“Easy, Ris, it’s okay. He will not hurt you,” I said while walking toward her, and Baron grabbed my hand, holding me back out of concern. He didn’t understand our friendship. I placed my other hand over his. “It’s okay; she’s gentle.”
“She doesn’t look very gentle,” he spat, his eyes narrowed at her.
“I’ll show you.” I stepped up to Emeris’s colossal figure, running my hand down her neck. She guided her head down over my shoulder, tucking me into her chest as if she were hugging me, and it brought another smile to my face. She kneeled low to the ground so I could get on her back, and Baron looked at me, confused.
“What are you doing?” he said.
“Come on, don’t tell me that Baron, the slayer of beasts, is scared,” I teased.
“No, not scared, just…concerned,” he fumbled, thinking of the right word.
I snickered at him and held out my arm. “Come on, I want to show you.” My offer floated between us as he looked at me for a moment, his eyes full of uncertainty. Finally, he took my hand and climbed on Emeris with me. His legs tucked under mine, and he had me sitting in his lap as he wrapped his arms around my hips. My center heated from the feel of him under me, sending a shiver through my limbs.
With our duties to our people helping them run their shops, hunt for food, and train our warriors, Baron and I took advantage of the little time we got to spend together. As youngfae mates shortly after our marriage, our people marked us as the Chief and Chieftess of the Espien Islands, but the title came with the work. During the mornings, I helped the townspeople with their things before hunting in the evenings while riding Emeris.
Baron used the few wooden boats we had and checked in on our smaller islands. Few resided there, but he gathered herbs for medicines if needed and took the warriors to train. By the end of the day, most of the time, we were exhausted from the day’s labor. Even that hadn’t stopped our desire for each other. I was so entranced by all the places our bodies were touching, I hadn’t realized that Emeris was leaping from the cliff’s edge.
Baron gripped my hips as we glided above the sea, and I had to suppress the heavy sigh of desire that hitched in my throat. His length hardened under my rear as he reached his hand up. He wrapped his calloused fingers around my neck and pulled me back against his muscled chest, whispering in my ear.
“I can smell your need, love.” He dipped his other hand into the waist of my pants, sliding two fingers through the wet heat that was waiting for him. I let out a soft moan from his touch. He toyed with my small bulb of nerves between his fingers as he palmed my center before he sunk his fingers into me. I gripped his forearm as I tried to ride his hand. He had already found the spot inside me that made my body go hazy. That needy sensation ignited within me, making a whimper escape me. His groan reverberated in my ear, making me shutter. “We need to calm down or I’m going to take you right here in the sky.”
“I…I don’t think Ris would appreciate that.” I stumbled over my words, trying to catch my breath, reel in my thoughts. He didn’t release my neck. Instead, he held my head there, his grip tight enough for the excitement to slice through me. As Emeris glided us along, Baron planted small kisses down my jawline before he pulled my head back at an angle to have access tomy mouth. Kissing me, his tongue begged for my permission as I opened my mouth to deepen our kiss. A low, gruff growl rumbled from his chest, and the sound alone almost pushed me over the edge. My center clenched for more, but he pulled away, placing his hands back around my waist. He brought his mouth back to the edge of my pointed ear to whisper,
“Later.”
“I’m beginning to hate that word,” I sneered, disappointment lacing my tone.
And he chuckled, a deep, soft laugh that pulled me back to the reality we would be facing. What if this was the end? What if this was the last time I would hear his soothing laugh? If Ember had started the war, the Emperor wouldn’t stop at the Espien Islands; he’d want all of Osparia to be under his control. We’d heard the rumors. Ever since he attacked the mountains of the Sky Elves, extinguishing them from this world, he had a taste of death, and he wanted more. Baron’s hands rubbed small circles on my thighs, trying to smooth me.
Even though he couldn’t see my face, my stiffened posture must have given away where my thoughts had gone. Being mates didn’t help when trying to hide our feelings. If I let down my internal walls, he could feel the depths of my soul, every raw emotion, my thoughts, the sharpest of my edges, and I could feel the same from him. When we discovered we were mates, it was all-consuming. It still was, but now we had better control over it. Mostly. As my mind wondered through my sultry cravings, a small smile tugged at my full lips.
“Look,” he said, pulling me out of my thoughts. He used one of his hands to point forward, and I tapped Emeris to bring her to a stop. The line of figures in the distance was all we could see, but that was as close as I was going to get after what happened last time. I could tell it was the same fleet of warships from earlier today. I glanced up over my shoulder at Baron as he shook hishead with a knowing expression on his face. The war was here, and we were Embers’ next mark.
