d I did not want her to be the target of every power-hungry, crazed lunatic on Alera.
I wanted her happy, safe, and protected, and in my bed.
And as I helped Faith dress—no fancy dress this time, but simple clothing with the sexy-as-fuck underthings beneath that were only for me to see and know about, I felt contentment wash through me, a peace and completeness I’d never felt before. In the past, something inside me had been empty. Hungry. Looking at Faith, I let the heaviness of happiness melt me into something new, something softer in this moment, and pulled her into my arms. Not to fuck, but to hold her close, absorb the peace and satisfaction I felt whenever she was near.
Love. This was love. She would be my greatest source of strength for what was to come next. And my greatest weakness.
Reluctant, I let her go and waited as the S-Gen machine made clothes for me. I looked to Faith, who was eyeing me as if her Ardor had returned.
“I’m really going to miss seeing you naked all the time.”
I grinned. “It will all be beneath, my love. Just waiting for you.”
She sighed. “I wish… I wish we knew where my mom is. She’s been waiting to return to Alera with us all this time. Waiting to be queen. Once she does, we can just be simple princess and mate. Nothing more.”
I went over to her, my cock rising again just looking at her, brushed her long hair back from her face. If I had my way, she’d never wear it up again. “Simple princess and mate? I doubt we will ever be simple.”
Her head tilted into my palm and she rubbed her soft skin against me like one of my father’s Zebcats. Her eyes drifted closed for a moment before she looked up at me. I saw all the emotions I’d been feeling reflected there. Love. Peace. She was mine now. Truly mine. “Fine. Not simple. Danger-free. How about that?”
I smiled. “Yes, I will agree to that. No danger.” The S-Gen machine beeped, signaling my clothing was ready. I stepped away, for if I didn’t do so, we’d never get out of these rooms.
I dressed quickly in a warrior’s uniform with my family crest on the sleeves. I did not want to go before Princess Trinity and her mate, and her guards, looking like a pompous lord in silk and fluff. But I did not want to appear weak, either. I’d settled on the uniform reserved for the head of my family’s military forces. Each family kept their own standing armies. Mine was quite large, spread out over dozens of my family’s estates. As my father’s heir, I was, indeed, their commander.
Normally, I did not rub that fact in other lords’ or ladies’ faces. Today, I wanted to go before Faith’s sister with my power on display. I was not weak. Neither was my family. I would not beg. Faith was mine. My goal was to make sure Trinity’s mate, Leo, recognized what I said without words—that Faith was mine to protect, and I would die defending her.
She smiled as I tugged the hem of my sleeve into place and walked to me, taking my hand. “I always did have a thing for men in uniform.”
I grabbed her. Kissed her. Hard. “Not men, mate. Me.”
Her soft laughter made my heart feel like it had wings, flapping beneath my ribs, trying to escape. “Yes, Thor. Only you. You are named after a Nordic god, after all.”
That took me aback. Me? Named for a god? In no pantheon I’d ever heard of was there a god named Thordis. It was a family name, going back hundreds of years. “Perhaps it is because I am a god when I am between your thighs.”
I thought she would deny me the admission. Instead, her cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink and she bit her lower lip. The look she gave me made my cock roar to life. “True. You are.”
“Mate, stop looking at me in such a manner or we shall never leave this room.”
She laughed then, the sound wild and free. “My Ardor is over.”
I pulled her closer, making sure she could feel the hard length of my cock pressed between us. “What about my Ardor?”
“You don’t have an Ardor, Thor.”
I lowered my head and kissed her neck. “I beg to differ, mate. Tell my cock your lies.”
She held me tight, turning her head to the side to give me better access. It was a blatant invitation, and I was all too eager to accept it. “We must go speak to your sister. She may be content to allow you this time with me, but I promise you, her mate will not wait much longer.”
“He can kiss my ass.”
Lowering my hand, I squeezed her bottom, lifted her into my cock, tormenting myself. “No, mate. No one will have his lips on this body but me.”
Reluctantly, I let her go. The upper floor of the palace was much fancier than the dungeons below. While my parents’ mansion was ornate, gaudy even, the rooms were simply furnished, with clean lines and tasteful colors. The palace?
I could see that Lady Radella had put her own stamp upon the rooms. Much like the lady, everything I’d seen so far was bold. Bright colors. Orange and red next to vibrant blue or shining silver. There was no restful energy here, but a frantic need to express herself, like a beautiful, colorful bird locked in a cage.
If my mate asked, I would live here with her, but I longed to abandon both this palace and my apartment and find a home. Some place that belonged to both of us, with room for the children I hoped would someday come.
Someday, when we were danger-free.