Page 104 of Soul of Fire

Fuck yes,he murmured over our mental bridge. I was afraid he wouldn’t be able to breathe, but whenever I lifted my hips, he pulled me back flush against his mouth.You won’t hurt me.

“Are you sure?” The words were breathy as I rocked over him. My nipples pebbled against the cold stone wall, the scent of the little star-shaped flowers wrapping around me seductively.

Positive.Arik groaned as he slipped his tongue inside me, exploring as he continued to make my pleasure climb higher and higher.If I were allowed to choose how I died, it would be like this.

Agreed,rumbled Baldur against my mind, his presence so close it almost felt like he and Idunn were one.More.

Idunn writhed, and hot licks of fire burned down my spine once more as I came apart around him.

He caught me as I collapsed atop him, rolling us over so he hovered above me. “And now, wife, I take you as the gods intended.”

I moaned in pleasure as he thrust into me, his length warm and wide in all the right places. It felt like he might split me apart, no matter how many times we did this, and I loved every second of it.

“On second thought,” he murmured, lowering his face to my neck, “I might wish to die like this. Rutting against you. Your scent filling my nostrils. Your fucking perfect pussy taking every inch of me.”

“Gods,” I moaned, as his fingers teased my nipple. “It feels…” I shook my head, not sure I could voice what I was feeling.

Maddeningly, Arik slowed.

“What, Kjære?” He cupped my cheek, his eyes boring into mine as he tilted my face so I was forced to stare back. His eyes were pure silver, and I knew mine were the brightest blue. “Tell me how it feels.”

“Perfect,” I said, feeling my throat grow tight. Hearthmother above, I couldnotcry again.

Arik chuckled, hearing the unspoken thought, and kissed me so gently, it nearly made me weep.It’s alright when it’s happy tears, my love. My mate. My wife.

He kissed me again, his hands exploring my body as he continued to thrust firmly but slowly, our passion turning from pure fire to a smoldering flame as he made love to me.

I love you,I thought, sending the words between us, wanting to feel him everywhere.So much.

I love you,he rumbled, sending his desire and filling my mind with him. With us.

Like Idunn and Baldur, we were perfectly intertwined, and when we came together as one, I felt that pull of our mating bond—our shared souls—beat firmly behind my breast.

Iwaslyinginmy husband’s arms, lazily munching on bites of cheese and nuts between bouts of lovemaking, when it began.

The walls rumbled, stone shaking loose as the fireflies scattered, the remaining candles tipping over and extinguishing.

Earthquake?I asked, realizing that I hadn’t felt one since Stormhold.

I sat up, while Arik remained preternaturally still on the bed.It might stop.

The shaking intensified. Fifteen seconds. Twenty.

And then my mind split open.

Darkness flooded every corner, driving Idunn and Baldur back as the world cracked open.

Through the shattering pain in my skull, a voice took shape.It was different from my memory in a way I couldn’t quite define, as if it were blended with another. But it was one I still recognized. One that had both dragons shrinking back in terror as a pair of piercing amber dragon eyes met mine through the darkness.

AT LAST.

“Eisa!” Arik cradled me as the walls threatened to give way around us. “We have to get out.”

“He’s here!” I screamed, the pain in my temples pounding in step with the shaking of the walls.

And just as soon as it had started, it stopped.

“Eisa. Fuck.”