“Of course I will. I would love to,” he adds with more vigor, and as I slide the ring onto his finger, he eyes it with his mouth open. “How unusual! Where did you get it?”
It fits perfectly. Of course. Because Reiner knows the size of Kyran’s every finger. I get up and hug him with a smile. “I made it with Reiner’s help. I wanted to give you something special, and in my world, we don’t just give engagement rings, but exchange them at the marriage ceremony too. It’s made out of the antler of the Stag of Sunrise. I wanted you to look at it and remember how grateful I am for what you gave me that day.” After the stag’s death, the vibrant golden sheen of its antlers turned into a matted dark gold, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful.
The midnight blue roses used in the ceremony we’re about to perform grow so close I don’t need to move to pick one off the bush. I manage to hold it between the thorns, and it breaks off easily. Kyran leads me to the end of the aisle where, under the dome of glass and violet leaves stands a stone altar with dark green moss growing all over the surface at the top. There’s vials and bottles on a cupboard nearby, along with silver chalices, bowls, and other paraphernalia, but for now it stands empty, waiting for our ceremony to begin. I remember Kyran telling me something about feeding a spider our hair, and I really hope we don’t have to.
“I know it’s just symbolic, but I want to do it right,” I say when I see the question in his eyes. “What do we need to do now? Just say my vow?”
His smile is joyful, as if the spectacular catastrophe at the ball thrown to celebrate our union is forgotten. But darkness seeps back into his eyes, and he grabs the collar on his neck, yanking on it so hard I fear he might do some damage to his upper spine.
“No. No, no, no…this cursed thing! For the ceremony to work I need to envelop us both in shadow, and I can’t, I—” He breaks off, just as distraught as he was when a single slash through his shirt revealed the truth about him.
I’d do anything to ease his pain. After a lifetime on a leash, this must be excruciating to him. But then I remember I’m not in the warded tower anymore. I grab his hand. “You gave me the stag’s heart and the gift of shadowcraft, remember? Can I… envelop us inmyshadow?”
The absolute grief of his expression eases, turning into hope as he squeezes my hand and nods. Oh, how I love being the sun to his darkness.
“I love you, Luke Moor. I won’t ever stop,” he breathes, plucking the flower from my hand. The rain has eased, and the red glow of the Blood Moon seeps through the glass roof, as if it wants to bless us.
My heart is pounding so fast when I look into his handsome face and cover us in the thin veil of shadow. It’s immaterial yet somehow makes this moment feel more intimate as it hides us from the world.
Kyran squeezes the rose, and it pains me to see blood drip from his clenched fist, but I don’t stop him. I know this is what he wants to do. “My flesh will be your shield. My blood is yours to drink if you are thirsty. I shall perish before I let anything harm you. This I vow under the Blood Moon. I am yours for as long as our hearts beat.”
I put my hand over his, feeling strangely small yet oh so safe. “I love you, Kyran Nightweed, Crown Prince of the Nocturne Court, Ruler of the Shadowild, Protector of the Nightmare Realm, and Knight of Grief Ocean.” Yes, I’ve learned all his titles by heart, and I can’t wait to add Lord to that list. “I am yours. Body, soul, and shadow. You will never be alone again, and you will always have my support. Whatever you choose, I will follow.”
Kyran nods, swallowing as he leans down and kisses me. His blood smells borderline sweet, and as we connect, embracing in the petals of my shadow, warmth rushes under my skin, and then further, until I can almost sense Kyran’s flesh without the need to touch it.
It’s so beautiful.
I gasp when I sense the thread of connection between us grow thicker. I don’t just hear his heartbeat, Ifeelit—in the touch of our lips, in our entwining fingers. My toes curl from the tickle when a wisp of shadow slides over them like a happy snake. My shadow isn’t sentient, but like a moth that knows it needs to fly toward light. It knows it now belongs to both me and Kyran.
And I’m not afraid of the trust I granted him. I’ve never been this at peace with another person.
“Do you sense it? Despite the collar?” I whisper, breathless, and hug him when he shakes his head.
“I want it gone. I need tofeelyou.” Kyran squeezes me so hard I briefly lose my breath, but then he lifts me, and my ass meets the dense cushion of moss. I look around, realizing he’s sat me on the altar.
I swallow and let the robe fall from my shoulders, hoping it’s not blasphemy to invite him between my legs in this sanctuary. “I’m all yours,” I say, meeting his gaze. “Shadow, soul, andbody, after all.”
His jaw twitches in response, and he pulls up his shirt, dropping it to the floor as if it weren’t made from expensive silk. I unwind the sash tying my outfit at the waist, and as I remove the remaining fabric, my nakedness makes Kyran’s eyes burn like two coals.
He reaches out, as if wanting to touch me already, but then instead kicks off his boots as if they’re piranhas biting his feet. He slides off his pants, facing me naked, with his cock already growing. Only then does he step closer and pushes apart my thighs in a gesture so breathtaking I end up grabbing his arms to keep myself upright.
“My Dark Companion. My consort. You’re the only one I need,” he whispers, squeezing me tightly as if he can't stand there being a sliver of empty space between our bodies.
I wrap my arms around his powerful chest, now all mine, mine, mine. My gums tingle with the need to kiss him, but I also want him inside me already, so I can forget how much trouble we’re in the world beyond the walls of the sanctuary.
“Don’t hold back,” I urge him and kiss his warm shoulder. “I want you tofeelme the way I feel your shadow. Inside, out, all over.”
He growls—like a dog over a bowl of delicious meat—and I am honored to be the meal he’s claiming.
“I wouldn’t dream of holding back. This altar never knew an offering this fine,” he rasps, taking hold of my cock as he nips my neck.
I groan against his skin, my dick stiffening as soon as he caresses it with those long, skillful fingers. Our bond pulses faster, and I struggle to comprehend how magical that is while also feeling like the most natural thing in the world.
I stroke every inch of his muscular back, relearning each ridge and valley of his body. Even with the collar on, he is a beast of a prince.
“I will make sure you never have enough of me. Of this,” he whispers as I rest both of my heels on the edge of the altar top and grind against him, because as much as I enjoy making love slowly and sweetly, right now I desire something else. Something fast and intense enough to stifle my fears and reassure us both.
Kyran clasps his hands on my hips and thrusts back, his eyes so black I almost believe his shadow escaped the control of the magical collar, but then he reaches for the cupboard and shows me a dark blue vial. “Get me nice and slick,husband.”