Chapter Three
Emeris landed back home, and Baron leapt down. I could see his mind racing as he offered me his hand to help me down.
“We must prepare, ready our warriors, set the traps. We will fight at daybreak.” I took his hand, watching the worry grow in his eyes. We had never been to war. We lived here amongst the dragons and with our customs peacefully for as long as I could remember. Even as a child, the stories told around the fire were tales of peace and filled with togetherness. Now? It seemed Osparia was falling into the hands of the Fire Fae of Ember. I turned to Emeris, running my hand down her snout.
“I’ll call for you when we’re ready.” She nudged me before lifting her head, blowing a gentle puff of smoke that made a smile hint at my lips. Her smokey ash and milkweed rose scent engulfed me, reminding me of our home. The intoxicating smell was sweet and heavy with warmth. It was almost like I could feel the ashes of ancient times surrounding me. Soothing my nerves. It was like Emeris held the embodiment of our homelands in thepits of her chest. I gave her one last pat as she took off into the skies.
We rushed back to camp. Sunset was approaching quickly, and we didn’t want to lose any more sunlight than we already had. Through the last few years of hearing the rumors of Ember starting the war, we had been preparing for this day. We knew being the closest islands to them, we’d be one of the first places they’d try to conquer as their own. We’d never had to use deadly fae traps or be trained so fiercely as warriors until the rumors of war spread, making us push ourselves harder than before. Baron had always been one to be prepared for anything, Ember included. As a leader, it was a part of our job to be ready.
Baron called for the warning bell to be rung, and slowly, all of our people gathered around: wives, children, elders, fathers, warriors, all fae, but none of us had the gift of bending the elements like others did. The islands had become a small haven for nonbenders, although I was sure plenty lived around Osparia. This was a home for many of them.
Seeing them gather around made my heart clench against my ribs. How were we going to keep everyone safe? The thought of knowing that some faces I saw would no longer be here tomorrow almost made the tears burning behind my eyes slip down my cheeks.
I took a deep breath to gather my composure. The last thing I wanted to do was cause panic, but Ember took down the Sky Elves at Heavensreach. They destroyed a powerful race of elves within a matter of a few days. No warning. No compassion for life. Their fire rained down relentlessly. It scorched the skies in the distance red for days after they left, almost like the flames that took the blood of the innocent stained the clouds.
Knowing these heartless ones were coming to our shores made me want to melt away. The pressure of having so many lives resting on my shoulders made bile rise in my throat. Myhands clenched and released at my sides. Baron stepped forward amongst the crowd and grabbed my hand, knowing the panic was rising within me. It shot through our bond like lightning. My body was rigid, and my heartbeat thumped as hard as Emeris’s wings.
“My people! Please, gather!” As Baron spoke, his voice was loud and calm. Murmurs along the worn paths through our village slowly grew more and more silent until the only noise was the branches of the trees swaying in the wind.
“Ember is approaching our shores.” The gasps of fear and inaudible whispers started up again in a panic as Baron continued to speak. “We must remain calm, keep our heads clear.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “They have initiated the war against all of Osparia, and we must prepare ourselves for what’s coming. Gather our men and any women who want to join the fight. Step up.” Multiple familiar faces stepped forward to the front. “We have something on our side that Ember won’t be expecting.” Everyone looked around a moment; confusion curled their brows while Baron glanced at me to tell them about Emeris.
I looked at the men and women I had known my whole life, not knowing how to explain to them that the creatures they had taught us to fear weren’t threats. I felt the words caught somewhere between my throat and my mouth but was unable to say them. Instead, I showed them. I looked up, making the whistle that called Emeris to me. For a few heartbeats, there was nothing but silence as everyone looked around with their eyes filled with wonder until they heard her. The deep rumble of a roar as the air from her wings moved through the treetops, and she landed right behind Baron and me.
The men and women drew their swords and axes. Fear lined their faces, but Baron held up his muscled arm, stopping them as they stared at the scene in front of them: me, petting Emeris’schest as she brought her neck down to hug me. Everyone looked in awe at how close I was to her massive frame as her yellow eyes gleamed in their direction, looking over all of them. Her deep breath kicked up all of the dirt at our feet. My gaze darted around the crowd of my people, roaming over their faces before looking back up to Emeris.
