsthand. Micah tore our kingdom in half to build a new one where every person was treated equally. Raelle broke free of the duty that bound her to walk into an army camp and gather soldiers to save her father. They're the rebels who were never satisfied with the way things were.

I turn to leave, but before I do, I pat the door frame twice and look back. "Just promise me that when the day comes, you will visit me with your new ruler. It would be nice to form an alliance with the Allaji."

A genuine smile takes over her pretty face. "I can do that."

"Behave yourself, Ulric," I say, walking down the hall toward the last room.

"Worry about yourself, asshole."

I chuckle and step into the room I guess is mine and Raelle's. Our bags are inside, and our blankets are laid out on the mattress. The lace curtains are pulled back, and the window is open, letting the stale air out. Raelle is nowhere to be found.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I return to the ground floor. Terro stands at the kitchen counter, wiping it clean.

"Have you seen Raelle?" I ask.

"She took off before we were done scouting the perimeter. Greer told her about the creek on the west side. Elle said something about not wanting to wait for hot water to clean up and headed out that way."

I grumble my disapproval. With the checking and rechecking, I feel like the property is safe, but we've encountered too many problems on this trip. The risk is too high to pretend like nothing can go wrong. I run back upstairs, grab our satchels and a blanket from the bed, and head out of the house.

The mild, fresh air greets me as I hurry down the porch. It's warmer here than it was in the mountains. Not a flurry of snow in sight. Tall grass surrounds the property, with pine trees scattered along the outer edge. Butterflies with butter-colored wings flutter from one wildflower to the next, and birds sing in the trees. I can understand why Raelle wants to be out here after the time we've spent in freezing terrain.

I jog around the corner of the house, and all worry drains from me. Greer is perched on a stump, flipping a dagger between her fingers. She looks bored, but I know she's keeping open eyes and ears for anything suspicious. Her head turns in my direction as I approach, and I can't fight the grin that spreads across my face. I should have known she would look out for Raelle.

"Your parah is out of her mind. That water has to be freezing," she says.

She isn't wrong. The sun isn't hot enough to warm up the water this time of the year. Still, Raelle's clothes hang from a branch, and I can make out slight movement just beyond one of the thick tree trunks.

"I've come prepared," I say, gesturing to the blanket draped over my arm.

Greer stands and brushes off the back of her breeches. "At least one of you has some sense. She's been diving into iced lakes, climbing rocks that practically touch the sky, and fighting bears. I think she's lost all self-preservation."

During our journey today, Raelle told me about everything that happened. I wasn't pleased about the danger she'd put herself into. She's been known to abandon all rationale for the sake of the greater good. I'm just happy that she didn't do it alone.

Greer walks past me, and I stop her with a hand on her arm. "Thank you for watching out for her."

"She's my queen. It's my job." She downplays the reason for her vigilance where others are concerned, but I know my best friend's heart. Raelle is just as much a part of this ragtag family we've created as the rest of us. Greer loves her, which confirms my impeccable taste when it comes to best friends.

"All the same, thank you," I say, and she nods before walking away.

I follow the winding path to the creek and find Raelle waist deep in water with her back to me. Her skin glows in the rays of the setting sun, like soft liquid gold. I'm captivated when she shakes out her brown hair, the waves sparkling with specks of red and the ends dipping into the clear water. The flex of muscles along her slender back, the dimples at the base of her spine, and the smattering of freckles across her shoulders, all of her is beautiful.

Placing our bags and the blanket on the ground, I lean against the nearest tree. I cross my arms over my chest and watch as she disappears below the surface. Her body is a blur, stroking and kicking with the current until she can no longer hold her breath. She stands, the water deeper, reaching her just below her breasts. With eyes closed, her hands slicking her hair back from her face. I'm jealous of every bead of water gliding over her curves. They travel the lines I want to drag my tongue over and trace with my fingers. They touch the places I've claimed as mine. Mine to please. Mine to worship. I'll never understand why the Statera found me worthy of her.

Raelle opens her eyes; they skim the shoreline until falling upon me. With a yelp, she dips into the water until it reaches her shoulders. She presses her hand to her chest, catching her breath. When she realizes it me, the corners of her mouth bow into a smile. "I never took you as the voyeuristic type, my king."

She keeps her body hidden, and I find the display of modesty extremely charming. There isn't an inch of this woman that I haven't seared into my memory. I know every beauty mark, every dimple, every scar even the new, angry pink one that runs her cheekbone to just beyond her ear.

"Depends on what has caught my attention," I say.

"And did you like what you saw?"

"You know I did, princess."

I push away from the tree and stand at the edge of the creek. The playful glint in her eyes does things to me. It lures me in, entangles me in her silken web. I'm her willing victim.

Looking down at her form, she raises until the water laps at the pink tips of her breasts. Her gaze travels up to mine, studying me through long wet lashes. "It's a shame your kink only requires you to look."

Fuck, the seductive tone of her voice and the wicked smirk pulling at her lips. I have waged wars and fallen to my knees for this woman. And I'd do it all again just to see that smile every day.

I remove my jacket and pull my tunic over my head. She watches with amusement as I struggle with my boots and discard my breeches. Like a starving man, I wade through the cold water, determined to reach the thing I crave most. I pull her into my arms, and she wraps her body around mine. So soft, every curve molds to me like she was made to fit me. My palm slides up her back, over the raised scars and bumps of her spine.

Her fingers tangle in the hair at the back of my neck as she stares down at me. Those warm brown eyes bore into my soul, seeing the dark places that are just as much hers as they are mine. She owns me, rules me, can ruin me with just one look.

I cradle the side of her face and glide my thumb over the scar on her cheek. It is quickly healing thanks to the Sara's balm, but I wish she never had to endure the pain. I felt so helpless watching her fight for her life. But she was stunning while in battle—strong, unrelenting, clever. She was the most beautiful bearer of death.

"If I die tomorrow—"

I rip my attention from her scar to her eyes. "Raelle," I say in warning. I don't like where she is taking this. "If you die tomorrow, I fall with you. There is no you and me on the battlefield. It's us conquering this together. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, my king."

"Fuck," I groan, sliding the Imperium hanging from her neck to the side and burying my face between her breasts.

My mouth opens to taste her skin, but she pulls my hair, tilting me away from her. She skims her lips over mine and says, "If we die tomorrow, I don't want any regrets between you and me. Don't just give me your sweet and gentle tonight. Give me the dark, the bruises, the pain." She yanks my hair again, aligning my gaze with hers. "I want all of you. Do you understand me?"

One side of my mouth tips up, and I nip at her bottom lip. "Yes, my queen."

Her mouth comes down on mine, hard and needy. She opens to me, seeking my tongue with hers. The sweet, wet glide sends shock waves down my body. Her hips roll over my abdomen, leaving her mark on my skin. I want it everywhere—my fingers, my mouth, my cock. My hand moves from her waist, sliding down until my fingertips dig into her round ass. Her movements quicken, grinding against me. She is chasing that mind-blowing high only I can give her, but I'll be damned if she finds it like this. I want to bury myself deep inside her, to pound into her until we are one flesh, and she screams my name.

But first my sweet parah needs a taste of her own medicine.

My finger follows the crevice of her ass, sinking lower until I find her warm center. She whimpers in my mouth as I dance my fingertip over her opening. Statera, she is so slick. I need it on my finger. I dip inside, pressing deep. She rocks harder, but I grab her hip with my other hand, stopping her.

"Kyron," she says, her pleas so sweet.

I brush my lips along the shell of her ear. "Shh. Let me take what I want and give you what you need."

She nods and presses her face into the crook of my neck.

"You're such a good girl," I say, placing a kiss on her collarbone.

She shivers from my praise, and I harden to the point of pain from her reaction. I may be considered one of the most powerful people in the five kingdoms, but so much falls outside my rule. But not with her. She submits to my will so beautifully, finding pleasure in my control. Forget titles, birthrights, and gifts. I'm at my most powerful when she surrenders her body to me.

Removing my finger from inside her, I walk us toward a large smooth rock that peeks above the water. I lay her back on it and spread her legs until they hang from either side. She's gorgeous like this, vulnerable and open to me. Lifting onto her elbows, she watches as I glide my hand up the soft plane of her stomach. Her breasts fit perfectly in my hands, her nipples growing harder under my thumb.

"Are you sure you want it all?" I ask.

Her chest heaves and a breathless yes falls from her lips.

"You want the pain?" I pinch her nipple, and her head falls back, hanging between her shoulder blades.

"Yes. Please."

The joy I get from her please, flow out of me on a chuckle. "It looks as if I'm not the only one with kinks, princess."

The shallow water allows me enough leverage to lean over her body and pull her hard nipple into my mouth. I suck and bite while I inflict the same kind of pleasurable pain to her other breast with my hand. The sounds she makes urge me on. I want them all. Every moan, whimper, and whispered curse are mine.

My hand slides between her legs. I press my thumb to her clit and ease my middle finger inside her. At the same time, I tug her nipple with my teeth, making sure to leave a sting. "You're so wet for me, Raelle. So ready for me to fuck you."

She groans, lifting her head. I move my body away from her, giving her a clear view of my finger gliding in and out of her center. Raelle's lips part and her eyes become hooded with desire. The lust emanating from her is contagious. Every living thing surrounding us has to feel it.

"I'm ready," she says, desperation seeping from each word.

"I know you are, princess. But I'm not done making it hurt so good."

The Sacred Stone resting in the divot at the base of her neck catches my attention. She is no longer powerless. Perhaps... My shadows spiral from my free hand. They wrap around her naked body, slithering through the droplets on her skin. She trembles as they skate over her nipples and caress her inner thighs, leaving a trail of pebbled flesh in their wake.

"You feel them," I say before following the path of a shadow across her pelvis with my tongue.

She nods and lifts her hips from the rock.

"Words, princess. Give me your words."

"Yes. I feel them everywhere," she says, sliding to the side to guide a smoky tendril where she wants it between her legs.

A million sinful thoughts clash like thunder clouds in my head. Each of them more tempting than the next. I have no clue where to begin. All I know is I'm far from done playing with my parah.